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Less Trash, More Schools — One Plastic Brick at a Time

Anemona Hartocollis

July 27, 2019 |

The New York Times |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan

The recycling economy is helping Ivory Coast overcome a building shortage and create jobs. The Fighting Women, a community organization in Abidjan, collect plastic waste to resell to manufacturers. In partnership with UNICEF, the Columbian company, Conceptos Plásticos purchases plastic waste from the Women and recycles it into bricks, which are used to construct classrooms.

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Buried lines helping prevent outages during Carolina hurricanes

John Sharpe

July 26, 2019 |

Carolina Public Press |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, North Carolina

Coastal cities across South and North Carolina are considering the benefits of underground power lines. With hurricane winds doing major damage to above-ground lines, buried lines often go unharmed, leaving residents with power during such storms. Those in the field note that the cost of rerouting power underground is substantial, and something that residents must cover themselves.

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Feeling Lonely? Perhaps You'd Like to Talk to Some Strangers

Julia Hotz

July 18, 2019 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

Feeling isolated often leads to increased feelings of loneliness, but is also a reason why new meet-ups such as Tea With Strangers are becoming widely used as a solution. Based on the idea that strangers can become more like neighbors, these gatherings promote conversation and connection with the goal of reducing isolation.

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The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe goes solar

Avery White

July 16, 2019 |

High Country News |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Ute Reservation, Colorado

The Ute Tribe’s reservation is building its first large-scale solar array with the end goal of transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy. The reservation, spanning Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, has partnered with GRID Alternatives Colorado to implement this first installment, which will eliminate over 1,500 tons of greenhouse gas emissions in just the first year.

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In an Apparent First, Genetic Genealogy Aids a Wrongful Conviction Case

Mia Armstrong

July 16, 2019 |

The Marshall Project |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Idaho

The use of genetic genealogy technology has given law enforcement the opportunity to compare DNA that people have tested personally through companies like 23andMe to DNA collected at crime scenes. Recently being used to help free people from prison who have been wrongfully convicted, the technology gives law enforcement insight as to the family tree the DNA is connected to. While showing potential, it has also raised concerns around genetic data privacy, with many companies now requiring permission from users.

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There Is Power in a Debtors' Union

Hannah Appel

July 12, 2019 |

Dissent Magazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Debtors’ unions can use collective nonpayment of debts to fight against unfair lending practices. Amid the United States’ student loan financial crisis, debtor organizations like the Debt Collective leverage organization and collective action to seek financial justice. Prior to forming the Debt Collective, activists in the group Rolling Jubilee purchased and cancelled student debt portfolios from Corinthian Colleges Inc.

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With Rural Health Care Stretched Thin, More Patients Turn To Telehealth

Patti Neighmond

July 07, 2019 |

NPR |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States

Almost a quarter of rural Americans surveyed by NPR had used a telehealth service in the past few years. While new technologies are allowing remote patients to gain new access to healthcare, lack of broadband service and outdated insurance policies are making it hard for more widespread adoption.

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An Online Preschool Closes a Gap but Exposes Another

Nellie Bowles

July 07, 2019 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Fowler, California

Online kindergarten readiness certificate programs in several states are offering low-income families, without reliable preschool programs, an alternative to expensive private care centers. Acknowledging criticism of the model, a North Carolina State Representative noted, “We simply don’t have the money to provide a quality pre-K experience to every child in North Carolina, even though I absolutely agree that a face-to-face, high-quality pre-K is the best option. But when it’s not an option for the child, I refuse to ignore that child.”

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Food waste: how to get cheap grub and help save the planet

Donna Ferguson

July 06, 2019 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Cambridge

In Cambridge, an app is helping connect restaurants with extra food to sell with customers who are looking for a less expensive meal. Although the app is limited to those who have access to a smartphone and the consumer has no say over what food they will be served when purchasing, the meals come at a significantly reduced price and the process is helping to reduce food waste.

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Renewing London

Oliver Gordon

July 04, 2019 |

Struggles from Below Magazine |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: England, London

In London, two community-driven initiatives are working side by side to engage residents in sustainable practices. Energy Garden, a community energy cooperative, has created green spaces in rail stations offers residents community gardens, nature education, and solar power. Repower, the other initiative, works with residents to communally invest in renewable energy for low-income neighborhoods while also providing those neighborhoods with energy jobs and mentoring services.

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