While AI’s latest uses may seem futuristic, artificial intelligence has already been influencing our lives for decades. Two things have changed recently, though: its expanding applications for a variety of industries, and our ability to be calm about it. 

But before we panic about imminent societal collapse led by robot overlords, here’s a crash course on how we got here.

WTF is AI?

What is generative AI and what can it do for us?

Regular

Houston Landing is a local nonprofit newsroom with no paywalls to provide essential journalism that empowers our communities.

Meet Houston Landing: designing the next frontier of local news

A new, nonprofit and nonpartisan news outlet for local voices.

Sometimes, social media feels like a horror show. Can we defeat the monster and save the day?

Escaping our Social Media Spirals

7 Native American Designers You Should Know About

Support Indigenous designers in the creative industry.

Picking up the pieces and finding our voice.

We are all we've got.

Sometimes sharing our deepest thoughts is enough to give someone else the courage to move ahead.

AAPI thought leaders that can help us look ahead

Supporting AAPI Heritage and Future

Thoughts and tips for landing your first advertising job with intention

The Breakout Role

How Did We Become a B Corp: the B Corp Series

Our lessons and reflections on becoming a better business.

How Did We Become a B Corp?

We stand with trans Texans. Find ways to engage with local organizations in the fight to protect trans kids and their families.

Texas: The State of Our State

Making a list, checking it twice and shopping sustainably, which feels very nice.

Black Sheep 2021 Gift Guide

For flocking around the Christmas tree and other season's festivities. 

Giving Tuesday: A Day of Global & Digital Giving

A guide and history of Giving Tuesday, the world's largest generosity day.

A roast worthy of a turkey, but instead focused on what makes us truly grateful this season.

Here's to the American Tradition

Let's give it up for turkeys, football and violent misunderstandings

We're a B Corp. You're a B Corp. So why aren't we working together? (Hint: we could be.)

We're the Agency for B Corps

Are You a B Corp? Then We Should Be Your Agency

Here at Black Sheep, we believe you need time to step away from your desk and give your brain a reset. And so we're making mandatory time off a reality.

Mandatory Time Off Is Our New Normal

We need time to rest and come back ready. 

The Black Sheep Agency Stands in Opposition to SB7

We as a Texas business would like to affirm—loud and clear—for all our State elected officials that we do not support the passage of SB7.

Speaking up and speaking out about the preservation of expanded, accessible voting rights 

This year marks our 5th as a B Corporation, joining over 3,800 companies that push back on business and economic models that put profits over people.

Better Business is a B Corp

We deserve a world (and workplace) that gives a damn about something bigger than profits

The Hidden Political Life of Postage Stamps

The postage stamp is a lot more than a sticky tag attached to our envelopes. They are a reflection in culture, and a political tool used to persuade the masses.

Celebrating tiny sheets of beauty, patriotism + philatelic propaganda 

5.4 Million Women Lost Their Jobs Last Year 

We're looking at a sesmic shift in our workforce—and not for the better.

5.4 Million Women Lost Their Jobs Last Year

We're looking at a major shift in our workforce—and not for the better. 

Here's a roundup of podcasts created by Black creators, covering topics from culture, money, work, and history. There's something in this list for everyone.

A Collection of Podcasts for Black History and Black Culture

February is winding down, but we're continuing our celebration of Black creators.

The Divine Nine | The Daily Social Distancing Show

Black Excellence: A Short History of Black Sororities and Fraternities

The Divine 9 (D9) is a collective of Black Greek-lettered sororities and fraternities that, for decades, have been uplifting and amplifying black voices at American universities. Our Community Organizer, Torey, witnessed first-hand the black excellence these organizations promote.

The Divine Nine (D9) is the example Black collective.

Billie Holiday - "Strange Fruit" Live 1959 [Reelin' In The Years Archives]

Kendrick Lamar - Alright

Les Amazones d'Afrique chantent "I Play The Kora"

In the United States, protest music dates back to the 18th century and the American Revolutionary War. During the 19th century, songs were expressions of protest against topics such as poverty, the Civil War, and slavery with African-American spirituals like “Oh, Freedom” defining this time.

A short history of protest music

My knees gettin' weak and my gun might blow

-Pre-chorus from Kendrick Lamar’s "Alright"

Murals. Drawings. Paintings. Following George Floyd’s death in 2020, the world saw him globally immortalized by countless artists who created works dedicated to his memory, and pleading for his killers to be brought to justice. George Floyd has become an icon, both in a personal and artistic sense.

A Short History of American Protest Art

As long as America has existed, art has been used in all forms to challenge the status-quo.

2020 has kept us plugged in all year, scrolling through news feeds, texts, emails, you name it. So to celebrate the passing of 2020, we thought we’d share a playlist of the tunes that got us through this SPECTACULAR year.

2020: At Least the Music Was Good

We Are Hiring Chief of Staff (Now Closed)

New role for a visionary Chief of Staff at The Black Sheep Agency

Now hiring at Black Sheep in Houston for Chief of Staff

This is a rally cry. A shout into the digital universe. A signal for the restless who cannot stop.

