The Sampler: 6.13.16

We haven't had a Sampler in a while, and I figured everyone starts off slowly on Monday anyway so we're going for it. Here's some reading for the curious amongst you. As always, feel free to send something back my way!  

Girl Power:
Girl Scouts Recruitment in a New American Landscape by The Atlantic 

The Girl Scouts have been teaching leadership to little ladies in those brown vests for over a century, and I'm really hoping that they survive changing demographics and learn how to add girls from non-traditional backgrounds to the Girl Scout family! I have fond memories of earning that ribbon dancing badge... 



Girl Scouts Turn to Coding by The Atlantic
Talk about changing demands of the outside world! Those cookie skills turn Brownies into little entrepreneurs, so it makes sense to me that we'd be bringing computer science to young girls who might not be seeing their aunts, mothers and grandmothers carving out female careers in the tech world. 

Education: 
How to Escape the Community College Trap by The Atlantic 
Community College has the potential to change so many lives by offering an affordable pathway to an Associate's degree or starting a student on the right track for a Bachelor's. However, scrutiny is required of a system that routinely loses more students than it graduates. 

Little Free Library Crackdown by the Atlantic

This is a little heartbreaker! There's one in front of a home that I normally run by and I just love seeing the spirit of neighborliness that it promotes. I'm a big believer that outdated zoning laws are one of the major things holding back American innovation in our cities and suburbs. 

Hawaiian Language Immersion Charter Schools by Slate

This is such a beautiful look at an indigenous population taking back some of their culture. Private school enrollment is extremely high in Hawaii, but this transition to fully immersive Hawaiian language schools is an amazing way to save the language from extinction. 

Fashion:
Emma Watson's Work Towards Sustainable Fashion by 

Emma is always, always, my girl, and I love that she tackled sustainable fashion with a Met Gala look that breaks down into multiple pieces to encourage rewearability. 

Science:
Why Running Clears the Mind by NY Mag
After picking up running again recently and finding it to be the perfect zone for daydreaming, I was curious what the science has to say about that "runner's mindfulness" that everyone talks about. Looks like it's legit after all!

Culture:
Foodie Culture vs. What We Actually Eat by Slate
I'm always stuck with a reminder that I once read that within a certain demographic, we are convinced that all of our friends are watching Orange is the New Black, or the Americans or Orphan Black, and eating brunch with organically grown boysenberries. In reality, the Nielson ratings make it pretty clear that what's hot with critics isn't what's actually crushing the ratings week in and week out. In the same vein, this is a great look at the way that foodie culture compares to what's really on our plates.

Happy Monday, friends!