Freelance Writer

Karen Weese

I'm a freelance writer whose articles and essays have appeared in The Washington Post, Scientific American, Fast Company, Slate, and other publications. I write about poverty, health care, behavioral economics, parenting, and more. Thanks for reading! :)

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Why It's So Hard to Give—and Receive—Charity, Even During the Holiday Season
Giving to charity brings a simple joy to all involved… except when it doesn’t. The surprising emotional gymnastics of canned-good drives, toy giveaways, and volunteering at the soup kitchen.


Six Things Most Americans Don’t Understand About Poverty (and I Didn’t, Either)
Learning the hard way about the Ramen-Noodle Fallacy, the Happy-Meal Myth, and the Mysterious Magic Belt: Debunking these and other fictions that we tell ourselves about poverty.


Behavioral Economics Has a Plan to Fight Poverty—and It's All About Redesigning the Cockpit
The fascinating, surprising insights that military pilots and ER doctors (and the guy who designed your stove!) can teach us about fighting poverty. Plus, let’s talk about ice cream.


So, What'll We Tell the Kids About God?
How do you answer your child’s deep questions about the universe, when you're not sure of the answers yourself?


How Can You Tell If Someone Is Kind? Ask How Rich They Are - The Washington Post
Are some people just nicer than others? What influences how generous we are? The psychology of generosity, with intel from candy-jar thieves, luxury-car drivers, and a former waitress.


PTO Fundraising Benefits Schools With Rich Families the Most. In Some Districts, Parents Are Sharing the Wealth - Slate
One wealthy New York PTO raises $1.5 million a year, while a school only three miles away raises nothing, because its families can’t afford to give. It doesn’t have to be this way. Meet the PTO parents who are bridging the gap.

How to Raise Kinder, Less-Entitled Kids (According to Science) - The Washington Post
What bad drivers and chocolate-chip pancakes can teach us about raising a good kid. (P.S. Your kid is better than you think.)

When a Sudden, Small Expense Threatens an Entire College Career - Washington Post
He’d overcome countless obstacles. All he needed to begin his dream of college was a single, $25 bus ticket. He couldn’t afford it. (How a small financial obstacle can derail low-income college students’ most herculean efforts, and how some innovative colleges and nonprofits are finding creative ways to clear the path.)


America’s Fastest-Growing Job Doesn’t Pay a Living Wage. It Matters to All of Us
The nation’s fastest-growing occupation doesn’t pay enough to live on. It can’t be replaced by automation, and people will die if the job goes unfilled. What are we going to do?


Why Are We Still Shouting About This?
Gun reform doesn’t have to be this hard. We have more common ground than we think. Seven things about guns that we all can agree on—and actually move forward.


This Retiree Has Driven 64,000 Miles Taking Low-Income Students to College - The Washington Post
”I saw an ad that they were looking for volunteer drivers, and thought, ‘Well, heck, I can drive a car,’” he said. More than 60,000 miles later, Paul Goetchius is still going strong.


To Fight Poverty, Think Small - The Washington Post
What do toothpaste, ham sandwiches, and 911 calls have in common? They’re all related to quirky regulations that make being poor harder than it needs to be. Sometimes fixing the little things can have an out-sized impact.

She Went to the Hospital for a Few Days. The State Kept Her Kids for 4 Years - Fast Company
Thousands of families are prevented from reuniting because of barriers that a small amount of cash could solve. One Massachusetts nonprofit is bridging that gap.

To Comply with a New Sesame Allergy Law, Some Businesses … Add Sesame - The Washington Post
Instead of properly labeling and controlling a life-threatening allergen to protect 1.5 million Americans, baking manufacturers decided it would be cheaper and easier to sprinkle a little bit of the life-threatening allergen into everything they make.


Why It Costs So Much To Be Poor in America - The Washington Post
In a cruel irony, low-income families pay extra for almost everything—cars, electricity, food, banking services, housing, traffic tickets, and more—simply because they’re poor.

When Good Advice Goes Bad - Scientific American
That time my toddler nearly burned down the house (and other unintended consequences of poorly framed advice). Plus, experts explain how we can all give better advice, in the public sphere and in everyday life.


This Octogenarian Couple Had to Stop Delivering for Meals on Wheels Because of Coronavirus Risk. A Kid Stepped Up in Their Place - The Washington Post
Covid simultaneously boosted the need for senior meal delivery while decimating its retiree volunteer base. College student Nate Byrnes jumped into his car to help.


Almost Half of the Pregnancies in the U.S. are Unplanned. There’s a Surprisingly Easy Way to Change That - The Washington Post
What if there were a “set it and forget it” approach to preventing unplanned pregnancy? Oh wait, there is. And what if a state made it widely available? Delaware just found out.


School-Based Health Centers Bring Health Care to Rural Kids—But For How Long?
In rural areas, the nearest pediatrician is often miles away, so having a doctor’s and dentist’s office right in the school building means more kids get care. Can these innovative health centers survive?


Beware the Child Care Cliff
Imagine getting a $5-a-month raise at your job and finding that you suddenly owe five hundred more per month for your kids’ child care. This “five steps forward, 500 steps back” scenario happens to families across the nation. How can we fix it?


Leslie Roberts is the Answer to Your Prayers—But Not for Long
At some point in their lives, nearly every American will need the services of someone in her field … but no one can afford to keep the job.


A Time of Reinvention - The Washington Post
Eight women who charted new paths after 50—becoming doctors, stand-up comedians, singers, and even bodybuilders.

This 30-Second Conversation Before the Holidays Could Save Your Child's Life
"We had watched stories like this on the news and said, 'Oh, isn't that a shame, that poor family,'" she said. "But it can happen to you. It happened to us."


How to Not Melt the Couch, and Other Life Skills to Teach Your Kids This Summer - The Washington Post
Do your kids know how to use a can opener, read a map, do the Heimlich, or be a non-jerk restaurant customer? Sounds like easy stuff—but only if we teach them how.


What Sloths and Potted Plants Can Teach Us About Helping Kids Get the Most from Their Piano Lessons
Unusual tips to help kids find joy and success in music lessons.


One Little Reason... and It's More Than Enough
One little girl’s struggle could have been my child’s, or yours. What does it mean for the rest of us?

The Reprieve
Stinky roller skates, One Direction, and a tiny everyday miracle.