Latest news with #KristaTaylor
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
KDBA students researching connection between poverty and crime, impacts of public housing on mental health
On a sunny Thursday afternoon in March, a dozen or so students in a classroom at Kenneth D. Bailey Academy (KDBA) in Danville participate in a Zoom call. They're taking turns asking social worker Krista Taylor questions about her work with victims of sexual assault and how they sometimes struggle with mental health issues. The interview is part of an ongoing research project the students are working on as part of the University of Illinois Extension Office's Youth Participatory Action Research project (YPAR). YPAR is a state-wide initiative that gives teens the opportunity to learn and practice research skills by completing projects relevant to their lives and presenting their findings to lawmakers and others in power, according to Amy Leman — a University of Illinois professor and researcher who oversees the KDBA program along with research partner Jacinda Dariotis. The program at KDBA is funded by the Institute for Government and Public Affairs through the University of Illinois — an institute which aims to 'improve public policy discussion through nonpartisan, evidence-based research and public engagement in Illinois,' according to the institute's website. The institute does this by establishing communication between scholars and lawmakers in the hopes they will pursue objective, research-driven solutions. Power is a key concept in the YPAR program, according to Leman. Unlike other programs, YPAR is entirely youth-led, with researchers, grad students, and high school teachers playing a supportive role and offering guidance. 'School is very adult-power heavy. [Teens] don't have the power, so we're trying to put them in these positions to give them power to make change,' Leman said. 'It is their ideas. They are deciding what happens next.' As part of their project each year, students choose an issue or two to explore, develop a research plan, interview experts, and craft survey questions they later send to local people impacted by the issue they're studying. After receiving survey responses, students get to work compiling their findings in pie charts, graphs, and thematic lists. By the end of the school year, they use their findings to come up with an action plan to present to people in power. Poverty and Crime In 2023, KDBA students Armarni Eaton, Ariel Gosser, Krissa Sims, Mariya McCullough, Cyntavia Suggs, and Tashonna Jones studied the link between poverty and crime, later presenting their findings at UIUC's annual Undergrad Research Symposium in the Spring of 2024. They began by profiling Danville, finding that despite the museums, library, theaters, state parks, playgrounds, and other opportunities for growth and connection, families still suffer from mental health issues, gun violence, poverty, housing issues, lack of job opportunities, inflation, crime, and drug abuse and addiction. To propel their research forward, the students asked themselves two basic questions: How can people in poverty who commit crimes turn their lives around, and what prevents them from doing so? After interviewing several experts — including two law enforcement officers, five community activists, two school district employees, and three justice system officers — students narrowed it down to one key issue: poverty. 'When people are in poverty, they need help with resources for their everyday needs, and crime is often due to one bad decision, not because those who commit crime are bad people,' according to their presentation. They also learned that kids do not always know the best way to work out their issues, which can lead them to making decisions they later regret. Their solution: building relationships. 'Forming connections and relationships with people helps meet their needs and keep them from crime,' their presentation reads. 'Building relationships can help young people go down a different path and want to pursue a better future and life.' Public Housing and Mental Health This year's YPAR classes at KDBA are in the midst of working through another research project, this time about the ways living in public housing may impact the mental health of those who reside there. Their first step was interviewing Jaclyn Vinson, executive director of the Vermilion County Housing Authority. 'We got information about public housing and how the environment can affect people,' student Tylyn Davis said. After speaking with Vinson, students also interviewed their school social worker. Then it was time to write survey questions to ascertain how people living in public housing feel mentally. 'Do you feel safe? Do you feel connected to the community? Has public housing affected your mental health? What does mental health mean to you?' student Thomas Miller said, giving examples of some of the questions they asked. That process was harder than they envisioned, primarily because it can be so uncomfortable for some people to discuss their mental health, students said. 'We want to keep the questions broad, but not too broad,' student Breelinn Bell said. 'Because some things could be triggering for other people, especially with the mental health topic. So we try to avoid personal questions. We're not trying to get too much information.' 'People for some reason like to ignore the fact that they have feelings and emotions,' Miller said. 