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 579 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

How to Trick People Into Saving Money

Rob Walker

May 01, 2017 |

The Atlantic |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Salem, Illinois

A large number of Americans are "unbanked or underbanked"—meaning they are not tied to traditional financial institutions to manage their money—which makes saving difficult. Walmart has managed to serve this population with a debit card program called MoneyCard that provides financial incentives to users to regularly put aside money into a "vault." This approach effectively takes into account behavioral economics in terms of how humans approach short- versus long-term rewards. Launching in August 2016, the program's membership had grown more than 130% and savings increased by 38% by December 2016.

Read More
Go to Original Story
You Can Invest Directly Into Building Bike Paths, Better Schools

Oscar Perry Abello

April 25, 2017 |

Next City |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

The startup Neighborly is making municipal bonds feel relevant. Rather than investing in a “muni” bond indirectly through a retirement fund, individuals can now directly purchase these bonds and target the money to areas they feel passionate about, whether that is building bike lanes in Vermont or investing in schools in Massachusetts. Neighborly is building renewed interest in the municipal bond market while generating more funding for important infrastructure projects.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Public banking goes to pot

Jeremy Lybarger

April 19, 2017 |

High Country News |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Sebastopol, California

California looks to the Bank of North Dakota as a model to launch a public bank for the cannabis industry. While the Bank of North Dakota is the only public bank in the country thus far, California's cannabis industry hopes to mirror this public financing method to reduce marijuana-related violence and theft throughout the state.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The world's greenest island

Tom A. Peter

April 16, 2017 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Denmark, Samso

Samsø, a small island in Denmark, has done what no other city has reached; energy independence. People on the island use a combination of wind, solar, and biomass, energy. How is such a large feat accomplished? Local leaders say it wasn’t because of technological breakthrough, but through collective action.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Where Pregnancy Isn't A Death Sentence

Linus Unah

April 06, 2017 |

Bright Magazine |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Nigeria, Ondo

In the Nigeria state of Ondo the maternal mortality rate fell by 40 percent after the state unrolled the Abiye vanguard program. Over 400 health vanguard’s were hired to ensure that pregnant women delivered their babies in healthcare facilities, rather than with traditional birth attendants. “94.7 percent of deliveries today are now handled by skilled attendants, compared to 38 percent nationwide.”

Read More
Go to Original Story
In Myanmar's slums, women pool savings to get relief from crushing loans

Connor MacDonald

March 30, 2017 |

Citiscope |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Myanmar, Yangon, Yangon Region

Years of misrule and a subsequent dearth of hard currency, along with crippling bank-fostered debt cycles and exorbitant home mortgage interest rates, have created immense suffering for Myanmar's poor. But with the guidance of a local NGO, Women for the World, a pilot project helped women in some of Yangon's poorest neighborhoods capitalize on their cultural "head-of-household" status; by forming and managing community savings cooperatives, the women have instilled trust through local control and, above all, enabled members to secure land, build homes, buy food, and even generate profit through loans to families' business enterprises.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How to Keep Businesses (and Small Towns) Alive When Owners Retire

Kaela Bamberger

March 29, 2017 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Concordia, Kansas

RedTire, short for Redefine Your Retirement, is helping small businesses stay afloat by facilitating transitions in business ownership and acting as a non-profit business broker. The service helps rural communities thrive since small businesses are essential to the vitality of small towns. In its five year history, RedTire has brokered sales that collectively total over $22 million.

Read More
Go to Original Story
A Surprising Path Out of Domestic Abuse: Entrepreneurship

Riva Richmond

March 28, 2017 |

The Story Exchange |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Women are often stuck in an abusive relationship due to poor financial situations. Programs are beginning to help abused women by giving them support and helping them become entrepreneurs in order to become financially independent.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Northern Lights: Large-Scale Solar Power Is Spreading Across the U.S.

Cheryl Katz

March 23, 2017 |

Yale Environment 360 |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Once largely confined to the desert Southwest, solar power is making its way across the United States. Due to decreasing prices in installations, coupled with government incentives and increasing knowledge of energy harvesting capabilities, solar has recently found its way into places such as Idaho, Maine, Alabama, Iowa, Kentucky, and Nebraska - with places like Georgia and Florida are looking to expand. Despite the pushback from the newest presidential administration, even cynics of the solar power movement are declaring it the most viable option.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Small Town, Big Success With Reentry Program

Johnny Magdaleno

March 06, 2017 |

Next City |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, New Castle, Pennsylvania

Jail-to-Jobs, a program with one employee, has helped more than 260 formerly incarcerated people find full-time jobs. Created by a district attorney who saw former felons struggling to be considered for openings, the program links local companies with insurance and support in order to promote hiring.

Read More
Go to Original Story