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://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an experiential civics curriculum in the classroom, Massachusetts is leading the country in efforts to reinvigorate outdated civics coursework.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://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
Mixed 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.”
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.
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.
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
Mixed 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
Mixed 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.
https://apolitical.co/solution_article/housing-affordability-crisis-boston
Lauren Greenawalt
Apolitical
9 November 2018
Text / 800-1500 Words
When local policy initiatives fail, it is often because they are not meeting local needs in a way that residents want. The Boston Housing Innovation Lab, know as the iLab, seeks to combat this challenge. So far, it has used creative approaches to let residents “experience” a policy- such as walking through an example compact house to give feedback on its design. This process informed feedback that otherwise would have been difficult to glean. By constantly seeking to understand users, the iLab and local Boston housing groups will be better equipped to create policies that actually help community members.
https://www.citylab.com/equity/2018/11/louisiana-amendment-2-black-jurors-felony-conviction/574981
Brentin Mock
CityLab
8 November 2018
Text / 800-1500 Words
An amendment passed in Louisiana does away with non-unanimous jury verdicts that have helped solidify racial discrimination in the criminal justice system since they were implemented in response to Reconstruction. Data shows black defendants were more likely to be convicted in the non-unanimous system and the votes of black jurors more likely to be silenced. Advocates said the amendment is a huge game changer against mass incarceration in Louisiana and racial discrimination.
https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/make-voting-easy
Roxanne Patel Shepelavy
The Philadelphia Citizen
7 November 2018
Mixed Media / 800-1500 Words
Voter turnout is higher where voting is made easy. Consider one innovation: vote-by mail. States that allowed mail-in ballots had an average of 10 percent more voting in the 2016 election than other states. More innovations include pre-registering young voters, automatically updating a voter’s address when they move, automatically registering citizens unless they opt out, and same-day voter registration.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06qty92
Sam Judah
BBC
6 November 2018
Radio / Over 15 Minutes
Countries across the world are aiming to reduce their plastic waste. African countries, however, are leading the way with a variety of techniques. Kenya in particular has taken one of the most drastic approaches by having plastic bags in one's possession punishable by $40,000 or even jail time.
https://news.osu.edu/an-evidence-based-way-to-help-fix-our-broken-politics
Jeff Grabmeier
Ohio State News
5 November 2018
Text / Under 800 Words
If elected representatives have a few hours to speak with their constituents, where’s what they should do: discuss policy issues online with a small group of randomly selected constituents. Participants appreciate the opportunity to speak with their representatives, rate them more highly, and are more likely to vote for them – even months later. The evidence supporting this method of engaging constituents is so compelling that researchers will present their work to all new members of Congress this year.
https://apolitical.co/solution_article/how-to-tackle-populism-rebuild-rural-civic-life
Fergus Peace
Apolitical
2 November 2018
Text / 800-1500 Words
Access to civic institutions, such as local newspapers, arts facilities, churches, and even breweries, help people feel more connected to their communities and less inclined to support populist candidates. Rural areas suffering from a lack of strong civic institutions are experimenting with promoting local businesses, organizing town halls, and even designing town mascots.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90254094/how-tech-is-helping-abortion-providers-overcome-barriers-to-access
Rina Raphael
FastCompany
1 November 2018
Text / 1500-3000 Words
A collaboration between pro-choice activists and tech workers is—in the face of increasing restrictive policy—creating access to services and information. Events like the Abortion Access Hackathon provide a means for collective action to create websites detailing the location of clinics and each state’s law regarding abortion.
http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20181025-the-cost-of-keeping-singapore-squeaky-clean
Tim McDonald
BBC
29 October 2018
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Singapore maintains its state of cleanliness through fines, public education, and an army of low-paid cleaners. Fifty years ago, the Keep Singapore Clean campaign was the first time the government used fines as a method of social control. Now that the city is wealthier, the fines aren’t as effective. Singaporeans rely on cleaners to do the majority of the work.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-first-time-voters-are-being-mobilized-in-florida
Mason Berger
PBS NewsHour
29 October 2018
Mixed Media / Under 5 Minutes
Voter registration groups, such as Next Gen and the Florida Federation of Young Republicans, were the second most common method of getting new voters to register in Florida. To grab young voters, these organizations showed up in classrooms and club meetings and focused on issues that youth care about, including the cost of college and gun violence.
https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Progress-Watch/2018/1029/In-an-Indiana-river-cleanup-businesses-and-environmentalists-cooperate
Lauren Littell
The Christian Science Monitor
29 October 2018
Text / Under 800 Words
The Grand Calumet River in Indiana was once infamous for its levels of pollution and contamination. Although it didn't happen overnight, collaboration efforts between public and private players was key to restoring the river and now serves as a model to learn from for other areas.
https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/how-sex-workers-made-san-francisco-safer-for-everyone
Hannah Albarazi
Next City
25 October 2018
Text / 800-1500 Words
In San Francisco, a law that offers amnesty to sex workers who report violent crimes to police is designed to save lives and reduce crime overall in the city. It comes as the city’s police department faces a massive police sex scandal over officers abusing an underaged sex worker, something advocates say is all too common and leaves crimes such women might report uninvestigated. Advocates applaud the new law, say it doesn’t go far enough and they worry new federal laws could undermine it.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/new-zealand-progressive-paid-leave-environment-jacinda-ardern_us_5bcd998be4b0a8f17eee3a7c
Angela Cuming
The Huffington Post
24 October 2018
Text / 800-1500 Words
In New Zealand politics, families, children, and the environment come first. Amidst the rise of right-wing populist governments, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stands out for her energy fighting for progressive values and positivity. Her track record already shows a raise in paid parental leave to 26 weeks, time off policy for victims of domestic violence, and a ban on new exploration of oil and gas. Though she admits change is slower than ideal, Ardern stands out for being a leader that voices the need for change and then acts on it.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/22/world/australia/compulsory-voting.html
Tacey Rychter
The New York Times
22 October 2018
Text / 800-1500 Words
Australia maintains a high voter turnout by making voting both easy and mandatory. Election day is always on a Saturday, and community groups host barbeques to mark the occasion. If an eligible voter still doesn’t cast a ballot, they can face a fine of up to nearly 80 Australian dollars.
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