'It could be very difficult to get information out of that person if they're hiding their feelings about mental health,' Davis said. Students sent their surveys to all public housing recipients across Vermilion County, Leman said, thanks to a list of addresses Vinson gave them. They received back 14 responses, most of which said the respondent does not feel safe in their public housing unit. Students also discovered from the survey responses was how ill-informed the public can be about mental health in general. 'Someone said mental health is being slow or short-minded or even having lung problems,' Miller said. 'Some said it was just mind over matter,' Davis said. After receiving and reviewing all the responses, students compiled them in charts and graphs to get a better idea how widespread the issue was in Vermilion County. Now, they are in the process of coming up with action steps to present at UIUC's Undergrad Research Symposium this year, which will take place Thursday, April 24. Bell, Davis, and Miller said they hope after completing their project, they can help to somehow educate the public on what mental health and illnesses are. They also hope that lawmakers and local authorities will work to learn more about how to improve the safety and well-being of people living in public housing. Looking forward Leman and her team of researchers hope the program will empower students. 'We want to empower our students. It's one of the reasons why we do this so that they can think of themselves as important contributors to their society,' Leman said. 'What they think is just as important.' Over time, Leman hopes to reconnect with previous YPAR participants and learn more about how what they learned there impacted their lives. 'What I'm interested in is the long-term process. So, in in three years or five years, what do they remember? What do they think differently about?' she said, adding that she is currently doing exactly that with students who completed another YPAR project in Champaign county several years ago. For the KDBA students, YPAR is a rare opportunity to learn a skill many don't have access to. 'Not everyone has had the opportunity to meet with YPAR or have these benefits of getting to know things like this, so I would take this in my life as an educational purpose, and I would try to more or less educate people,' Bell said. 'We're here to learn and do good things in life, so we would rather the community see us do good things, and be inspired. 'We want to inspire.'
Buzz Feed
06-02-2025
- General
- Buzz Feed
Just 27 Affordable Products To Zhuzh Up Your Kitchen A Bit
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Let's spiff up those scratched, worn cabinets. 1. Some matte-steel cabinet pulls for a modern touch to those cabinets that were likely installed when you were in kindergarten. Even if you don't consider yourself a handy person, this is a super easy DIY. Promising review: "Can't beat the quality for the price! Solid weight, none arrived scratched, bent or broken. Definitely get the template! It makes installation a breeze! With the template, I had 24 handles installed in less than 45 minutes! Immediately upgraded my cabinets. Very happy with this purchase!" — alexa Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ each (available in quantities 1–60 and in seven colors). 2. A Cerama Bryte cooktop cleaning kit so you can finally get rid of the gunk that seemed like it would never come off of your stove. The kit includes a 10-ounce bottle of Cerama Bryte Cooktop Cleaner, one cleaning pad, and one scraper to make it a quick and easy job. Promising review:"This really worked! I I had been using a soft scrub type of cleanser on my glass cooktop. I didn't think this stuff would do much better but I wanted to try it because of all the good reviews. It really works well. I was impressed at the improvement to the look of my cooktop and it definitely works better than just a abrasive cleanser soft scrub type of thing. Will buy again." — Krista Taylor Get it from Amazon for $11.48+ (available in three styles). 3. Some stove burner covers to help you catch the mess right away on gas stovetops. Or just cover up some chipped or sorry-looking stovetops. (I live in a rental with a white gas stovetop that def has some unsightly chips on it, so I can relate!) Amazon Psst, as you can see above, this set also comes with a crumb catcher where your stovetop meets your countertop! Promising review:"I've been using the foil ones and while they do the job, they're not so nice to look at. I like that this is black so it matches the original color of the appliances, but more importantly I like that this has a larger surface area to catch the drips that the foil ones never could before. They're also trim to fit, so they get right up into each burner without leaving gaps where drips can burn where it's hardest to clean. Time will tell if they're as durable/reusable as they claim. If they are, then I'll try to trim two of the spares to fit the center large burner. Overall recommended." — Michael Get an 8-pack from Amazon for $10.99 (available in six colors). 4. Some wood polish and conditioner that'll revive worn-out wood surfaces like cabinets and floors. Those cabinets may have decades of wear and tear but they don't have to *look* it. Enhances the natural beauty and depth of grain on finished *and* unfinished wood. For use on antiques, dining tables, kitchen cabinets, wood doors and trim, etc. Promising review:"I have tried numerous products on my wood kitchen cabinets, and nothing has worked. You can see from the photos that they were in really bad shape. I applied this product and let it sit for 45 minutes before I wiped the cabinets down. I can't believe how well it worked! If this didn't work, I figured I would have to refinish or paint the cabinets because they looked so bad. I'm so glad I tried it! It has saved me a lot of time and money!" — nicole feather Get it from Amazon for $9.72. 