Edition No. 37
In this Edition
Arts and Culture
Learn about a Michigan-based nonprofit [HAS HEART], which aims to connect US veterans and designers to tell their stories through art, design, and fashion.
Community Interest
With the Summer Olympic Games quickly approaching, now is the time to revisit a TED Talk that analyzes the factors that continue to make athletes stronger, faster, and better.
American Democracy
In a guest opinion piece in the New York Times, Thomas Edsall analyzes the intersection of education in America and economics and social mobility.
[HAS HEART]
Veterans | Artists | United
Earlier this month, we caught a segment of Community Connect on CW50 that sparked our interest. [HAS HEART] is a Michigan-based nonprofit founded by US Veteran Michael Hyacinth and designer Tyler Way. After a brief conversation over coffee, Michael and Tyler realized there was a disconnect between civilians and veterans, and they possessed skills and talents to connect artists and veterans, all in an attempt to tell their stories through art, design, and fashion.
According to [HAS HEART], less than one percent of the US population is serving their country. This wide gap between the military and civilian population leads to misunderstanding and disconnect. [HAS HEART] pairs veterans with an artist, and they craft a unique item that tells their specific story; it may be a t-shirt, a badge, a notebook, or a greeting card. These pieces of art allow for deeper relationships and more meaningful conversations. Learn more about [HAS HEART] and the work they do below. And then be sure to visit the online shop to buy and support these artists, veterans, and an amazing cause!
Are Athletes Really Getting Faster, Better, Stronger?
As we approach the Summer Olympic Games, it appears that more and more of our news cycles focus on competing athletes and the trials and tribulations it has taken for them to qualify. Of course, controversy is no stranger to the Olympic Games and can sometimes overshadow the goal of this worldwide sensation: celebrating incredible athletes in the prime of their careers.
Throughout the years, it has appeared that athletes have gotten stronger, faster, and better. But how exactly does that happen? Sure, training and mindset are key factors, but how is it that at each Olympics, someone is faster than the world record set only four years before? Or stronger than the competitors they train with side-by-side? In a TED Talk from 2014, David Epstein considers all the factors that go into shattering athletic records. And what he has to say may potentially shift the way you view the games when they begin on Friday, July 23!
Is Education No Longer the ‘Great Equalizer’?
In a guest column for the New York Times, Thomas Edsall considered the role of education in creating economic and social mobility through the lens of some recent studies. Edsall begins with a conundrum. From 1976 through 2016, not only did high school and college completion rates rise for Whites, African-Americans, and Hispanics but differences in completion rates between the three groups also narrowed. Despite those promising educational trends, disparities in income have nonetheless been widening. Click the link below to read more. Please note: Subscriptions may be required to read the full article.
Inspired Thoughts is a collection of highly curated content that embraces the spirit and purpose of The War Memorial: arts and culture, community enrichment, leadership, and patriotism.
Derived from the notion that learning from others is the key to success, Inspired Thoughts is meant to shine a light on those making a difference in the world around them. This collection features artists, poets, writers, architects, and every thought leader in-between. Inspired Thoughts is the strongest reflection of what The War Memorial stands for, and what we aim to be.
The content featured on Inspired Thoughts is curated by War Memorial leadership — we also look forward to featuring special guest curators in the near future. If you are interested in providing content for Inspired Thoughts, please email our Communications team at jkaminski@warmemorial.org.