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Where Texting Brings People to Court

Jenny Casas

September 09, 2019 |

70 Million |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, West Palm Beach, Florida

In Palm Beach County, an automated system sends text-message reminders, instead of just postal mail notices, to people with upcoming court dates. About 14% of those jailed in the county were there on warrants for failure to appear in court, placing a burden both on the system and on people's disrupted lives. Since the system was started, warrants for failure to appear are down by more than half, although other factors are also at play. At the very least, every court appearance someone makes is one less public cost and private hassle.

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LGBTQ Asylum Seekers Face Layered Marginalization, So These Four Organizations Are Here to Help

Ari Honarvar

September 05, 2019 |

Teen Vogue |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

LGBTQ asylum seekers face a unique set of problems coming to the United States, often from places where gender expression and sexuality are strictly regulated. Four organizations across the US, Mexico, and Canada are filling this unique niche. For example, AsylumConnect created an app of resources on how to apply for asylum and a catalogue of LGBTQ-friendly services and organizations in the US for them to learn about. All four aim to validate LGBTQ asylum seekers and keep them safe.

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Class is in session: How South Burlington tackles cellphone distraction with science

April McCullum

August 27, 2019 |

Burlington Free Press |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, South Burlington, Vermont

Teachers in South Burlington High School in Vermont are taking a different approach to dealing with digital distractions in the classrooms. Through short 30-minute lessons getting at the root of cellphone addiction and the effects of apps on the brain, students and teachers approach the topic from a place of understanding as opposed to judgment or punishment.

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How Steep Is That Sidewalk? A Digital Map for People With Disabilities

Megan Wildhood

August 21, 2019 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Crowdsourcing data allows developers to help those with limited mobility find accessible routes. The AccessMap Seattle project, in collaboration with the Taskar Center for Accessible Technology at the University of Washington and OpenStreetMap, has tested and is improving a map where users can find and edit information about the elevation of rotes, sidewalks, and crosswalks to serve those who are challenged with their mobility.

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Colorado's trailblazing Safe2Tell system needs significant upgrades, lawmakers say

John Frank

August 20, 2019 |

The Colorado Sun |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Salt Lake City, Utah

In 2016, Utah debuted SafeUT, a streamlined crisis center with on-call mental health specialists that students can call or text about potential threats to schools or personal mental health concerns. SafeUT was born out of a recognition for more preventative and mental health services, and was inspired by Colorado’s Safe2Tell initiative. Now, as Colorado seeks to iterate on their state initiatives, they’re looking to SafeUT’s streamlined approach as a model for improvement.

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Cell data giving 911 dispatchers more accurate locations

Connor Hansen

July 01, 2019 |

KTUL-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Enid, Oklahoma

The Enid, Oklahoma police department has started using a service called RapidSOS to locate 911 calls coming from cell phones. Without the service, tracking where these calls come from can be a challenge, but RapidSOS allows them to access caller data, like what WiFi they’re on, to accurately pinpoint their location.

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'A tidal wave of problems': texting on the mental health frontline

Robert Booth

June 10, 2019 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, London, England

Communicating with volunteers via text message can be less intimating for young people than dialing a hotline. Mental Health Innovations, a UK-based charity, operates the Shout text hotline. The service is part of an initiative supported by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge mental health campaign. Those suffering from depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts can simply text the resource to connect with a volunteer.

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New Salmon-Challis Smartphone App Lets Users Take Forest Information On The Go

Monica Gokey

May 09, 2019 |

NPR |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Salmon, Idaho

Visitors to the Salmon-Challis National Forest in Idaho can now access the wealth of information in a guidebook with the convenience of a smartphone app. The app, which contains valuable information on history, visitor stops, trailheads, and camp sites, will be especially helpful in much of the national forest where cell phone coverage is spotty.

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Behavioural science and nudges could make kids better readers

Amar Diwakar

April 23, 2019 |

Apolitical |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom

Enrolling parents in simple, scalable ways can improve early child learning outcomes. Building on a model used in the US state of California, firms in the UK are developing an SMS-based curriculum geared toward parents of children entering kindergarten. The method involves sending parents text messages that explain short, easy tasks that both instruct and motivate children, encouraging positive cognitive and behavioral development.

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Tech for Turnout

Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

April 17, 2019 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Illinois

High tech tools offer low cost ways to reach many voters and mobilize turnout, especially in mid term elections. From applications that allow campaigns to deliver personal text messages to hundreds of people at once, to new digital platforms for online polling and campaign management, many of the successful campaigns launched across the country during and after 2016 have leveraged these tech innovations to engage with voters.

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