Valerie Schloredt

Schloredt

is the former books editor at 猫咪社区!, where she led print and online coverage of literature, media, and film, with a focus on social change movements. Valerie worked for the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies in London for seven years, has followed the police reform process in Seattle as a citizen activist since 2010, and continues to monitor developments in both London and Seattle. She lives in Seattle, and speaks English.

Articles By This Author

Democracy

Women Against the Bomb: Mothers of the Revolution

A new documentary interviews 鈥淕reenham Common Women鈥濃€攖ough, dedicated protesters in the struggle against nuclear weapons and nuclear war.

Valerie Schloredt | Mar 30, 2022

猫咪社区

A Tribute to Indigenous Mothers by Their Indipino Children

Indigenous and Aboriginal women on Bainbridge Island had to hide their identity. Now, their adult children embrace it.

Valerie Schloredt | Dec 7, 2021

猫咪社区

6 Books That Bring the Asian American Experience Out of the Margins

In memoir and nonfiction, these authors navigate big themes and resist stereotypes.

Valerie Schloredt | May 21, 2021

Environment

Native Family Values: Writing 鈥淭he Whale Child鈥�

A brother-and-sister writing team bring Native culture and love of family to an environmental story for children.

Valerie Schloredt | Dec 23, 2020

猫咪社区

In 鈥楪ather,鈥� Indigenous Food Sovereignty Is on the Menu

A new film follows food activists seeking to restore salmon, buffalo, and the nourishing legacy of Native cultures.

Valerie Schloredt | Nov 25, 2020

猫咪社区

How Immigrant Essential Workers Are Finding Support During COVID-19

Our healthcare and food systems depend on immigrant workers, including those who are undocumented. Greater protections for them would be good for everyone.

Valerie Schloredt | Jul 6, 2020

Issues

Where Heroic Resistance Looks Like Knitting and Baseball

A warning about Big Tech and unbridled capitalism.

Valerie Schloredt | May 9, 2020

猫咪社区

3 Books to Give You Courage During Pandemic Anxiety

Leave the conspiracy theories for later and take heart from these plague novels about action and resilience.

Valerie Schloredt | Mar 19, 2020

Issues

Antidotes to Gentrification

Plans for democratized, affordable housing.

Valerie Schloredt | Feb 19, 2020

Environment

Big Ag and the Small-Scale African Farmer

The Gates Foundation spends billions on agriculture programs. But are they actually helping?

Valerie Schloredt | Dec 13, 2019

猫咪社区

Toni Morrison on the Necessity of Literature

Reading the celebrated author is a fitting way to mark the 400th anniversary of the first slave ship arriving on U.S. shores.

Valerie Schloredt | Aug 27, 2019

Issues

How Capitalism Exploits Our Fear of Old Age

Getting older isn鈥檛 all loss and no gain鈥攚e may actually become happier and more emotionally resilient.

Valerie Schloredt | Jul 30, 2019

Health & Happiness

Hot Flashes and Killer Whales: The Evolutionary Advantage of Menopause

The patriarchy thinks menopause is a problem. A new book is making waves with the argument that 鈥渢he change鈥� has value for our species and the women who go through it.

Valerie Schloredt | Jul 20, 2019

Issues

Would You Put a Tiny House for a Homeless Person in Your Backyard?

Because two Seattle homeowners were willing to make space, a 75-year-old man who鈥檚 been homeless for years now has a house and a community.

Valerie Schloredt | Nov 16, 2017

Democracy

Resistance That Wouldn鈥檛 Quit: A Timeline of the Keystone XL Pipeline

More than a decade of relentless resistance from tribes, activists, farmers, and local communities finally killed the pipeline that wouldn鈥檛 die.

Valerie Schloredt | Jun 15, 2017

Issues

How to Reinflate the Dream of College-for-All

Financial aid doesn鈥檛 work unless we鈥檙e honest about costs.

Valerie Schloredt | Apr 10, 2017

猫咪社区

鈥淰alve Turner鈥� Case a Mistrial, but Also a Warning for Direct Action Activists

Criminal sabotage was one of the charges for Ken Ward, who with fellow activists in Minnesota, Montana, and North Dakota shut down pipelines carrying tar sands oil.

