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Leeds is fighting loneliness with an app and a map

Anoush Darabi

July 04, 2018 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Leeds

With a single tap, public health workers in Leeds can use a mobile app to record signs of loneliness in the city. Their observations generate a heat map of social isolation, which then guides community outreach efforts and increases efficiency.

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None of the Above

Nadine Ekdawi Tadros Hebah Fisher Dana Ballout

June 30, 2018 |

Kerning Cultures |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

Because Middle Easterners are classified as “white” in the U.S. Census, their specific needs and identities are not disaggregated. This lack of visibility may prevent discriminatory treatment, but it also impacts the allocation of government resources and leaves many feeling unrepresented in their country. The Arab American Institute is again pushing for change ahead of the 2020 survey, an effort that has now spanned decades.

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Governments Explore Using Blockchains to Improve Service

Adrianne Jeffries

June 27, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Arab Emirates, Dubai

Governments around the world are exploring whether blockchain technologies can improve public administration. In theory, blockchain could improve accountability and trust in government. In practice, pilot projects are hitting roadblocks and may take more time to implement and scale than some might hope.

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Good design is good policy

Sara Hudson

June 26, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, St. Louis, Missouri

As the treasurer of St. Louis, Tishaura Jones is making transformative change to connect more people to banks and savings accounts. Modeling initiatives after other successful municipal government programs across the country, Jones helped start the College Kids Children’s Savings Accounts, which creates a college savings account for all children entering public kindergarten. This is one of many steps to help St. Louis residents take better advantage of financial services.

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Philadelphia Works to Digitize Paper-Based Processes

Zack Quaintance

June 19, 2018 |

Government Technology |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In Philadelphia, City Hall is aiming to solve problems by making outdated processes more efficient. After digitizing the Request for Proposal process, a pilot program found an 89% decrease in processing time. The City is also working with a local tech start-up to digitize the position requisition process and has introduced DocuSign to make the authorized signer process easier.

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Why Are Millions Paying Online Tax Preparation Fees When They Don't Need To?

Tik Root

June 18, 2018 |

ProPublica |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Thanks to an agreement between the U.S. government and a consortium of companies including Intuit and H&R Block, 70 percent of taxpayers are supposed to have access to free online tax preparation services. But Free File is confusing and poorly publicized. Only about 3 percent of eligible tax returns over the last 16 years used the system.

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Growth and taxes: Can Alaska's local option sales tax system prove a model for Montana?

Lewis Kendall

June 17, 2018 |

Bozeman Daily Chronicle |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Juneau, Alaska

In Alaska, there is no statewide sales tax. Instead, individual municipalities vote on and control their own levies. In the capital city of Juneau, sales tax revenue covers about half of the city’s annual budget with more than 17 percent coming from the pockets of tourists. This system could make sense for Montana as well.

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'The Daddy quota': how Quebec got men to take parental leave

Mireille Silcoff

June 15, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada, Quebec

Influenced by Scandavian countries, the province of Quebec created its own paid paternity leave program, which offers 70-75% paid leave. The program is aimed at dad’s, who have traditionally faced stigma and judgement for accepting paternity leave. Quebec offers “five weeks of “use-it-or-lose-it” benefits, for fathers and non-biological mothers in lesbian couples.” The program has been an instant hit: “Over 80% of Quebec fathers take their paternity leave.”

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Latin America is fighting corruption by opening up government data

Anoush Darabi

June 11, 2018 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Argentina, Buenos Aires

Reduce corruption by making public data accessible and transparent. In Buenos Aires, Argentina, information about public works projects is available online, so excess spending is hard to hide. Meanwhile in Brazil, an observatory analyzes government expenditures and investigates suspicious transactions. Credit card expenditure fell by 25 percent after the data was published.

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How Denmark lost its MindLab: the inside story

Jennifer Guay

June 05, 2018 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Denmark

Denmark’s MindLab pushed experimentation and innovation in government for more than 16 years, inspiring imitators around the world. Now shut down, the innovation lab fell victim to a swift shift in political priorities, say former directors. Digital transformation of the civil service is now the focus.

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