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How a US strategy is helping gang members in Malmö turn their lives around

Anne Grietje Franssen

April 29, 2021 |

The Local |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Sweden, Malmö

When drug-gang violence reached intolerable levels in Malmö in 2017, Swedish crime prevention officials traveled to New York for tips. There they learned about a gang violence intervention strategy in which gang members are summoned to a meeting with law enforcement, community, and social-services representatives. They are told about the harm they are causing, are offered help in changing their lifestyle, and are warned that they will be prosecuted otherwise. In Malmö since then, hundreds heard that message, dozens accepted the help, and violence dropped significantly year after year.

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Can “democracy dollars” keep real dollars out of politics?

Julia Hotz

April 28, 2021 |

MIT Technology Review |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Democracy Vouchers, a tax-payer-funded program that sends four $25 certificates to residents to donate to local candidates, made Seattle the national leader by increasing the percent of the electorate donating to local campaigns to nearly 8%. They also allow more non-establishment candidates, who lack connections to wealthy donors, to run for office. Four of the nine 2019 city council candidates used vouchers to help fund their campaigns and the vouchers are being expanded to the city’s mayoral races. A national pilot program was also approved to try vouchers for congressional candidates in three states.

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These New York Neighbors Are Building Their Own Safety Net

Julia Hotz

April 27, 2021 |

Next City |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Astoria, New York

Neighborhoods throughout New York are banding together to create their own mutual aid networks to help their community members during the coronavirus pandemic. From grocery shopping to fundraising for resources such as diapers, these groups are filling gaps to help meet community needs.

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How vaccination became 'hip' in the '50s, thanks to teens

Erin Blakemore

April 27, 2021 |

National Geographic |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

In the 1950s, the National Institute for Infantile Paralysis launched a nationwide public health campaign to encourage teenagers to receive the polio vaccine. Tactics included interviewing and recruiting teenagers to be spokespeople to better frame messaging around vaccine hesitancy and make the act of getting the vaccine "cool."

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'We Need To Act Now': This Small Wisconsin City Is Boosting Its Use Of Renewable Energy To Fight Climate Change

Danielle Kaeding

April 22, 2021 |

Wisconsin Public Radio |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, River Falls, Wisconsin

The city of River Falls in Wisconsin built the state’s first city-owned solar garden, taking steps to reduce their use of fossil fuels and encourage community members to go green. Now, all city buildings are 100 percent run on renewable energy and residents can sign up for a program allowing them to buy renewable energy. Getting people to take action can be difficult, but city officials say they found the right message to get its residents on board.

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Bridges to understanding: Linkaut is an Italian dad's project to help his son with Autism

Francesco Ciampa

April 22, 2021 |

News48 |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Italy, Rimini

An organization in Italy, spearheaded by a father who has a child with autism, is working to train local businesses how to recognize, react, and serve families who may have a member in their party with autism. Although not all companies have expressed interest in the program, 120 businesses and services across Italy have signed up to participate in the training so far. The Covid-19 pandemic has halted some of the training aspects, but the organization has found additional opportunities to educate partner businesses in the meantime.

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Community restores grasslands, makes village drought-resilient

Vinaya Kurtkoti

April 21, 2021 |

Village Square |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India, Dhule, Maharashtra

Lamakani, a small village in India, went barren and townspeople completely depended on water tankers after a drought in the 90s. One leader initiated a watershed movement. They applied a series of approaches which included things like watershed development, bans on grass grazing and tree falling, and collaborating with local artists to communicate messages of conservation. Now, the town is lush again.

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In a first for the region, Hannaford says its grocery stores have achieved zero food waste

Janelle Nanos

April 20, 2021 |

The Boston Globe |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Scarborough, Maine

The Hannaford supermarket chain has achieved their goal of creating zero food waste. Over the past year, they diverted 65 million pounds of unsellable products to food banks, de-packing facilities, and anaerobic digestion facilities where it’s converted to energy. The grocery store is also making adjustments to how it purchases and sources food and how it’s displayed with the hopes of extending the food’s shelf life.

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The fight to save India's most elusive cat

Kamala Thiagarajan

April 18, 2021 |

BBC |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

After a fishing cat was first documented in an Indian coastal city, state authorities, scientists, and conservationists sought to understand how many felines called the wetland home. Using camera traps, they observed 10 individual fishing cats among the mangrove forests, though this method of estimating the population is tricky. Another survey is underway as researchers study how the health of these habitats are linked to the health of the fishing cats, and how to effectively educate locals about the importance of protecting this species.

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The Southwest Offers Blueprints for the Future of Wastewater Reuse

Frederick Clayton

April 17, 2021 |

Truthout |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Diego, California

As the U.S. Southwest continues to navigate ongoing water crises, several places — including Las Vegas; Orange County, California;, and San Diego — are turning wastewater into drinking water. Their various systems are recycling and treating wastewater as a way to save money and create a reliable supply of drinking water for residents in arid climates. Outreach and education in these communities helped make these systems successful and could be a model for others looking to supplement their traditional water supplies.

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