Only two states in the country don’t have organizations working to resettle refugees: Wyoming and Montana. But Montana is making a change — and people on both sides of the issue are watching.
https://apolitical.co/solution_article/australia-is-building-community-alternatives-to-prisons-they-work
Lorana Bartels
Apolitical
22 February 2019
Text / 800-1500 Words
With their national imprisonment rate on the rise, Australia is pivoting to a justice reinvestment strategy that diverts money towards "early intervention, prevention and diversion." Although this has yet to be implemented on a large scale, small projects are underway in parts of the country and have delivered promising results.
https://thisisafrica.me/nigeria-kenya-senegal-provide-solutions-in-anti-fgm-fight
Patrick Egwu
This is Africa
15 February 2019
Text / Over 3000 Words
To combat the persistence of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Africa, communities band together to spread awareness through film, religious outlets, community gatherings, and other creative means of education. While FGM is still prevalent in areas that believe it to be an important traditional practice, individuals and groups across Nigeria, Kenya, and Senegal have reduced the practice of FGM in their areas.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/12/nyregion/sexual-harassment-ny-legislature.html
Vivian Yang
The New York Times
12 February 2019
Text / 1500-3000 Words
After 11 months of calls to employment lawyers and civil rights groups, legal proceedings, and recommended reforms to current legislation, seven women of the Sexual Harassment Working Group, all of whom are survivors, have successfully forced the New York's lawmakers to hold the first public hearing on sexual harassment since 1992. The members of the working group see the hearing as an important first step in reckoning with Albany's checkered past.
https://coloradosun.com/2019/02/06/cities-across-colorado-saw-how-gentrification-impacted-denver-theyre-trying-to-avoid-the-same-pitfalls
Kevin Simpson
The Colorado Sun
6 February 2019
Text / Over 3000 Words
As gentrification drives involuntary displacement in Denver, Colorado, the city planners elsewhere in Colorado aim to avoid the same fate by instituting policy safeguards. Fort Collins has put in extra protection for mobile home parks, one of the only viable housing options for low-income residents, and another city program controls utility costs.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/04/picture-clue-cops-turn-to-amateur-web-sleuths-to-help-crack-cases
Senay Boztas
The Guardian
4 February 2019
Text / 800-1500 Words
The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, otherwise known as Europol, is using crowdsourcing to identify locations involved in both past and current child abuse cases. By posting unedited images online and asking for tips to help identify the clue, tens of thousands of emails have been sent in by individuals and groups which has lead to the identification of nine victims and potentially stopped repeat offenders.
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900053712/overhaul-of-utahs-public-defender-system-a-huge-benefit-for-juab-county.html
Annie Knox
Deseret News
2 February 2019
Text / 1500-3000 Words
In 2016, the state of Utah took control over the funding model for individual county's legal defenders in order to better use resources. Thanks to the restructuring, in just a year, counties have seen noticeable increases in both manpower and budgets which not only betters the public defenders, but also those they're defending.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/01/24/city-bureau-local-journalism-training-school-chicago-what-works-next-224114
Max Blau
Politico Magazine
24 January 2019
Text / Over 3000 Words
Strengthening the link between local journalism and civic engagement lends a voice to communities long underrepresented. Chicago’s City Bureau brings the newsroom out to neighborhoods and communities. In an effort to augment a lack of diversity in US newsrooms and a lack of understanding surrounding local issues, City Bureau empowers locals to act as “documenters” collecting, analyzing, and reporting on public meetings and issues that matter to their communities. By making journalism accessible to locals, City Bureau aims to build trust and redefine the journalistic process.
https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/revitalizing-and-reconnecting-western-new-yorks-regional-biking-network
Mark Wessel
Next City
24 January 2019
Text / 800-1500 Words
In western New York, local bike advocacy groups have found power in numbers, banding together to gradually convince their governments to expand cycling access and communities to change their attitudes toward cyclists. By organizing mass cycling rides, which were at times disruptive by design, and other advocacy efforts, GOBike Buffalo and connected groups have convinced government and foundations alike to launch a major bike network.
https://indyweek.com/news/durham/durham-county-dismisses-hundreds-of-traffic-fines
Sarah Willets
INDY Week
15 January 2019
Text / 800-1500 Words
Durham County relieved hundreds of outstanding traffic fines in an effort to restore suspended driver's licenses. The program, called Durham Expungement and Restoration (DEAR), "identified more than 11,000 people eligible to have outstanding fines dropped" from charges resulting from court absence or inability to pay a traffic ticket.
https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/ideas-we-should-steal-action-civics-in-schools
Michael Deal
The Philadelphia Citizen
9 January 2019
Text / 1500-3000 Words
With a new law requiring an experiential civics curriculum in the classroom, Massachusetts is leading the country in efforts to reinvigorate outdated civics coursework.
https://apolitical.co/solution_article/singapore-made-innovation-go-viral-in-its-civil-service
Jennifer Guay
Apolitical
2 January 2019
Text / 800-1500 Words
Through its Transformation Office and Innovation Lab, Singapore encourages a culture of innovation and smart design when it comes to making policy among its 145,000 strong civil service. Borrowing aspects of its framework from diverse fields like design thinking and psychology, as well as the tech industry, Singapore's government holds training sessions and policy-focused hackathons. The result is innovative pilot programs like facial recognition ID and free skills training for public servants.
https://www.citylab.com/equity/2018/12/affordable-daycare-subsidized-child-care-working-mom-quebec/579193
Molly McCluskey
CityLab
31 December 2018
Text / 1500-3000 Words
In Quebec, a subsidized affordable child care program has proven itself over two decades, contributing to a spike in the employment of mothers with young children. Research also shows that program is financially sustainable, but there is a disparity in quality between child care centers - an issue that is also prevalent in other places that have adopted the model.
