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How a Former Dry Cleaners Became a Cleveland Community Hub

Cinnamon Janzer

May 07, 2020 |

Next City |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Cleveland, Ohio

PNC Fairfax Connection is a community center run by PNC Bank but separate from its corporate services. The center is free and accessible to all, was built with community-focused design, and seeks to build strong community ties. Programming is based on member input and ranges from social events to professional development resources. For example, over 400 residents attended a concert hosted by the center and another program helped six formerly incarcerated community members to secure employment with resume creation and interview preparation support. The center is currently closed due to Covid-19.

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Gainesville Keeps Some Nature Parks Open, Citing Mental Health Reasons

Christine Guerrero Kayla Price Hannah Rarick

April 11, 2020 |

WUFT-PBS |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Gainesville, Florida

As a response to COVID-19, Florida closed its state parks, but in Gainesville, they’ve kept a number of city-owned ones open. Among those open is Sweetwater’s Nature Center, which cites the natural spaces as crucial for exercise and mental health. They’re taking precautions, though – adhering to added protections for workers who don’t feel comfortable working, frequent cleanings, and posting signs along the trail as social distance reminders.

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Minneapolis Funding Its Parks With an Eye to Equity

Zoe Sullivan

April 09, 2020 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has approved a new scoring system to prioritize parks that are most in need of an investment, from the limited funds available, based on equity measures such as race, income, population density, and crime. This data-driven system is used in conjunction with the park board's judgment of a park's infrastructure and has pinpointed parks which were not typically on the park board's radar for renovation.

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Even Parks Are Going Online During the Pandemic

Julia Hotz

April 09, 2020 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

As cities in the U.S. are placed under various degrees of lockdown, organizations are working to virtually bring "environmental education and recreation to viewers, from the comfort of their homes." Although virtual walks and live talks with park rangers are not a replacement for the lived experience, studies have shown that this type of contact does offer some benefits to mental health and well-being.

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Veterans with PTSD have found physical activity is an effective treatment

Rachel Phillips Jonathan Messiha Sara Abbott

February 12, 2020 |

Cronkite News - Arizona PBS |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Phoenix, Arizona

To help veterans struggling to overcome post-traumatic stress disorder, the Phoenix VA Health Care System has started using sports and outdoor recreation as a means of therapy. Although it does not replace medications or act as a cure-all, this practice has been shown to reduce symptoms and can lead to a reduction in medications.

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A Muslim women's netball team brings competition — and a sense of inclusion

Aysha Khan

January 30, 2020 |

Religion News Service |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, London

Grassroots initiatives are empowering Muslim women to bring their faith onto the court. Across several universities in London, new clubs are offering a safe and inclusive space for Muslim women to participate in sports like netball. The ISOC club team, started by students at the London School of Economics, accepts Muslim women from other universities and participates in matches against other university clubs. Several other initiatives provide Muslim women with access to sports clubs, from kickboxing to fencing.

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A rewilding triumph: wolves help to reverse Yellowstone degradation

Cassidy Randall

January 25, 2020 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Wyoming

Rewilding wolves rebalances ecosystems. Following the 1970s Endangered Species Act (ESA), efforts to reintroduce wolves into the Yellowstone National Park have proven successful, helping to reduce land degradation from overpopulated grazing animals. The effort began in 1995 with the introduction of wolves captured in Canada, with the help of Canadian agencies. Today, the wolves keep the park’s biodiversity in balance and attract tourists.

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Philadelphia's new toy library lets families save money — and the environment — while forming a community

Grace Dickinson

November 24, 2019 |

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Network) |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Rutabaga Toy Library in Philadelphia - which was born out of a borrowed idea from Austin, Texas - helps parents afford to checkout donated toys for their kids by offering low-price memberships to families in the surrounding area. The business addresses the common trend that enables parents to throw old toys away and create unnecessary waste; instead, Rutabaga accepts donations to the toy library for other families to use while offering a space for sharing and community gathering.

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In Peoria, Green Infrastructure As a Path to Social Equity

Emily Nonko

November 20, 2019 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Peoria, Illinois

Green infrastructure provides a return on investment and improves the quality of life in a community. In Peoria, Illinois, the city’s Public Works Department has piloted several green infrastructure initiatives with the help of funding of a Bloomberg Philanthropies grant. Projects like the Well Farm at Voris Field, zero runoff streets are proving successful at capturing sewer runoff and creating economic value, while the youth volunteer PeoriaCorps are helping make the projects community-based.

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Green party: how are festivals upping their environmental credentials?

Lucy Douglas Laura Mahler

November 19, 2019 |

Positive.News |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, London

Finding ways to implement circular systems reduces the environmental impact of festivals. The London-based nonprofit, a Greener Festival, works with festival planners across Europe to make events more sustainable. In addition to recycling and moving toward plant-based food options, a Greener Festival also leverages its partnerships to collect and reuse catered food through its EighthPlate initiative.

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