Colette Fontenot

LIFT: A Safety Net in the Battle against Poverty

In the country’s fight against poverty, LIFT, a non-profit organization, effortlessly works to institute a new universal standard that will hopefully endure. Located in six major cities (Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.) across the country, it has 100,000 members. The organization assists poverty stricken people by partnering them with advocates and other community members, assisting to elevate them to economic stability. With the help of

Continue reading…

The Secrets of the Feathered Serpent

Situated 30 miles northeast of Mexico City lies the ancient holy city of Teotihuacan, one of the oldest acknowledged archaeological sites. Regarded as one of the first great cities in the Western Hemisphere, likely for its colossal size, Teotihuacan’s origins have always remained a mystery to archaeologists. The multi-ethnic city housed a patchwork of different cultures with distinct living quarters occupied by the Otomim, Zapotec, Mixtec, Maya, Nahua, Totonacs and

Continue reading…

Finland’s Education System: A Superior Model

Over the past two decades, America’s education system has declined, due largely to complacency and inefficiency. Among other things, this harsh, infuriating reality is reflective of lower or misguided priorities in education and inconsistencies among the various school systems. Conversely, since arising from the Soviet Union’s shadow, Finland has transformed its education system into a model of excellence. Several decades ago, teaching became the country’s first priority. Only a limited

Continue reading…

Shipping Container Architecture: Waste Not, Want Not

My grandfather used to live in a small lake house located on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain, just across from New Orleans. I remember driving past the ports when we would visit and seeing the shipping yards full of shipping containers in every color of the rainbow, stacked higher than some buildings. The containers looked worn and sun-faded, with graffiti tattoos and rust-colored rain stains covering the sides, sitting idle

Continue reading…