Valerie Schloredt | Feb 2, 2017

Democracy

What the U.S. Can Learn From 鈥淰iking Economics鈥�

Author George Lakey explains why Scandinavia tops world lists for equality, health, and happiness.

Valerie Schloredt | Jan 23, 2017

Democracy

Calling All Climate Activists: 鈥淕o Out and Get Yourself in Some Holy Trouble鈥�

After activists launched a strike shutting off the flow of tar sands oil across the U.S. this week, a movement leader calls for more faith-based direct action.

Valerie Schloredt | Oct 14, 2016

Democracy

20 Years in the Making, Great Bear Agreement Protects World鈥檚 Largest Temperate Rainforest

The landmark deal between 27 First Nations, environmentalists, forest industry, and government preserves 85 percent of old-growth in one of the world鈥檚 great forests.

Valerie Schloredt | Mar 16, 2016

Democracy

How to Stop an Oil Train: The Hearts-and-Minds Climate Defense That Won Over a Courtroom鈥�

The Delta 5 loss was actually a big win. 鈥淔rankly, the court is convinced that the defendants are far from the problem and are part of the solution to the problem of climate change.鈥�

Valerie Schloredt | Jan 21, 2016

Environment

Musicians From Egypt to Rwanda Are Blending Musical Traditions and Building Unity to Protect the Nile River Basin

The Nile Project is made up of musicians from different countries, musical genres, and traditions. Their purpose? To promote cooperation and cultural understanding as the diverse peoples of the Nile face threats from water scarcity and climate change.

Valerie Schloredt | Feb 6, 2015

Issues

Photo Essay: At a Half-Mile-Long Table, Chefs, Farmers, and Volunteers Feed a Neighborhood for Free

In St. Paul, Minnesota, artist Seitu Jones wanted to start a community-wide conversation about food access and food justice鈥攁nd where better to talk than over a good meal?

Valerie Schloredt | Nov 26, 2014

Photo by Khakimullin Aleksandr / Shutterstock.

Issues

The Antidote to Mansplaining: Rebecca Solnit on Everyday Sexism and What We Can Do About It

Useful as it may be as journalistic shorthand, 鈥渕ansplaining鈥� is cultural bubblegum in comparison to Solnit鈥檚 actual body of work.

Valerie Schloredt | Sep 4, 2014

Issues

John Lewis鈥� Moving Graphic Novel Brings the Civil Rights Struggle to a New Generation

In the tradition of 鈥淢aus鈥� and 鈥淧ersepolis,鈥� 鈥淢arch鈥� tells the story of young African Americans who, like its author, rose up from the Jim Crow South to assert their human rights.

Valerie Schloredt | Mar 7, 2014

Issues

"Escape Fire" Doc Explores the Fight to Rescue American Healthcare

Beyond the Affordable Care Act, the film explores how to make a healthier America.

Valerie Schloredt | Nov 20, 2013

Urban Dandelion photo by Frederick Linge

Issues

Foraging the Urban Wilderness鈥擣rom High-Carb Cattails to Dandelions

鈥淒andelion Hunter鈥� is an education about the food that grows along our city streets, and the deep history author Rebecca Lerner discovered along the way.

Valerie Schloredt | Oct 31, 2013

Issues

The Unexpected Gifts of Photographing Mandela, Tutu, and the Dalai Lama

Photographer Jane Feldman on earning the trust of beloved world leaders鈥攁nd capturing their laughter.

Valerie Schloredt | Aug 16, 2013

Issues

How a Radical Group of American Nuns Shook Up the Vatican to Better the World

鈥淏and of Sisters鈥� shows why a humble group of women fell under Vatican investigation for seeing the causes鈥攏ot just the symptoms鈥攐f injustice.

Valerie Schloredt | May 22, 2013

猫咪社区

Film Offers Fresh Take on Racism in Obama鈥檚 America

Cracking the Codes features stories of racism鈥檚 continuing effects told by those who experience it daily, and includes a teaching guide for those who want to address racial issues within groups and projects.

Valerie Schloredt | Mar 8, 2013