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From Dead Store to Pop-Up 'Social Infrastructure'

John Surico

September 10, 2019 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

A nonprofit organization in Boston utilizes abandoned storefronts as a gathering space to create "social infrastructure," or a way to bring different communities together. The pop-up store fronts host community game nights, shows, and other captivating events - and the best part? The organization works with local landlords to use empty store fronts rent-free.

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In a Tight Labor Market, a Disability May Not Be a Barrier

Ben Casselman

September 05, 2019 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Round Rock, Texas

With the assistance of a local non-profit partner, Dell Technologies created a program to recruit employees on the autism spectrum to tap into an under-utilized section of the labor pool. Dell Technologies reflects the national trend to open opportunities to individuals not targeted in current recruiting practices, including stay-at-home parents and retirees as well as people with disabilties.

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Springfield could be a template for Bridgeport

Ethan Fry Amanda Cuda

August 26, 2019 |

Republican American |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Springfield, Massachusetts

Springfield, Massachusetts leaned into urban renewal and public-private partnerships to keep their local economy alive amid the manufacturing downfall. Now, Bridgeport - a town of similar size and economic fate - looks to Springfield as a model for success at it struggles with its own economic insecurities.

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How a 276-person town in Kansas is turning an empty school into a business incubator

April McCullum

August 21, 2019 |

Burlington Free Press |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Hanston, Kansas

When the city of Hanston, Kansas had to shut down the local middle/high school, residents refused to let the school sit vacant; instead, the building now houses a town-owned business incubator called Elk Plaza. Uses of the transformed building include the town's only commercial kitchen and movie theatre, a flexible event space, and office space for local entrepreneurs.

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Serving the sisterhood: Temsalet Kitchen in Ethiopia

Julie Pybus

July 30, 2019 |

Pioneers Post |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Ethiopia, Addis Ababa

Temsalet Kitchen in Addis Ababa offers the city's most vulnerable women a place to work and find community. The restaurant employs struggling women to be cooks, waitresses, managers, and cleaners to help them stay off the streets, out of danger, and in a welcoming environment where they can become independent.

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Three Big Lessons From One Small Town

James Fallows

July 18, 2019 |

The Atlantic |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Danville, Virginia

The town of Danville, Virginia survived the downfall of the mill industry by using creative financing and investing in solid economic infrastructure that will remain sustainable into the future. The town has invested in broadband and used funds from a tobacco settlement to re-install city money into local institutions.

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Can Employee Ownership Preserve Legacy Businesses in Communities of Color?

Sandra Larson

July 15, 2019 |

Next City |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

As gentrification has flourished and Baby Boomers age out of the workforce, “legacy businesses” struggle to find a way to maintain a presence in communities of color. In response, a multi-city fellowship called Shared Equity in Economic Development (SEED) was developed to educate business owners on transferring ownership to the employees to ensure its future. Four cities—Philadelphia, Atlanta, Durham, and Miami— paired three city employees with one community member to work together over a two year period to leave the city with “clear plans, clear roles and good foundations for future business conversions."

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Myriad ideas exist to solve Hartford's high property taxes and unequal tax system

Matt Pilon Gregory Seay

July 08, 2019 |

Hartford Business Journal |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Hartford, Connecticut

The complex issue of structural inequalities in Hartford, Connecticut's tax system has proven difficult to solve. But community members on all sides agree that a collective approach - one that learns from failed town halls and group brainstorms - is the only way to address the city's imbalance of income opportunities. The town's mayor has led several focus groups with local business owners to get local opinions and perspectives, but the town has to keep working to fuse this local ownership with passable legislation.

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Food waste: how to get cheap grub and help save the planet

Donna Ferguson

July 06, 2019 |

The Guardian |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Cambridge

In Cambridge, an app is helping connect restaurants with extra food to sell with customers who are looking for a less expensive meal. Although the app is limited to those who have access to a smartphone and the consumer has no say over what food they will be served when purchasing, the meals come at a significantly reduced price and the process is helping to reduce food waste.

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Bitwise Goes Big

James Fallows

June 19, 2019 |

The Atlantic |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Fresno, California

A company called Bitwise in Fresno, California thinks beyond financial gain and factors social background and economic justice into their developer training programs. Bitwise offers a coding school as well as a custom software business that hires graduates from their training program to help with commercial projects.

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