Help the November election go smoothly in KC with early voting, poll work volunteering

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By Emily Park

The presidential election is now less than a month away, and local election boards across the United States are preparing to make assignments for the polls. 

In the months leading up to the election, experts have warned that COVID-19 could cause a deep shortage of volunteers to work the polls. A shortage of election workers forces counties to limit the number of available poll locations, and would likely cause longer lines at the polls for the Nov. 3 election day — which is already projected to have a record turnout.

This election is an important one. It’s not just about deciding whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden will be the US president for the next four years, or which senators and representatives will form the US Congress, or even which officials will take up state office. 

The election on Nov. 3 is about the future of not only our country but the world too. It’s about equality—for women, for people of all races and backgrounds, for the LGBTQ+ community,— it’s about the environment, the economy, the US response to COVID-19, and much, much more. So this is an election we especially want to see run smoothly, and there’s plenty you can do to help.

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Madison Tufte’s debut novel The Anchor House lets women grow on their own terms

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By Kelcie McKenney

Madison Tufte was looking to read new books that made her feel inspired, empowered, and vulnerable, with leading female characters who experienced growth—outside of relationships. But she couldn’t find them. So she decided to write her own.

Tufts’s debut novel, The Anchor House, under the pen name Margaret Spencer was born of that quest, and is the product of over two years of secret writing before Tufte self published earlier this year. It’s a tale about three women, Winnie, Fern, and Eleanor, each struggling to grow in their own way—each both strong and vulnerable. A remote island in Minnesota sets the stage for these women’s stories, inspired by the lakes from Tufte’s home town. It’s a heartwarming look at life’s difficulties, filled with inspirational women who live life on their own terms.

In June, The Anchor House won Next Generation Indie Book Awards’ for Inspirational Fiction. We spoke with Tufte about writing strong women, and being one, as she walks us through the journey to her first novel.

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It’s ok to be sad and scared about the passing of RBG, but don’t forget to fight for her legacy

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By Emily Park
Illustrations by Katelyn Betz

A few days ago I was sitting in my boyfriend’s kitchen, happily chatting about our day and plans for the weekend as he made dinner, when my phone buzzed. 

I picked it up and froze as I read the words in the headline from my news app notification: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies at 87.

I don’t remember exactly what I said next, but I remember exclaiming very loudly and distressed that we—as in the United States, women, the LGBTQ+ community, people of color—were absolutely, 100 percent screwed. 

Then I proceeded to have a spiraling meltdown—trust me, my boyfriend can confirm—for the rest of the evening as I downed half a bottle of premade-Bahama Mamas and my mind ran through every horrifying scenario that the death of this national treasure could cause. 

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Welcome to My Vagina

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By Maddie Womack

My name is Maddie, and I have a vagina. I am the CEO/Founder of Barrier Babes,  and I also work at a sexual health clinic as my day job. This sexual health clinic has a microscope. So, naturally, I swabbed my vaginal walls and applied the swab onto a slide under said microscope.

Well, ok. First, I accidentally swabbed my urethra. (It’s right above the vaginal opening—don’t judge). That hurt. Like, really hurt. But the second time around I figured it out.

Before swabbing my vagina, I didn’t even know what a vaginal cell looked like. What even is a vagina cell? Are they just floating around in vaginas? What’s their purpose? Do they have friends? Thanks to my swabbed slide, I can explain all of this to you. Feel free to zoom in, my cells don’t bite 😉.

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