5. A set of wood repair markers can hide smaller scratches. (I used some of these on scratches on my *own* kitchen cabinet doors in my rental apartment, and they totally blended in with the stain.) Amazon, Promising review:"I've used these to touch up our armoire, coffee table, chair and couch legs, kitchen cabinets, bar stools. The variety of colors make it possible to touch up almost anything. I'm not sure what or how to use the wax. The end result isn't noticeable that it's been marked up with a marker." — FrankSFO Get a set of 13 from Amazon for $9.99. 6. A container of touch-up paint that'll help cover up all those chips and marks that seem to follow you around the room like one of those portraits where the eyes look straight forward. Just make sure that the paint is a match! Promising review:"Rather than ditching furniture into a landfill, which is bad for the environment and one's pocketbook, this product allows you to give new life to existing furniture. Between the Soto touchup and new handles, my entertainment center looks like less than $35. If you can use liquid paper, you can use this. I just ordered another bottle for porcelain. This is a fantastic product. You will love it!" — LexiNYC Get it from Amazon for $18.95 (available in 24 colors). 7. A set of fridge organizers because you're spellbound by #FridgeTok videos and yearn for your own appliance to be as blissfully organized as those stars. And these'll prevent all kinds of spills! Promising review: "My daughter wanted to organize the fridge after watching a series of TikTok videos! These were exactly what she wanted! Download TikTok for your kids and maybe they will want to help organize, too!" — Sarah C. Get a set of eight bins from Amazon for $23.99 (available in four sizes and in sets of two, four, and six). 8. A set of under-cabinet lights to bring a modern touch to any outdated cabinets that you wish you could replace. This'll instantly make your kitchen look *so* expensive. Promising review:"I ordered these just to determine if we really needed under cabinet lighting. I really wasn't expecting much because of the price. It is very easy to install, with five levels of brightness with the included remote control, timers for on and off, and a manual on/off switch in the connecting wiring if you don't use the remote. Standard 2025 button battery for the remote. I really don't know how they can be sold for the price I paid. Also received in two days. The photo was taken in a very dark kitchen. Updated: I ordered two more packages to finish the lighting required. The electrical plug is much better since it does not stick out from the wall so far. Very pleased with these units." — Anthony E Spearman Get three 12-inch lights from Amazon for $13.59. 9. A SnapPower GuideLight will optimize your regular old outlets instead of a night-light that you have to plug into an outlet that you always have to unplug the coffee grinder or do other tasks. Amazon SnapPower is a small biz that specializes in unique and innovative lighting products. Promising review: "I ordered this after seeing it on TikTok. I'm very happy with this product!" — Miss. Harris "Game changer. When I get up, I don't want to wake everyone up with flipping on lights and all. These provide plenty of walking through the house light. Super easy installation, too." — Monica Martinez Get it from Amazon for $22.98 (available in three outlet styles and four colors). 10. A incredibly powerful grout cleaner can erase years of nasty buildup that you've just come to live with over the years. Promising review:"We moved into our house a year ago and I've been on a quest to clean the grout next to the stove ever since then. As a last resort I got this and holy cow! I left it on for three minutes as a spot test at first and I could already see a huge difference. I then did two more rounds letting it sit for five minutes each. The scent's not bad, it was fine if I had the window open, it was just being down close to it that got me. Seriously, stop looking and buy this." — Britney Phillips Get it from Amazon for $17.50. 11. A grout pen will fake some squeaky clean, stainless grout. Grout takes up a teeny bit of space but, as you can see from the pics, makes a huge impact! Promising review:"I installed an expensive soft white tile (if there is such a thing) floor in the kitchen when I bought my house. At the time, it was a new product and it was beautiful – that fuzzy, warm feeling changed the first time I dropped a fork. I have been so frustrated no wanting to rip up and put down replacement tiles. The grout pen made it look new again, I am thrilled with the results!" — K. Robles Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two sizes). 12. A bottle of Goo Gone foaming spray will help you win the good fight against greasy spills and messes. Your oven is about to get a makeover. Promising review:"Wow! A degreaser that actually works! I love the foam, which starts to work immediately on my stove top as well as cookware and other kitchen surfaces." — P. Webb Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in two sizes). 