The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Don’t miss some of our most popular articles of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites.

Katie:

Autism Awareness Day

Dolly Parton & American Idol: 9 to 5 and Women’s Rights

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Nicole:

Top 10 Garbloggers Talkin’ Trash

‘Garbage Warrior’ Turns Trash Into Green Homes

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Giulia:

Low US Grad Rates & ‘The First Year’

‘The Greatest Silence’ & More Ways to Take Action

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Gina:

Top 10 Dystopian Film Heros & Heroines

Empire Or Humanity? Howard Zinn & Viggo Mortensen Spread the Word On YouTube

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Kerry:

Eco-action blogger Kerry Trueman has moved onto greener pastures, but you can still find her at eatingliberally.com. Good luck, Kerry. We’ll miss you!

Jenny McCarthy, Toni Braxton, Bill Cosby and other stars want you to know that today is Autism Awareness Day. You may not know that because it’s the first one ever. Toni Braxton, whose son has autism, is a spokeswoman for Autism Speaks and is helping raise awareness about autism. The 6-time Grammy Award winner feels “privileged to have the opportunity to help advance this cause in any way I possibly can.” Jenny McCarthy, and Robert Smigel of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog fame, also each have Autistic sons and are active in organizing around the issue. And Lionel Richie, Matthew Broderick and Bill Cosby fundraise for the cause.

And on April 13th, Jon Stewart will host the “Night of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Benefit for Autism Education” in New York City. The show will air live on Comedy Central at 8pm and and will feature standup routines, sketches and short films from Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Steve Carell, Jonah Hill, Tina Fey, Conan O’Brien, Stephen Colbert, Sarah Silverman, Amy Poehler, Matthew Broderick, Jonah Hill, Kevin James, Rosie O’Donnell and Susie Essman. But what is autism? The Autism Speaks Website explains

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The message of universal equality (and great music!) is at the heart of the True Colors Tour, which features a stellar line-up, including performances by Cyndi Lauper, The B-52s, Joan Jett, Rosie O’Donnell, Wanda Sykes, and others. The Tour hopes to bring about awareness to the discrimination that that LGBT community still faces today.

A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to True Colors’ non-profit partners to increase funding for organizations that are working toward furthering LGBT equality. Tickets went on sale last week, and performances will happen around the country throughout the month of June.

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