Michelle Chen

Contributing Writer

@meeshellchen

Michelle Chen is a contributing writer for The Nation.

Queens Home Foreclosure

How Banks Stole Homes From the Most Vulnerable New Yorkers How Banks Stole Homes From the Most Vulnerable New Yorkers

“Reverse redlining” flooded communities of color with toxic mortgages, practically ensuring default.

Jul 15, 2016 / Michelle Chen

Diapers

Diapers, and Welfare Policy, Need Changing in Washington Diapers, and Welfare Policy, Need Changing in Washington

Helping low-income families address one of the messiest aspects of early childhood is Congress’s duty.

Jul 13, 2016 / Michelle Chen

Immigration Protest in Los Angeles

The Deportation System’s ‘Lock-up Quota’ Is Just As Bad as It Sounds The Deportation System’s ‘Lock-up Quota’ Is Just As Bad as It Sounds

Lockup quotas are tearing apart immigrant communities and lining the pockets of private prison corporations.

Jul 11, 2016 / Michelle Chen

Lockout Sign Honeywell Metropolis

When Corporations Lock Out Their Own Workers When Corporations Lock Out Their Own Workers

Lockouts used to represent less than 4 percent of work stoppages. Last year, they topped 10 percent.

Jul 8, 2016 / Michelle Chen

Bogalusa City Jail

What Kind of Justice Can There Be When Judges Have to Find Defendants Guilty to Keep Their Court Open? What Kind of Justice Can There Be When Judges Have to Find Defendants Guilty to Keep Their Court Open?

A Louisiana court forces defendants to literally pay for their crimes—without questioning whether they can afford to.

Jul 6, 2016 / Michelle Chen

Chris Christie Town Hall

The Fight for $15 Won in New Jersey—but Chris Christie May Veto It The Fight for $15 Won in New Jersey—but Chris Christie May Veto It

Instead of signing progressive labor legislation, Christie will give tax breaks to corporations.

Jul 5, 2016 / Michelle Chen

Homecare worker gives client pills

Home-Care Workers Are Now Protected by Minimum-Wage Laws Home-Care Workers Are Now Protected by Minimum-Wage Laws

Are you surprised they weren’t before?

Jul 1, 2016 / Michelle Chen

Bail Bonds Sign

In Some States, Defendants Can Be Charged Hundreds of Dollars Just to Face a Jury In Some States, Defendants Can Be Charged Hundreds of Dollars Just to Face a Jury

And other ways our judicial system bleeds the poor with debt.

Jun 29, 2016 / Michelle Chen

Sweatshop worker

Colleges Aren’t Enforcing Their Own Anti-Sweatshop Policies Colleges Aren’t Enforcing Their Own Anti-Sweatshop Policies

SUNY’s failure to enforce its anti-sweatshop policies is a reminder that major institutional consumers can only go so far in addressing the crisis of globalized labor abuses.

Jun 27, 2016 / StudentNation / Michelle Chen

Pre-K Student

Inequality Is Even Seeping Into Preschool Classrooms Inequality Is Even Seeping Into Preschool Classrooms

Education disparities start early.

Jun 24, 2016 / StudentNation / Michelle Chen

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