Unexpected: Building creativity through small rebellions

Reveling in the unexpected should be your next #lifegoal and brand strategy.

Reveling in the unexpected should be your next #lifegoal and brand strategy. Here are 5 tips to become memorable shared by our Creative Director Jo Skillman at the Creative Circles Conference 2018.

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How to start a movement | Derek Sivers

The importance of being a follower in today’s leader-obsessed society

I tend to be the person who doesn’t like being the center of attention.

Empowerment through education and bucking the damn system

Our collective brains are abuzz with back-to-school feels – but education is a daily obsession at Black Sheep.

Our collective brains are abuzz with back-to-school feels – but education is a daily obsession at Black Sheep. Read on for two book reports covering the promise of student-empowered learning and the impact of education on an unlikely Ph.D. candidate with a conflicting past.

Empower: What Happens When Students Own Their Learning

Reading Rainbow: Take a look. It’s now in a podcast.

Reading used to be a way to get ahead in class or learn a new thing or word.

Reading used to be a way to get ahead in class or learn a new thing or word. It was a way for me to escape, yes, but in a fun and adventurous way. Now, reading is more of an escape in a real way. My life is busy, the world around me is kind of a mess right now—I just want to forget about it sometimes.

The power of design process as told through a poster series

The Black Sheep team loves process as much as we love the written word and the visual art form.

The Black Sheep team loves process as much as we love the written word and the visual art form. By nature of the work we do, we love smashing words, visuals and heart together – mesmerized by how they intersect to create a powerful, lasting message.

How to interview like a late night talk show host

Barbara Walters, Stephen Colbert, David Letterman—we’re coming for you.

Barbara Walters, Stephen Colbert, David Letterman—we’re coming for you. Ever wonder how the pros make media interviews look so effortless?

Read on for a Top 10 Media Interview Tips List (you know, Letterman style) from a seasoned interview pro in his own right: Craig Cohen, host and executive producer of Houston Matters.

The hidden power of smiling | Ron Gutman

At Black Sheep, we talk a lot about rebellion and activism. We’re known to enjoy protesting, wheatpasting and the occasional theft of an inanimate animal.

Smile Like Your Life Depends On It

University of Texas at Austin 2014 Commencement Address - Admiral William H. McRaven

The first step to changing the world is making your bed.

Change the World by Changing Your Sheets

The first step to changing the world is making your bed. 

You’d never think that changing the world starts out with something as mundane as tidying up the bed before you start your day. We don’t realize our lives can undergo a drastic change through things that aren’t grand and bold. The little things matter too, y’know.

The Flying Busman - Mickey Mahan

How to Successfully “Fail” and Win at Life

What others consider failure, may be your biggest accomplishment.

We need to talk about an injustice | Bryan Stevenson

Talking About Injustice… and Other Topics

I recently revisited a book I received a long time ago called Talk Like Ted.

I recently revisited a book I received a long time ago called Talk Like Ted.

In it, they do case studies of some of the most successful Ted Talks. One of them was Bryan Stevenson’s “We Need To Talk About an Injustice.” It received the longest standing ovation for a Ted Talk at the time.

Mentor Me This: Natalie Dishes on the Perks of Being in the Loop

It was a sweltering August day when I, at the age of 21, drove from my small hometown in Louisiana to Houston to start my new life with my new husband.

It was a sweltering August day when I, at the age of 21, drove from my small hometown in Louisiana to Houston to start my new life with my new husband. He likes to joke that he never actually saw me driving my car because I’d followed him so closely that I wasn’t visible in the mirrors. I’d graduated that summer with my B.F.A. and was eager to begin my grown-up career in graphic design. Pedal to the metal, despite how intimidated I was heading in this new direction.

2 billion impressions is great, changing the future with college bound students is better

First impressions matter, right?  So what happens after 2 BILLION impressions?

First impressions matter, right?  So what happens after 2 BILLION impressions?  We found out with our Michelle Obama’s #CollegeSigningDay partnership this year.

Moving Forward | Uber

Facebook Here Together (UK)

That’s a Lot of Money to Say You’re Sorry

How to Build a Movement: The 4 Pillars of Community Activation

Movements change people.  Changed people change the world.

Building A Team That’s Out of This World

Everyone has a podcast these days. So finding one to binge-listen in the midst of a road trip can be hard. Lucky for me, I stumbled upon The Habitat.

Do something about gun violence and #WearOrange

So, here we are. Again. Reeling from more school shootings, questioning our priorities as a nation.

So, here we are. Again. Reeling from more school shootings, questioning our priorities as a nation. In our home state, we watch for real action against gun violence as Texas Governor Abbott apparently has a plan.

WTF is a GDPR?

You’ve probably received enough privacy notice emails that a flag has gone up, and you’ve started to do a bit of research. 

Why it's worth listening to people you disagree with | Zachary R. Wood

Understanding the “other side” through uncomfortable learning

Our country is torn.
Two sides, a great divide – with no solution in sight.
But what if the solution was easy?
What if we just talked to each other?

How I Survived 30 Days of Biking in Houston

There are bike-friendly cities and then there’s… Houston.  When I tell people that I participated in #30DaysofBiking, I’m met with blank stares and more than a few questions.

A note from a Zennial: Breaking generation stereotypes with activism

You know the phrase ‘being stuck between a rock and a hard place’? As a so-called “Zennial,” that’s where my generation lives.

You know the phrase ‘being stuck between a rock and a hard place’? As a so-called “Zennial,” that’s where my generation lives. It’s uncomfortable, it’s awkward – but here we are. Ready to change the world.

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?

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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