13. A dishwasher magnet so everyone in the house is on the same page about whether it's OK to eat off a plate that's in the dishwasher. Amazon Promising review:"I got this because my mother has dementia and she kept putting away dirty dishes 🤦🏽♀️. And believe it or not she has actually been using it and it definitely has been working! So I highly suggest buying this for parents or someone you know who has a similar problem!" — Raquel Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in six styles). Also check out a version that's completely silver without the red or green for $19.95. 14. A slim cutlery organizer here to prove that, yes! You do have room for all your cutlery in your tiny kitchen drawer! Scoot over, forks. (Yeah yeah yeah, your drawers are *hidden* but they still make such a huge different in your kitchen!) Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed I have VERY narrow kitchen drawers in my NYC one-bedroom apartment kitchen and buying one of these organizers has transformed my cutlery drawer. I'm able to safely reach in and grab whatever I need (like a manual can opener for tuna salad or a mini whisk for a hot chocolate) without having to sift tools around. Get it from Amazon for $11.99. 15. A bottle of plant-based stainless steel cleaner and polish spray (that comes with a microfiber cloth) for a low-lift transformation. You lucked out with stainless steel-appliances in place — which so happen to be $$$. Their upkeep shouldn't be! Promising review:"I live in an apartment. The sink is about 35-years-old and has become badly stained and scratched from neglect and indifferent care. This has made a noticeable difference. This sink will never look brand new again, but your product removed, I would say, about 80% of the stains, without any extraordinary effort, and put a really polished look on the sink. It is gleaming and actually looks very clean for the first time since I have lived here." — David Brennan Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (also available in a pack of two). 16. A small compost bin/trash can will easily hang on a cabinet door for easy hiding and use. The lid lifts up *or* flips over for easily dumping as you food prep. In fact, I bought this for my tiny NYC apartment kitchen as a trash can and adore it. Promising review: "So I saw this tiny trash can on TikTok, and I was moving into a tiny studio apartment and thought this would be perfect. Turns out it's one of the best things I've ever bought. I installed mine with the over-the-cabinet hooks (also comes with adhesive stickers) on my kitchen island, and it is so convenient I can't even express with words. The lid is on this nifty hinge so you can open it by flipping the lid up, or by sliding it forward and it folds down out of the way. I usually keep it open while I'm cooking but I can close it super quickly if I see the dog coming. There is a little pull tab for easy opening. It is so easy to use and easy to clean. It's also so cute! I use my plastic grocery bags as trash can liners for this and they fit perfectly. It comes with a roll of bags as well. The lid lifts off easily to change bags out. Clicks back on easily over the new liner. Can't recommend this enough!! This is going on my list of 'best things I've ever spent my money on.'" — Ginger Get it from Amazon for $20.39 (available in three colors). 17. Some mounted wine racks for a storage solution that'll make getting a post-work pour that much easier. Plus it'll be a super easy way to display any especially decorative glasses. Amazon I lucked out with some similar racks already mounted in my apartment (like these!) and I adore them. Get three rows (enough for nine glasses) from Amazon for $18.99 (available in four colors and two styles). 18. A set of adjustable mug organizers that'll help you better use your kitchen cabinet space *and* also keep your mugs safer since they fit on top of a mug, creating a setup where you can safely stack a second mug on top instead of googling replacements. Amazon Elypro is a small business in New York City making clever organization products for the home. Promising review: "I use these to organize my coffee mugs and my glasses in smaller cabinets. They not only look nicer, they save space without tilting when you try to stack mugs without support. I also use these to stack ramekins and that is also better now. These are adjustable to fit different sizes. I highly recommend these organizers!" — Amazon Customer Get a set of six (to organize 12 mugs) from Amazon for $24.99 (available in three colors). 19. A pack of adhesive cord bundlers you can stick on the back of your kitchen appliances to keep power cords orderly instead of tripping up you (and your kitchen countertop setup). 20. A stackable can rack to help your pantry look like a grocery store of staples. Made from heavy-gauge steel and can store up to 36 cans of various sizes. Promising review:"These units were easy to assemble. They felt sturdy. I love that they are made of metal and not cheap plastic. I'm considering buying two more, and going side by side and stocking up on can goods!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $22.97. 21. An expandable under-sink kit can fit around awkward pipes in the kitchen or bathroom while giving some sturdy ground to those bottles of cleaner and rolls of toilet paper. No more cabinet avalanches! Promising review:"Great product for a great price. Very sturdy, but lightweight and small — under my bathroom sink is *very* small, and the metal frame is thin enough that it doesn't take up much space, and of course it allows me to utilize the empty vertical space instead of shoving things all the way to the back wall. I might rearrange the shelves, but it's just held with screws on each end so that's easy enough to do-comes with two supports for two shelves, but you can choose from four heights/positions. 