Quick Change That Lasts for the Long Term

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/quick-change-that-lasts-for-the-long-term

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

4 October 2011

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Rapid Results Initiatives are micro social change projects that a village, government office, or business will work accomplish in just 100 days. They have proven to be sustainably effective at various tasks because they create a sense of local ownership and empowerment within the community that inspires additional change and improvement.

Out of Poverty, Family-Style

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/14/out-of-poverty-family-style

David Bornstein

The New York Times

14 July 2011

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A non-traditional program called the Family Independence Initiative (F.I.I.), uses a radically different approach from the traditional American social service model to empower entire families alleviate themselves from poverty. The results in multiple states thus far have been so striking, that this model of self-sufficiency may be able to have a significant impact reducing poverty nationwide.

Success in the City of Brotherly Love / The city that knows how - Philly Philadelphia / Effort stems tide of homelessness -- can S.F. learn from it?

http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Success-in-the-City-of-Brotherly-Love-The-city-2749789.php

Kevin Fagan

SFGate

13 June 2004

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Philadelphia reduced chronic homelessness by coordinating outreach through a centralized office and providing immediate access to housing and services such as counseling and drug rehabilitation. San Francisco is studying the model.

Crime and blight still remain

http://www.fayobserver.com/article/20140222/News/302229724

Greg Barnes

Fayetteville Observer

22 February 2014

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Civic leaders in the U.S. struggle to effectively help their distressed neighborhoods. East Lake, Atlanta, created a replicable model that mixes residents of differing socio-economic status, and focuses on education and health in the area.

From Young Adult Book Fans to Wizards of Change

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/21/from-young-adult-book-fans-to-wizards-of-change

Courtney E. Martin

The New York Times

21 March 2012

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Global social and economic problems are difficult to change. However, fan-activism fuels the interests of fans of popular young adult fiction. Books such as Harry Potter and the Hunger Games have inspired activist groups that raise awareness of global hunger, reading, and relief supplies to impoverished nations, among others. Being a fan has served as a bridge to become politically active and solve the world’s problems.

Guiding Families to a Fair Day in Court

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/29/guiding-poor-families-to-a-fair-day-in-court

David Bornstein

The New York Times

29 May 2015

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Millions of families of arrested individuals do not know what to do to help, how to obtain a lawyer, or what the process entails in the court system. Created by Albert Cobarrubius Justice Project, participatory defense is a type of community organizing that teaches and empowers people who face criminal charges. Individuals know how to work with attorneys in order to navigate the system and ultimately feel equipped to become drivers of their own change.

Oklahoma schools district offers insight as EPISD, YISD consider shutting schools

http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/archives/2015/03/21/tulsa-outreach-key-palatable-school-closures/73899232

Lindsey Anderson

El Paso Times

21 March 2015

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Tulsa Public Schools drew on expertise across many sectors and extensive neighborhood input to address the issue of thousands of empty seats in local schools. Through a community-focused process, they were able to mindfully close under-utilized schools and better maximize the community's resources for students.

On the Web, a Revolution in Giving

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/on-the-web-a-revolution-in-giving

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

31 March 2011

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New crowdfunding options can help even the smallest donor's contributions to have a meaningful impact, bolstering a sense of personal involvement, maximizing knowledge about causes, and inspiring greater participation.

In India, Latrines Are Truly Lifesavers

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/in-india-latrines-are-truly-lifesavers

Vivekananda Nemana

Ankita Rao

The New York Times

13 November 2014

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India has had a problem in which 620 million people openly defecate outdoors, causing harm to hygiene, sanitation, food, and water resources. The president of India funded an initiative to build public toilets for the people in his country, but the people did not use them because of old traditions and behaviors. The Total Sanitation Campaign is slowly changing villagers’ minds by having local leadership persuade those who resist the toilets by holding community activities and creating special committees to maintain the sanitation.

Police chief, mayor tour city's rundown neighborhoods

http://www.fayobserver.com/article/20140222/News/302229785

Greg Barnes

Fayetteville Observer

22 February 2014

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In Fayetteville, the Mayor and Police Chief have taken a personalized approach in seeking a solution for blighted, low-income neighborhoods and are working to increase the number of city staff on-hand to help address issues like decrepit buildings, as well as decrease the disparity in resources allocated to maintaining these neighborhoods. But many challenges remain, and the line between the government's role versus the private homeowner's responsibility remains difficult to define.