This year has felt like a dumpster fire. Maybe even the whole landfill.

Creativity and What It Isn't

Regular

We all know that data is important, but it’s so interesting how tricky it can be when it’s being used to uncover or decide our truths and making our daily decisions. And this is a phenomenon that is far from new.

Data, deaths and dresses

I’ve been thinking a lot about data and how it tells stories about the human existence recently. 

Practice your bread making, continue to support our local restaurants and bars and check in with local food system support to combat local food insecurities. 

Breaking Bread

Bread making was all the rage in mid-March. 

Where Byte Missed the Boat and What That Says About the Future of Social

An Elegy.

For years, concern has been growing over facial recognition software and its use by police, but can we talk about why the solution they chose is to take away the tool and not to fix it?

At the End of the Data

This local opera singer is bringing us fearlessness and good vibes in her playlist with purpose.

Playlists with Purpose: Alicia Gianni

Bill and Jo discuss inclusivity, diversity and the importance of civic action while taking a look at the League of Women Voters of Houston brand.

Offset Path: The League of Women Voters of Houston

“Offset path” is a function in design program Adobe Illustrator. It’s also the name of our design discussion series that looks at how Black Sheep rebellious brands and campaigns for social impact that are different from, well, the usual “path.” To know when Offset Path episodes are announced or to watch us live on Instagram, follow @shearcreativity. Hosts are Black Sheep’s Creative Director Jo Skillman and Senior Designer/Illustrator Bill Ferenc.

This Houston rockstar took us on his journey through finding the power of composition and making an impact in his community through music.

Playlists with Purpose: Nick Gaitan

Community activists of all types have used the symbol of the raised fist in many ways, but what does it mean

A Brief History of the Raised Fist

The clenched, raised fist. You’ve seen it before—on television and in movies, on posters, in textbooks, maybe even in-person at a rally. As a gesture itself, it holds no meaning. But, throughout history, a variety of communities have used it as a symbol of resistance and unity: a simple yet demonstrative act of rebellion against institutional oppression.

Condensed

Michelle Obama's 2020 Commencement Address

A personal reflection on the work that needs to be done.

Revolution

Stay informed. Don't be silent. Take action. #BlackLivesMatter

Let's talk—seriously.

Gun Violence Awareness Day: We (Still) Need to Talk OR You Need To Read This

Just as we’ve seen with COVID-19 death rates and instances of police brutality, gun violence disproportionately impacts the black community.

Why Gun Violence Awareness Day Matters In the Profound Year That Is 2020

This is the time of COVID-19 and increasing racial tension—and the connection between guns and public health is more tightly bound than ever.

Black and Tired.

Our beginners guide to streaming communication in 2020

Getting Started with Webinars

Getting Started with Webinars (Part Two)

Purpose, sincerity and truth with Houston's very own jazz vocalist.

Playlists with Purpose: Tianna Hall

Putting One Foot in Front of the Other During a Pandemic

How one Black Sheep is embracing discomfort

Crisis fundraising tips for nonprofits during Covid-19

Crisis Fundraising

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

Creativity and What It Isn’t

Data, Death and Dresses