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When Arizona catches fire, prisoners step up

Maya L. Kapoor

August 05, 2019 |

High Country News |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Arizona

As the cost of fighting wildfires rises and the number of firefighters declines, Arizona found a solution: paying incarcerated men and women to do the same job for just five percent of the standard rate for firefighting. Arizona’s Inmate Wildfire Program, while fundamentally exploitative, is seemingly more complex. Those that go through the program find a sense of meaning and are given the opportunity to learn leadership and teamwork skills – things they can translate in life upon release.

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America has a housing segregation problem. Seattle may just have the solution.

Dylan Matthews

August 04, 2019 |

Vox |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

A group of economics researchers and county officials in the Seattle area teamed up to create a more comprehensive approach to housing vouchers. Rather than simply provide a rental voucher, the city piloted a program that included information about the city's areas of economic and social opportunity, increasing the number of families that moved into higher-economic regions of the city.

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Refugees and host community gang up to fight climate change

Noah Omuya

August 02, 2019 |

Things That Work Uganda |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Uganda, Bidibidi

The Bidibidi refugee settlement in Uganda, the largest such settlement in the world, is working with a number of agencies including the UNHCR and The Office of the Prime Minister to address environmental issues in their ever-growing settlement. They are strategizing about a number of initiatives to improve life and conditions where they live with topics like Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Education, Health, or Infrastructure. Current solutions include planting over 470,000 trees, local communities donating land for settlers to build their own crops, and environmental education in the local schools.

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Court Observers Are Shining a Light on the Immigration Court System

Ari Honarvar

August 02, 2019 |

Rewire |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Diego, California

One way that any ordinary citizen can lend a hand to the plight of those caught in the American immigration system is by being a court observer: someone who sits in immigration court and takes notes by hand. Several organizations are working to develop a standardized way of evaluating judges' treatment of migrants to put it in a central database so that the data can be used to evaluate the human impact by the system as a whole. People who participate testify to the job alleviating despair over the situation as they can mitigate any unfair practices going unnoticed.

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Will Banning Single-Family Zoning Make for More Affordable Homes?

Deonna Anderson

July 31, 2019 |

Yes! Magazine |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis serves as a model for other cities as it addresses the affordable housing crisis by de-incentivizing the development of single-family houses. By changing zoning laws to benefit the construction of duplexes and triplexes, the city makes room for more low-income families to afford to live in city limits.

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First Group Of Students Graduates From Wesleyan's Prison Education Program

Shawn R. Beals

July 31, 2019 |

Hartford Courant |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Middletown, Connecticut

The first class of students enrolled in the Wesleyan University Center for Prison Education has just graduated. The program awards participants with an associate degree from Middlesex Community College in general studies and intends to serve as a tool against recidivism by offering an opportunity for success after incarceration. The Center for Prison Education has existed since 2009, serving 138 students thus far, and started offering a degree option in 2016.

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A Unique Military Program Helps Sexual Assault Survivors. But Not All of Them.

Joseph Darius Jaafari

July 30, 2019 |

The Marshall Project |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

Members of the military who are survivors of sexual assault have access to special victims’ counsels to help guide and protect them throughout the legal process. The efforts are still young, and with that comes issues of ill-trained or over-worked legal representation – a criticism that has been made known by advocates. Furthermore, while the existence of such assistance is extremely beneficial to military personnel, the same sort of protection and support isn’t available to civilians who are alleging violent crimes against military members.

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When a Restraining Order Fails, a GPS Tracker Can Save Lives

Misha Valencia

July 30, 2019 |

The New York Times |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Using GPS tracking on repeat offenders of domestic violence has shown to decrease repeat instances of such abuse. Of the 23 states that use such devices, those that use them in ankle bracelet form have the ability to not only monitor locations, but alert officials and victims when the offender leaves the designated boundaries. While the system has shown demonstrative success, some people voice opposition to such technology, citing privacy concerns.

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How Do You Stop Abusive Relationships? Teach Teens How to Be Respectful Partners

Alison Kotch

July 29, 2019 |

NationSwell |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

A program called RAPP (Relationship Abuse Prevention Program) uses safe spaces for teens to talk about their romantic relationships with both peer and adult leaders as a way to prevent abusive relationships through education. It is supported by New York City's Human Resources Administration, the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, Day One, and Steps to End Violence and Urban Resource Institute (URI). The program is now in 94 schools across the city, and participants / peer leaders testify to how much it changed their lives.

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These high school runners train in 'nasty air,' so they're working to clean it up

Priscilla Totiyapungprasert

July 29, 2019 |

AZ Central (The Arizona Republic) |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Phoenix, Arizona

Grassroots organization can generate change in carbon emissions practices at the community level. In Phoenix, the Chispa nonprofit organization that promotes environmental and social justice, is working to get schools to apply to Arizona’s Lower-Emissions Bus program, funded by money paid to the state in the aftermath of Volkswagen’s emissions scandal. By mobilizing volunteers to canvass neighborhoods and attend school board meetings, the group has succeeded in getting at least one school district to purchase an electric bus and implement a pilot program.

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