There is a lot of scary realities about America right now. Here are a few such examples.

  1. Approximately 42 million people need SNAP benefits to help them get through the month.

  2. Roughly 34% of U.S. fourth graders cannot read at a basic level, and gaps between low-income and high-income students are widening (National Assessment of Educational Progress, 2023).

  3. The richest 10% of Americans own nearly 70% of all wealth, while the bottom half collectively holds just 2.6% (Federal Reserve), 2023). That’s the widest gap since the Great Depression.

  4. The U.S. has experienced over 600 mass shootings each year since 2020, averaging almost two per day (Gun Violence Archive, 2024). Firearms are now the leading cause of death for children in America.

  5. Nearly one in three teens report poor mental health most of the time, and suicide is now the second leading cause of death for people ages 10–24 (CDC, 2023)