Stand Together

How do you stay motivated during tough times?

The microschool movement is gaining momentum as families seek personalized education tailored to their children’s needs. This shift towards smaller, community-based learning environments is how parents are taking back control.

Almost 30 years ago, Bishop W.C. Martin and his wife Donna, led the charge in showing their town in East Texas that there is a better way to look after children who have been placed in foster care.   Instead of letting dozens of these kids feel like they have been forgotten about and given up on, 22 families in their town adopted them to provide them with a fair shot at pursuing their dreams and to show them that they do have a support system that believes in their gifts and talents.   I was deeply moved by the power of community in Possum Trot, Texas, and know that this – building stronger and safer communities – is the key to solving poverty, social division, addiction, mental health struggles, and many other seemingly unsolvable problems in our country. I encourage you all to see its story brought to life on the big screen: https://lnkd.in/eHVEqcnG.

This Independence Day, veteran Russ Duerstine reminds us that America’s founding ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are still alive and worth fighting for.

Who is the most influential person in your life, and why?

Congress makes the laws, the Courts interpret them, and the Executive branch implements them. This is civics 101. And the genius of our system lies, in part, in its simplicity. Chief Justice Roberts reinforced the genius of our system of constitutional limited government on Friday when he issued the Opinion of the Court in Loper Bright v. Raimondo, a case litigated by Cause of Action Institute, one of the organizations in the Stand Together community. Congratulations to the fishermen (Loper Bright), Paul Clement, who argued the case, the team at Cause of Action, and the American people on a big win. In overturning Chevron deference, the doctrine that told courts to defer to administrative agencies when interpreting a statute, the Court helps restore the separation of powers, the erosion of which has had real consequences for everyday Americans, like the fishermen who brought this case.   The United States is a democratic republic. And as I wrote when the Court decided to take the case, this is a victory for our country’s twin ideals: democracy and limited government. The growth of the administrative state has given Congress a pass on its core responsibility – making laws and being accountable to the people for the consequences of those laws. And it’s also concentrated increasing power within the executive – a problem no matter which party is in power. The unintended consequences of this downward spiral are evident today in the divisive politics and general disarray in Washington in more ways than most people realize. And while one decision by the Supreme Court won’t fix this overnight, it’s a critical part of the solution and a great start.    https://lnkd.in/eshw9BEy.

“Live to be 24” is one high schooler’s goal. Elevate USA is changing the narrative, addressing relational insecurity by fostering long-term mentorships with under-resourced youth.

Why users should moderate social platforms themselves ✍️ Ari Cohn knows that social media platforms can seem like a daunting new frontier of technology — but he also believes that if we pay attention, we’ll see that a pattern that is far from novel. “My parents grew up when TV was just coming into the household,” he recalled. “But by the time I was born … they had learned how to incorporate it into their lives. It wasn't as big of a deal as the old people at the time thought it was, and we're going through that same exact thing with social media.” Cohn is an attorney specializing in free speech and works as free speech counsel at TechFreedom, a think tank dedicated to protecting civil liberties in the online space. Increasingly, the arena where free expression is being exercised — or restricted — is virtual. Perhaps no social platform has ignited more discussion about the implications of censorship than X. Since purchasing Twitter and rebranding it as X, Elon Musk has embarked on a philosophy of “free speech absolutism," including controversial moves such as unbanning users previously blacklisted from the platform. Musk’s actions have sparked lively debates over the responsibilities of users versus administrators to moderate free speech online — but there’s more to the issue than meets the eye, Cohn said. For one, online speech covers a lot. It includes everything from dance memes and news stories to family photos and influencer videos. But there are also practices and content that raise concerns, including questions over how to address problems ranging from bullying to misinformation. The sheer volume of content that appears on the internet each day — by some estimates, X publishes 500 million new posts daily — makes content moderation extremely complicated. The complexity increases as different platforms serve diverse communities, each with unique reasons for coming to the internet. The critical question is how to effectively address harmful ideas without stifling beneficial ones. Online content moderation is far from a simple debate. There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution. But Cohn has a proposal that he believes empowers users to reap the benefits of democratizing information online on their own terms: showing users how to become their own content moderators, on an individual basis. We sat down with Cohn to discuss the nuances and complex considerations at play when considering online free speech practices, including the effects on society at large — and how individuals can be more shrewd users in everyday life: https://lnkd.in/ecBpCQZb

Forget 4-year degrees. Programs like Per Scholas offer rapid upskilling, letting workers pivot to high-demand careers quickly. Employers win with fresh talent; workers win with fulfilling jobs. It’s a game-changer.

Had an absolute blast at the Athletes Unlimited AUX Softball Championship! My mom had the honor of throwing out the first pitch of the game, making it even more special. The energy and enthusiasm from the teams and the sold-out crowd were contagious, and it was fantastic to see such an incredible sports league model right here in Wichita. Athletes Unlimited is truly changing the game, empowering athletes and creating a brighter future for sports.  Proud to support and be a part of this amazing journey. #BeUnlimited