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Mansfield follows lead of cities transformed by America in Bloom

Tracy Geibel

March 08, 2018 |

Richland Source |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Mansfield, Ohio

It is often hard to build up cities when they are filled with blight. Three cities in Ohio are benefitting from America in Bloom, a program that gives awards based on community improvement initiatives. Already in Mansfield, Logan, and Gallipolis, America in Bloom awards encourage volunteerism and garner enthusiasm around community beautification initiatives.

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The chewing gum you don't mind stuck to your shoe

Dougal Shaw

March 06, 2018 |

BBC |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Winchester, Greater London

Did you know that the main ingredient in most chewing gum is a synthetic rubber, which resembles a close relationship to plastic? "It's called polyisobutylene," explains Anna Bullus, a British designer, "the same stuff you find in the inner tube of bicycle wheels." After realizing this, Anna decided to embark on a mission to recycle used chewing gum as a means of cleaning up the streets. What resulted was a way to create everyday products that include at least 20% gum, while simultaneously saving institutions money on what otherwise would have gone toward cleanup efforts.

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Crowded cities search for nature-based solutions for residents' well-being

Sophie Davies

March 05, 2018 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Italy, Milan

A new investment project, worth almost 11.4 million euro, is creating public green spaces in concrete jungles across Europe. The projects include green roofs, parks, street trees, and more, all worked on in collaboration with local governments and organizations -- but concerns exist about their overall impact and the possibility of what some have termed "green gentrification."

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How Curators Are Taking Over Vacant Spaces and Changing Cities

Amanda Arnold

March 01, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

All around the world there is a trend for pop-ups to take over empty spaces and give the spaces meaning for a short period of time. For instance, in a time when capitalism dominates society, the Museum of Capitalism filled an Oakland warehouse for two months to spark conversation on the topic. These pop-ups act as an educational resource, a creative asset to neighborhoods, and a more accessible way for artists to engage with social issues and a large audience.

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Community And Vegetables Grow Side-By-Side In Syrian Refugee Camp Gardens

Julia Travers

February 22, 2018 |

NPR |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Iraq

For Syrian refugees staying in camps in Northern Iraq, gardening and greenery can be a way to stay connected to home while also providing a sense of purpose. The U.K. based nonprofit The Lemon Tree Trust works to help refugees start their own gardens - and eventually sell the produce - by sponsoring a home garden competition and providing toolkits and resources for individuals who'd like to get involved.

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How a Liverpool suburb upended its housing market

Aditya Chakrabortty

February 14, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: England, Liverpool

To combat neighborhood neglect, a group of community members in Granby, a Liverpool neighborhood, took matters into their own hands by creating a community land trust. The land trust raised funds to reconstruct homes in a unique, sustainable way, and the trust protects housing rates by keeping rates in line with median income of the surrounding area.

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How one community beat the system, and rebuilt their shattered streets

Aditya Chakrabortty

February 14, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Liverpool

Eleanor Lee is one of many women leading the charge to restore the Granby neighborhood in Liverpool. The few households that remained inhabited after the neighborhood was forgotten came together and formed a community land trust. This major step allowed them to get private development funding. Now, the Granby area is offering affordable housing and attracting business back to Liverpool.

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Guatemalan women transform their town one brushstroke at a time

Sara Schonhardt

February 07, 2018 |

Public Radio International (PRI) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Guatemala, Santa Catarina Palopó

In Guatemala, women are challenging traditional gender norms by playing a growing leadership role in their communities. Specifically, they are leading an initiative to paint local homes with patterns from indigenous weaving traditions. Not only are they making the towns more beautiful, but they are also demonstrating to young girls that women can do the same jobs that men can do.

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A Brighter Future for Run-Down Basketball Courts

Natalie Daher

February 07, 2018 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, St. Louis, Missouri

Dozens of basketball courts around the United States have received a beautiful and functional make-over. Project Backboard cleans, fixes, and beautifies outdoor basketball courts, effectively revitalizing the social practices of sport. The nonprofit hires local artists to work with communities, and those communities need to approve the artists’ designs before they are painted. Foundations have invested in this initiative, with its value being a key component to urban renewal.

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Friends Transform Vacant Building Into Popular Community Center

Martha Pskowski

January 09, 2018 |

Yes! Magazine |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Mexico, San Agustín, Ecatepec

Abandoned buildings hold great potential. In Ecatepec, friends got together and transformed an empty commercial space into El Banco, a bustling hub of arts and recreation activities open all day for local kids and families. The community center offers a valuable gathering space amid government neglect and high rates of crime.

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