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  • An Athenian remedy: the rise, fall and possible rebirth of democracy

    October 16, 2019 |

    The Correspondent |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Greece

    Citizens’ assemblies, which allow for mass participation in political debates and decision-making with a lottery system to select speakers, are increasingly being used to overcome issues such as corruption and the unwillingness by incumbent politicians to address controversial issues. Many countries now use citizens’ assemblies, including Ireland who used one in 2017 to push forward a debate and decision on its abortion ban after decades of political deadlock. Citizens’ assemblies do face challenges, including being dismantled by ruling politicians who feel they challenge incumbent power.

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  • City Campaign Finance System Charts Path—and Highlights Challenges—for State Reform

    October 09, 2019 |

    City Limits |

    Text |

    Over 3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, New York, New York

    New York City's campaign finance system has offered a blueprint for a similar statewide system. Since it was implemented, the city's campaign finance program, which awards public funds up to a certain limit to candidates, has helped grassroots candidates launch competitive campaigns against entrenched, deep-pocketed opponents.

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  • Can Democrats and Republicans Understand Each Other? It Starts With Getting Off Twitter

    August 23, 2019 |

    NationSwell |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States

    Living Room Conversations facilitates civil discourse among people with different political views. The nonprofit encourages in-person meetings of groups of four to seven people with different backgrounds and views, ideally in a comfortable setting like a living room, coffee shop, or park, and provides over 100 guides on their open-source website to help participants engage in thoughtful dialogue. Rather than attempting to problem solve actual issues, the goal of the conversations is to humanize one another. Participants find the skills they learn useful in their personal relationships as well.

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  • These voters are using democracy vouchers to influence Seattle's City Council races

    June 12, 2019 |

    The Seattle Times |

    Multi-Media |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

    In Seattle, taxpayers are funding a program called democracy vouchers, in which registered voters and other eligible residents receive $25 vouchers that they can contribute toward city council races. In this program unique to Seattle, each donor can contribute up to four vouchers, which are helping to diversify the field for grassroots candidates.

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  • Can the political divide be mended by bringing rural and urban students together?

    May 21, 2019 |

    PBS NewsHour |

    Video |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

    The University of Chicago and Eureka College are teaming up to bring together college students from urban and rural Illinois to discuss political differences. As part of Bridging the Divide, community leaders from both settings have led tours of homeless shelters, job training sites, and immigration centers.

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  • This group wants to unite hikers and hunters on literal common ground: public lands

    May 05, 2019 |

    Idaho Statesman |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Boise, Idaho

    A group called Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, now 36,000 strong, is bringing together people from different political and ideological backgrounds over a common interest in the preservation and conservation of public lands and waters. Bucking stereotypes, the group spans the political spectrum, with 33% Independent, 23% Republican, 20% Democrat and 16% unaffiliated in a recent survey. The BHA's recent promotion of the Land and Water Conservation Fund shows that bipartisanship is possible.

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  • Change the narrative: how a Swiss group is beating rightwing populists

    April 07, 2019 |

    The Guardian |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Switzerland

    A group called Operation Libero in Switzerland has successfully rallied against rising right-wing populist groups by using different approaches like small-scale crowdfunding, eye-catching tongue-in-cheek campaigns, and viral social media videos. During one campaign, young Operation Libero volunteers handed out branded condoms to nightclubbers.

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  • How a Bipartisan Caucus Aimed to Change U.S. House Rules

    April 04, 2019 |

    CivicStory |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

    Shortly following the 2018 Midterm elections in the U.S. House of Representatives, a group of legislators known as the Problem Solvers Caucus used their numbers to change House rules easing the passage of bipartisan legislation. After working to build consensus on issues like health care, infrastructure, gun control, and immigration since 2013, the congressional membership organization noticed that their bipartisan bills often did not receive a fair chance due to the significant power that Speaker and committee chairs held in deciding which bills advanced. Their "Break the Gridlock" reforms changed that.

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  • Drawing better lines so that Native votes count

    March 24, 2019 |

    Indian Country Today |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Crow Indian Reservation, United States, Montana

    Including Native Americans in the political process requires sustained efforts in redistricting by communities. The success of the 2018 mid-term election in bringing the first Native American women into Congress was made possible by the creation of legislative districts that gave Native American communities a voice. A comparison of the US states of Montana and North Dakota illustrates the importance of long-term collaboration, legal action, and community organization in redistricting efforts.

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  • Closing the voter engagement gap in Metro Detroit

    March 08, 2019 |

    Model D |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

    To close the voting participation and engagement gap between historically disenfranchised groups and more affluent, white groups, organizations in Metropolitan Detroit are employing a number of strategies. One group, Girls Making Change, is creating a political leadership pipeline by mentoring high school girls of color over the summer. CitizenDetroit organizes voter education groups, candidate debates, and even bar trivia nights with a political theme.

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