Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 2458 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

For One Community, a Simple Hearse Has Profound Effect

Merveille Kavira Luneghe

September 27, 2020 |

Global Press Journal |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kirumba

A public hearse, donated by a National Assembly member, helps around three families a day carry their deceased relatives to burial grounds. The minivan, with no seats and a siren on top, has had a profound effect in the area, which is often dealing with disease and occasional armed conflict. Previously, families carried bodies on foot or strapped to a motorcycle, and often had to pay someone to do it. The public service is overseen by a hearse management committee and the city’s 90,000 residents are charged a mandatory fee of about $1.28 per household to cover repairs, gas, and payments to the driver.

Read More
Go to Original Story
State of Texas: Lawmakers weigh ‘solutions' proposed for education equity during pandemic

Arezow Doost Josh Hinkle Jennifer Sanders Laney Valian Tahera Rahman John Thomas

September 27, 2020 |

KXAN-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Texas

In Texas, 2 million households in the state don’t have high speed internet, affecting students of color at a greater rate. Some districts have also had problems with chronic absenteeism. This segment explores creative solutions enacted by different schools in Texas. In Lockhart ISD the district built seven cell phone towers to provide high speed internet to rural students who lived in dead zones. In Leander ISD, a librarian and a parent when door knocking to reconnect with absent bilingual students. In Manor ISD, a digital tracking system helped boost the rate of contactable students from 91 percent, to 99.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Black women legislators are rare in statehouses. This could be the solution.

Barbara Rodriguez

September 25, 2020 |

The 19th |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington

A newly established PAC in Washington state aims to increase the likelihood of Black women being elected to Washington State Legislature by eliminating the financial barrier that often impedes candidates from running their campaigns on an equal playing field. Although it is yet to be seen how the elections will turn out, the PAC has already succeeded in fundraising over $200,000 and distributing those funds to various campaigns.

Read More
Go to Original Story
A parent-led effort to close the digital divide

Javeria Salman

September 24, 2020 |

The Hechinger Report |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Nevada

When Clark County School District moved to an all-remote plan for school, it distributed 10,000 devices, close to 20,000 students had no way to connect their online classes. A parent, with the help of a SCSD teacher and a board of education member, created a Facebook group to help spanish-speaking families express if they needed a device for their kids and help fill those needs. The group gained traction and attention and has since received 550 device requests, fulfilling 162. The group relies on monetary and computer donations from individuals and businesses.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Old school still rules: Lee-Harvard's high census response rate could teach other neighborhoods a few tricks

Lee Chilcote Conor Morris

September 22, 2020 |

The Land |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Cleveland, Ohio

The high census completion rate in Lee-Harvard, as high as 70%, compared to Cleveland’s 50% as a whole, is the result of regular meetings, pre-pandemic, to educate residents of the benefits of the census and dispel common myths. After the pandemic, volunteers at the community center’s monthly food distribution provided census-related information. A group of retired women, called the Ward 1 Volunteer Navigators, also went door-to-door to make sure everyone got counted. Because many of the residents are long time homeowners, neighbor-to-neighbor relationships also led more residents to complete the census.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Waiving Regulations for Affordable Housing Shows Results in Austin

Jared Brey

September 22, 2020 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Austin, Texas

Affordable housing requirements for developers were eased in Austin through legislation known as Affordability Unlocked. As a result of less stringent parking, set-back and height codes, developers are able to maximize the number of units per building and deliver a bigger impact per project. These projects are generally built through government subsidies, therefore giving tax payers a higher return on investment.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The Shared Spaces program: a crisis-driven experiment that could permanently change San Francisco's urban landscape

Hayden Manseau

September 22, 2020 |

Mission Local |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

The Shared Spaces program is a pandemic-driven initiative that increases outdoor dining space in commercial areas. The initiative made the permit process more user friendly and less expensive. Over 1,200 outdoor dining applications were approved in three months, which is more than the city approved in 2018 and 2019 combined. The increased capacity of outdoor dining seating takes away other public spaces, usually parking and driving space, but the program’s success has helped businesses survive pandemic-related restrictions and officials are assessing the program to maintain it moving forward.

Read More
Go to Original Story
This Philly-based video-chatting platform helps older adults stay connected during socially isolated times

Courtney Duchene

September 22, 2020 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

OneClick.chat is an online video chatting and live events platform, with 50,000 users in over 30 countries, that helps older adults connect with old friends and meet new people. The technology is designed to be easy to master, with key features such as chat, mute, and screen-share buttons more obviously placed, easy to access, and remaining accessible throughout the conversation. Meeting scheduling is also made to be simple. Users, who pay $15/month for the service, get a unique meeting room URL that never changes. Using the services doesn’t require people to download software or create an account.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Voting from Jail Is a Right, and Now a Reality in Chicago

Pamela Kirkland

September 21, 2020 |

70 Million |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Chicago's Cook County Jail became the first jail in the nation in March to open a polling place behind bars, resulting in about 1,800 voters casting ballots, a sharp increase in voting by eligible voters in the jail. The polling place, combined with expanded voter-registration efforts, resulted from a new Illinois law requiring all counties to expand voting access. Outside of Chicago that means voting by mail. The Chicago experience provides a window into efforts nationwide to expand voting access to people incarcerated in jails and prisons, or with criminal records.

Read More
Go to Original Story
No Problems Expected For Hawaii's New Vote-By-Mail System For The Nov. 3 Election

Blaze Lovell

September 21, 2020 |

Honolulu Civil Beat |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Hawaii

Election officials in Hawaii made adjustments to their election regulations for the August 2020 primary that resulted in the highest voter turnout for a primary in two decades. The state offered multiple ways to return ballots and created a new system to help voters with special needs. They also implemented security measures, including unique bar codes and signature verification, to deter fraud. The state earned an “A” in the Brookings Institution’s ranking of states’ preparedness to vote during a pandemic and will use insights from the primary to increase access even more during the general election.

Read More
Go to Original Story