Wilkesboro sits atop a low, broad ridge that runs along the south bank of the Yadkin River in the northwest part of North Carolina. Not only does it have, as per its tourism board, “a newly revitalized historic downtown, mind-blowing music talent, stunningly scenic mountain views, heart-pounding outdoor adventures, and Southern small-town charm,” but it hosts MerleFest each […]
What Kind of Freedom Is This? From Prison to a COVID-Transformed World
On its face, it makes perfect sense: Release nonviolent offenders from prisons and jails, both now hotbeds of COVID-19 infection fueled by overcrowding, poor hygiene, and a surfeit of inmates with underlying health conditions. Public health experts agree that decreasing the prison population is the best way to forestall explosive COVID outbreaks in these settings. Fewer inmates mean […]
COVID-19’s Closing of College Campuses: A Look Through the Equity Lens
All college students are not created equal. When colleges and universities abruptly extend their spring breaks, shut their doors, and convert all classes to online instruction in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many students struggle. They don’t have the means to go home and learn remotely. “Harvard expects us to go home,” recounts one low-income […]