https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/for-those-experiencing-homelessness-the-bin-honors-their-belongings
Rikha Sharma Rani
Next City
21 December 2018
Multi-Media / 800-1500 Words
In Los Angeles, The Bin gives homeless people a chance to store their valuables. “If I didn’t have this bin, I’d have to get rid of most of my stuff. These bins are really great to have.” Across the nation, other cities are unfolding efforts to help the homeless population.
https://www.propublica.org/article/chestnut-park-springfield-massachusetts-how-a-consultant-said-he-gamed-hud-inspections
Molly Parker
Patrick Johnson
ProPublica
21 December 2018
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Consultants have helped public housing pass safety and health inspections by covering up serious issues with temporary walls and cosmetic fixes. “The biggest reason why most properties don’t pass,” says one consultant, is “they just don’t understand how to play the game with the points.”
http://www.governing.com/topics/urban/gov-blight-neighborhood-st-petersburg.html
J. Brian Charles
Governing
21 December 2018
Text / Under 800 Words
An initiative in St. Petersburg has reduced the number of vacant houses while increasing access to affordable housing. The city takes ownership of vacant lots and abandoned homes, then sells the properties to affordable housing developers or auctions them off. The initiative helps make land cheap enough to build affordable housing.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/11/opinion/making-a-difference-in-2018.html
Tina Rosenberg
The New York Times
11 December 2018
Text / 1500-3000 Words
In times of political gridlock, individuals have stepped up to make meaningful changes in their communities, with their solutions inspiring others around the world. From ground-up political action that decreased gerrymandering in Michigan to an accessible coding bootcamp to helping women’s health in many forms, it is clear that change can come from anywhere.
http://nationswell.com/eric-liu-civic-saturday-secular-church
Adrienne Day
NationSwell
5 December 2018
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Modeled after faith-based services, Civic Saturday encourages civic participation by creating a space for people to discuss social change, organize to vote, and engage in other democracy and community-building activities. The concept has been replicated in cities across the United States.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2018/11/fighting-cheetah-trade-somaliland
Simon Worrall
National Geographic
4 December 2018
Text / 800-1500 Words
Cheetah cubs are routinely smuggled through Somaliland on their way to being illegally trafficked in United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia. Although small and resource-deprived, Somaliland is taking a stand against this practice through increased regulations and punishments.
http://www.secondwavemedia.com/metromode/features/diversitySterlingHeightsNov29.aspx
Kate Roff
Metromode
29 November 2018
Text / 800-1500 Words
Two initiatives in the Detroit suburb of Sterling Heights draw on the community's rich diversity to make it a more inclusive place. The city's police force is making sure its force "reflects the community they serve" by offering an "extended-session" training option on evenings and Saturdays to reach trainees who might not otherwise be able to attend full-time training. Established in 1990, the Ethnic Community Committee promotes a wide range of projects, including a Tamil entertainment group, Filipino-American civic participation education program, and mediation program.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-ban-insight/separated-by-travel-ban-iranian-families-reunite-at-border-library-idUSKCN1NX1P2
Yeganeh Torbati
Reuters
28 November 2018
Multi-Media / 1500-3000 Words
Iranian families are sidestepping the U.S. Muslim ban inside a library. The Haskell Free Library and Opera House is located in both Derby Line, Vermont, and Stanstead, Quebec. Dozens of Iranian families have briefly reunited in the library, which acts as unofficial political gray zone. “You don’t need your passport. You park on your side, I’ll park on my side, but we’re all going to walk in the same door.”
https://www.citylab.com/equity/2018/11/treatment-centers-addiction-mental-health-caring-4-denver/576202
Jason Plautz
CityLab
21 November 2018
Text / 800-1500 Words
Colorado has recently adopted a new .25 percent sales tax to create a pool of funding for mental health and addiction services. The initial funds are earmarked to create a new mental health center, while the overall vision for the funds is to create services to move addiction to a public health rather than a criminal issue.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2018/nov/21/fixing-rooms-saving-lives-drug-addicts
Mattha Busby
The Guardian
21 November 2018
Multi-Media / 800-1500 Words
In Denmark, drugs users can safely get high inside “drug consumption rooms.” One of those is Skyken, users have access to clean needles, are allowed 24 hour access, and nurses can treat overdoses with antidotes. Evidence shows these types of rooms reduce deaths. “Drug consumption rooms reduce the risk of fatal overdose, reduce public injecting, and increase access to health and treatment services.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06sbtzz
Richard Kenny
BBC
20 November 2018
Video / Under 5 Minutes
As Paris invests in public parks, local residents have been granted more than 3,000 permits to grow street gardens. The greenery is adding life to one of Europe’s most densely populated cities while fostering civic engagement and pride.
https://www.citylab.com/equity/2018/11/knight-foundation-on-the-table-civic-engagement-philadelphia/575995
Andrew Small
CityLab
16 November 2018
Text / 800-1500 Words
Food and common passions are bringing people together for solutions-oriented conversations about the communities they live in. The Knight Foundation’s “On the Table” series started in Chicago and has now expanded to 30 cities. It’s an all-day event to encourage civic dialogue.
https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/the-largest-indoor-recreational-space-in-chicago-and-so-much-more
Oscar Perry Abello
Next City
15 November 2018
Text / 1500-3000 Words
In Chicago, where seasons as well as subpar local investment in the South Side limit children’s ability to play outside year-round, the new Pullman Community Center is a huge improvement. Beyond fostering recreational opportunities for youth, the community center employed over 200 people, mostly local residents, in its construction. Best of all, “It was a key component to have the whole thing owned, operated and managed by a local group that looks like the community,” says local Alderman Anthony Beale. They succeeded.
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