👍🏻 Might need to order a second for under the kitchen sink..." — Jennifer Mowry Get it from Amazon for $22.87+ (available in three finishes). 22. A conversion kit that'll let you hang some statement pendant lights if you wrinkle your nose at minimalist recessed lighting. Amazon It has an about six-step installation process and includes all the parts you'll need. The brace adjusts to any size between 4' and 6' and fits the standard base sockets. They can be used on sloped ceilings up to 45˚, works in damp locations, has a 50-pound maximum load rating, and is paintable with no visible screws or hardware. Promising review:" This was a pretty easy installation considering the work is on the ceiling. I've been wanting to change out the two can lights over my sink for years, so I started investigating the easiest possible way to do so. Ran across this item, and watched the video on YouTube. What the heck, I thought! Rewatched the video before installation, looked at the directions on both the converter kit and the pendant light, gathered the necessary tools described in all instructions, and set upon my mission. The hardest part (for me) was getting the self-tapping screws started. I'm pretty pleased with the outcome, I must say! By the way, I'm a 55-year-old female who has worked at a bank all of my life. Yes! It was that easy. I would highly recommend it." — Trisch Reeve Get it from Amazon for $24.99. 23. A window film that'll still let in SO much light while giving you a bit of privacy in your kitchen — especially if a neighbor's window looks RIGHT into yours. (Really, that's only cute in sitcoms.) Promising review:"I have a weird skinny window in my house where no normal window covering works. People walking on our community trail can see up into our upstairs bathroom when the light is on and it's dark outside. Not a good plan at all. So I used this window film and cut different-sized circles and placed then on this window to interrupt the view into the house. Worked perfectly! Very easy to use." — Marsgard Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in 14 sizes). 24. A broom and mop organizer you can mount on a closet wall for a tidy "after" so you won't worry about an avalanche when you open that door. You know what I'm talking about. Promising review:"Repeat customer! I purchased one to organize the garden tools (rake, hoe, cultivator, shovel, etc.) in our garage and by alternating the tops of the tools up/down, was able to fit them neatly in the holder. Liked it so much, going to install another next to it for the other items. The hooks are a nice feature to hold our gloves and a simple plastic bag to hold things when needed." — Rob C. Get it from Amazon for $14.97. 25. A set of Snug Plugs if your coffee maker plug keeps falling out of the bathroom outlet and you're starting to wonder if you need to pay for an electrician to get involved. These little contraptions make a snug fit between outlets and plugs to keep 'em where you want. Snug Plugs is a small business that specializes in home improvement products. I had THIS very problem (as a renter) in the top socket in my sole bathroom outlet and one of these little things was a perfect, cheap fix! Promising review:"I saw Snug Plug on TikTok and immediately ordered them. I have outlets at home AND at work that I couldn't keep anything plugged into because they're so loose. Snug Plug quickly and easily solved that problem and now I can finally have a phone charger in my den. Yay! I highly recommend this product." — KSay Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $10.99. 26. A fast-acting, refillable plug-in fly trap can cover up to 400 square feet of space to help lure in with a guiding light and ensnare those annoying little bugs that keep flying around you while you're then when you're just trying to enjoy your home-cooked meal. It works on fruit flies, moths, gnats, and regular flies. Check out a TikTok of the plug-in fly trap in action. Promising review:"I can't say enough wonderful things about these handy little bug catchers! They are simple to use, cheap to refill, and catch a ton of small bugs and flies. I have eight of them now, all around my house! It's a little gross how many tiny flying insects are around…but it makes me feel a lot better now that I have these!" — Chris H. Get a two-pack from Amazon for $14.62. 27. A wineglass-washing dishwasher attachment in case your dishwasher isn't equipped with a way to keep a wineglass upright and in place OR you don't have enough for your needs. After all, hand-washing stuff you don't absolutely have to is pretty annoying. Amazon, Wine Wash Co. is a woman-owned small biz that specializes in dishwasher attachments. Promising review: "I had a hard time finding wine glass holders for my dishwasher. My previous dishwasher had built-in holders, but my current dishwasher does not. I got tired of having wine glasses break during dishwashing cycles. These holders are sturdy and fit the bill for standard glasses. They can fold up when not in use. I would not use them for expensive Waterford crystal wine glasses, but they are perfect for everyday glasses. A must-have for wine drinkers!" — Alicia Get a set of four from Amazon for $15.
