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How One Weekend in Dallas Sparked a Movement for Urban Change

Mike Lydon

April 20, 2015 |

Next City |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Dallas, Texas

A Dallas urban neighborhood was dilapidated with abandoned storefronts and offered no vitality for pedestrians. A group of artists and community members created Build a Better Block, in which local artisans and small businesses took over a vacant block and transformed it for a limited time to encourage the ingredients for more permanent urban renewal.

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Why DIY Public Spaces Are Starting to Take Off in Turkey

Jennifer Hattam

February 10, 2015 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Turkey, İzmir

An absence of public infrastructure and park space hasn't stopped the people of Izmir, Turkey from gathering in and enjoying the outdoors. Now a few clever and creative individuals are helping teach their communities to reclaim public spaces, sharing designs for recycling materials to build things like benches or docks for all to enjoy.

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How the Fastest-Warming City in the Country Is Cooling Off

Erica Peterson

December 09, 2014 |

Politico |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Louisville, Kentucky

Although residents turn up their air conditioners, Louisville heat is increasing the city’s death rate by 39 people every year. The city mayor launched a tree commission for planting more trees and since 2011 has planted over 12,000 trees. The canopies from the tree offer cooling shade and bring down the temperature of the city as a whole. The response also includes the installation of green roofs and in-depth research on urban heat islands.

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Salt Lake City a model for S.F. on homeless solutions

Kevin Fagan

June 28, 2014 |

San Francisco Chronicle |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Salt Lake City, Utah

San Francisco’s chronically homeless population remains staggeringly high. Salt Lake City has managed to eradicate much of their chronically homeless by geographically placing supportive housing distant from the city’s center and receiving financial assistance from the Mormon Church. The housing is attractive, modern, and offers a good ratio between counselors and homeless clients—all of which helps make the homeless want to stay off the streets.

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How to Build a Better Neighborhood

Tina Rosenberg

June 18, 2014 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Dallas, Texas

The Oak Cliff neighborhood in Dallas suffered from recession-closed businesses and crime. Then community members used placemaking, in which people shaped their own environment to improve the quality of life, and the concept of Build a Better Block, which was a pop-up event showcasing art, food, music, and local faire. The idea gives citizens a fresh look at the possibilities through which to transform the space in which they live, and it has attracted attention across the country and around the world.

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Police chief, mayor tour city's rundown neighborhoods

Greg Barnes

February 22, 2014 |

Fayetteville Observer |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Fayetteville, North Carolina

In Fayetteville, the Mayor and Police Chief have taken a personalized approach in seeking a solution for blighted, low-income neighborhoods and are working to increase the number of city staff on-hand to help address issues like decrepit buildings, as well as decrease the disparity in resources allocated to maintaining these neighborhoods. But many challenges remain, and the line between the government's role versus the private homeowner's responsibility remains difficult to define.

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Adopt-a-Lot Program Converts Newark's Vacant Lots into Gardens

Sonia Schnee

June 05, 2013 |

CivicStory |

Video |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Newark, New Jersey

To minimize the problem of abandoned lots, the city of Newark created a program called Adopt-a-Lot. This urban gardening program allows city residents to use a lot to grow flowers, fruits, and vegetables, and the city is working with the Greater Newark Conservancy to provide gardening supplies to residents. Together this program is not only reducing blight, but it is also empowering community members.

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Egyptians Show Pride as Cairo Cleans Up

Jesse Hardman

March 25, 2011 |

Time Magazine |

Video |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: Egypt, Cairo

Citizens in Cairo have been working to make the streets cleaner in an effort to create more pride for the country and get the government's attention. From picking up trash and painting lampposts to collecting donations from passersby, the community is working together to make a new Egypt.

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Urban kids dig into science and get friendly with worms

Amy Yee

July 18, 2000 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

New York City’s Apple Seed program gets children who live in the city to experiment, engage with, and learn from nature. The program – which has reached over 4,000 kids in New York Public Schools – teaches children about gardening, photosynthesis, and wildlife through hands-on learning experiences and has shown demonstrable success in higher math and science test scores. This program is part of a larger, nationwide trend toward engaged learning and nature.

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