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Beyond The “Whiz Kid” Stereotype: The Toxic Reality of the Model Minority Myth in Education
The Persistence of Stereotypes in Modern Society Most of us would agree that stereotypes are harmful. We’ve passed civil rights laws, minorities have increasingly entered the middle and upper classes, and we openly discuss ideas like “microaggressions.” Yet one stereotype often escapes scrutiny: the Model Minority Myth. This stereotype portrays Asian Americans as uniformly universally successful, intelligent, and hardworking. While it may sound positive, this “compliment” cre

star.ct.2020
May 274 min read
A Place Like Home: A Chinese American Leader’s Journey Between Worlds
Pauline Brody, president of OCA and former Xerox employee, embodies this spirit of continuity and creation. Born in Shanghai, her life began amid sweeping historical change. When her family fled Communist China, they joined a broader migration in search of stability, first in Hong Kong and later in Pakistan. There, as one of the only Chinese families in the region, Pauline learned early what it meant to stand out—but also what it meant to carry identity with quiet confidence.

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May 23 min read


Plates of Legacy: The Untold Histories of Soul Food
Miss Thelma's (Caribbean Soul Food Restaurant and this year's Soul- Fête partner ) Everything has a time, a place, a story. Here we talk about the kind that is carried on our plates. Food is not just flavor and presentation, but also memories, meaning and identity. Flavor can bring us all the way back to that memorable trip we took. And in the same way that meals can spark nostalgia, they also carry deeper histories. However, many of these culinary histories remain largely ov

star.ct.2020
Feb 265 min read


Recognition, Representation, and the Future of Tech
The key to good technology is not good software or even good design. Good technology meets the consumer where they are. In this article, we recognize two Black women who center the idea that building good technology begins with “building from the margins.” In anticipating the needs of the whole rather than just some, “good technology makes life richer for all.” As Google’s Director of Products for All, Annie-Jean Baptiste expresses the urgency of including the voices at the m

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Jan 284 min read


Carter Woodson and the Power—And Danger—of Mis-education
(Addison N. Scurlock. "Carter G. Woodson." 1910–1925/University of Minnesota Libraries, Kautz Family YMCA Archives (Public Domain)) As we celebrate Black Excellence Month, we would like to honor a very special Carter Woodson. Carter Woodson, born in 1875, was not only the founder of Black History Month, but also a leading voice behind the concept of “mis-education.“ The common understanding of education is that it should accurately represent the world to all students.

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Jan 284 min read


Martin Luther King’s Untold Legacy: A Model for Economic Justice
By Jackie McDougall This month we celebrate a historic man who was instrumental in shaping this country’s history. Martin Luther King Jr. is responsible not just for this country’s civil rights legacy, but also for a lesser known legacy concerning economic justice. Near the end of his life, King shared his vision for a future for all the world’s poor. Through the following, S.T.A.R. offers a little piece of that legacy. Introduction Martin Luther King is largely known for his

star.ct.2020
Jan 113 min read


Beyond Hunger: What’s Really at Stake in the SNAP Cuts
By Jackie McDougall Starting this month and taking full effect in January, millions across the U.S. and tens of thousands in Connecticut will be affected by the recent cuts to SNAP. The cuts to SNAP, a historic program that has supported so many during times of need across decades; will cause not just uncertainty, but cascading ripple effects across the lives of thousands of our neighbors. Critically, there are ways we can help…. Read on to see . A Historic Legacy Interrupted

star.ct.2020
Jan 114 min read
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