Calling All Digital Misfits

This is a rally cry. A shout into the digital universe. A signal for the restless who cannot stop exploring, experimenting, testing and trying to break the rules. An invitation to those creative bandits who want to surprise the world with new ideas and even newer ways of delivering them.  

No matter your impact space, the last few years have taught us that our causes are interconnected. Researchers are now dealing with what the White House calls “converging crises” across industries. As a purpose-driven organization, we’ve spent years discussing everything from environmental racism and climate change to education and housing. But until recently, we hadn’t yet looked into an issue that’s affected by all of the above: food insecurity.

Food insecurity affects millions of all ages and backgrounds across America, particularly impacting the BIPOC community and hitting kids especially hard after millions have lost access to free school lunches. 

The pandemic has only exacerbated the fragility of the inequitable American food system. In 2022, the Census Bureau reported a 41% increase in households saying they did not have enough to eat after Congress stopped pandemic relief programs. 

That's over 40 million people who are experiencing hunger—or the fear of hunger—on a regular basis. With rising food and housing costs, that number is only expected to grow. 

Food insecurity is the lack of consistent access to enough nutritious food to maintain an active and healthy life. This can include not having enough money to buy food, living in an area without access to healthy food options or experiencing disruptions in food supply due to natural disasters or other crises.

According to Feeding America, the causes of food insecurity are complex and include:

Systemic racism and racial discrimination

The devastating effects of food insecurity

Access to fresh, healthy food is a basic human need and a social determinant of health and wellness. Without equitable access, we see an impact on:

Health: Without nutritious foods, people are at an increased risk for chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart disease and mental health disorders—particularly as many turn to cheap, caloric-rich foods in lieu of fresh, prepared meals.

Education: Children who experience food insecurity are more likely to have lower academic achievement, be suspended or expelled and suffer from behavioral and emotional problems. 

Financial wellness: Food-insecure households often spend over 25% of their income on food, making it challenging to budget other expenses like housing, healthcare, education and utilities. This is more harrowing given that food-insecure households also spend more on healthcare due to their poor diet.

Words matter. Food deserts and food apartheid are related terms you have probably heard but are distinct concepts.

Food deserts refer to geographic areas where residents lack access to affordable, healthy and fresh food, often due to a lack of grocery stores or other food retailers. These food deserts can occur in both urban and rural areas and affect people of all races and income levels.

Food apartheid, on the other hand, refers to a systemic and intentional form of discrimination in the food system that leads to unequal access to healthy food based on race and income. This terminology recognizes that food access is not simply a matter of geography but a result of historical and ongoing inequities in the food system, including racism, poverty, and systemic inequality. 

There are organizations across most major cities to fight these issues, namely urban farms and dedicated neighborhood markets. However, given the multiple converging crises, issues like food insecurity are often overlooked in favor of more hot-button issues. That’s where all of us can step in.

What can social justice-minded people do to help solve food insecurity?

While food insecurity offers no easy solutions, there are many ways to get involved.

Poverty USA offers some smart systemic change recommendations:

Reduce food waste - we throw away 30% of the food we produce

Here are a few ideas you can engage with at the individual level:

Find your nearest co-op (like Plant It Forward) and volunteer and shop there

Call your representative to advocate for policies that support access to healthy, affordable food.

Support local farmers and community gardens

Educate yourself and others about the causes and consequences of food insecurity

Donate to organizations that are working to address food insecurity, such as Feeding America or the World Food Programme

Food insecurity is incredibly complex, but it’s one area we can actually make great progress on as individuals. Supporting these local, fresh food sources improves the entire community’s health—AND it means more delicious, interesting meals on your plate. That’s a win for everyone. 

What is food insecurity and what can we do about it?

Food insecurity is a complex issue affecting millions of Americans, with systemic factors like poverty, racism, and geography playing a major role, but there are steps we can take to combat it.

The Black Sheep blog is turning up the volume on community engagement, social media strategy, Houston happenings and what it means to lead a purpose-driven life.

The Black Sheep Agency | Social impact and nonprofit blog

We like to type as much as we like to listen.

We're not shy.

The Politics of Food Access

WTF is AI?

Meet Houston Landing: designing the next frontier of local news

Escaping our Social Media Spirals

7 Native American Designers You Should Know About

We are all we've got.

Supporting AAPI Heritage and Future

The Breakout Role

How Did We Become a B Corp?

Texas: The State of Our State

2021 Holiday Gift Guide

Giving Tuesday: A Day of Global & Digital Giving

Here's to the American Tradition

We’re the Agency for B Corps

Mandatory Time Off Is Our New Normal

The Black Sheep Agency Stands in Opposition to SB7

Better Business is a B Corp

The Hidden Political Life of Postage Stamps

5.4 Million Women Lost Their Jobs Last Year

A Collection of Podcasts for Black History and Black Culture

Black Excellence: A Short History of Black Sororities and Fraternities

A Short History of Protest Music

A Short History of American Protest Art

2020: At Least the Music Was Good

We are hiring: Chief of Staff

Calling All Digital Misfits