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What Would a World Without Prisons Look Like?

Patricia Leigh Brown

March 06, 2020 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

Deanna Van Buren and her nonprofit firm Designing Justice/Designing Spaces use architecture to advance social justice and criminal-justice-reform ideas, designing workplaces, meeting places, and homes nationwide founded on the notion of "what a world without prisons could look like." The firm's projects, often planned with input from the people directly affected, have included privacy-enhancing temporary living units for people recently released from prison, a "peacemaking" space in Syracuse, N.Y., and two of the first restorative-justice meeting places for crime victims and those who harmed them.

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Soccer for All

Katherine Lewin

March 03, 2020 |

Santa Fe Reporter |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Low-income families in Sante Fe, New Mexico now have access to a soccer club thanks to a group of parents who took it upon themselves to fundraise and create the opportunity for children who would otherwise not be able to participate in soccer tournaments. Sante Fe United has also partnered with the local school district to create its own soccer field and is also planning on branching out its fundraising efforts.

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This rag-tag group of DIYers has an answer for rural PA's internet problem

Min Xian

March 03, 2020 |

WHYY |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania

The Rural Broadband Cooperative took matters into its own hands after local and state politicians failed to provide high-speed internet for their rural Pennsylvania county. Telecommunications companies did not consider Huntingdon County a priority so community members who include carpenters, welders, and crane operators all came together to find a solution for a problem that affected everyone from children to business owners and realized all they needed was a radio tower on a mountaintop. The group built and installed it themselves, spending only $50,000 and providing internet for 1,000 locals.

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The Beto Effect: Transforming Houston's Criminal Justice System

Keri Blakinger

February 25, 2020 |

The Marshall Project |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

Beto O’Rourke’s failed Senate campaign in 2018 nonetheless has made lasting change in Texas’ largest city, where Democrats drawn to the polls by O'Rourke's candidacy swept out Republican judges who had blocked various criminal justice reforms. Since then, Houston's newly Democrat-controlled judiciary has transformed a famously punitive legal culture. It largely abolished cash bail in low-level cases, keeping more defendants out of jail pending trial. The city sends far fewer juveniles to youth prisons, and now prosecutors at all levels face stiffer resistance when they appear in court.

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Leveling the Playing Field

Jessica Press

February 24, 2020 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Black Girl Ventures levels the playing field for women of color who seek capital for their business ventures. Entrepreneurs are invited to pitch their ideas at crowdfunded sessions, which means the funding varies depending on the size of the crowd and its willingness to invest. In addition to capital, BGV recognizes the need for minorities to access a network, mentoring, and business coaching to navigate the systems necessary to build a business. The nonprofit has chapters in several cities and works with local organizations that are already in place helping black businesses.

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Montana's Grand Prairie Experiment

Jake Bullinger

February 21, 2020 |

Bitterroot |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Malta, Montana

According to the WWF, 69 percent of the Northern Great Plains remains untilled, providing great opportunity for making sure that land remains untouched. Two conservation organizations, the Nature Conservancy and the American Prairie Reserve, are butting heads as they both try to preserve the land, albeit via different means. Although they both face opposition for their methods, this article lays out exactly how both have already managed to make great strides in conserving the land and increasing biodiversity.

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Growing together: Mansfield microfarm cooperative heads into second year

Sarah Donaldson

February 20, 2020 |

Farm and Dairy |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Ohio

An urban sustainable food system project at the Ohio State University enabled 10 newly established farmers to start microfarms, which produce crops year-round, at only the cost of their time and labor. The individuals formed a cooperative so they can sell to larger institutional buyers together, while the cooperative handles marketing and finding buyers. With the potential to make up to $30,000 a year, the program aims to provide economic options to city residents, including formerly incarcerated individuals. The coop needs to find extended funding, but 6 microfarms were already built with 4 more planned.

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In a brilliant move, Penn Museum hires refugees as guides to exhibits from their homelands

Annie Reneau

February 19, 2020 |

Upworthy |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Penn Museum in Philadelphia not only hires museum docents from the regions being showcased, but they also hire refugees and immigrants. As a result attendance has increased with some people coming expressly for that, and other museums have begun following suit.

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Struggling Wisconsin dairy farmers building a future with hazelnuts, specialty milk, goats and creative thinking

Rick Barrett

February 18, 2020 |

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Wisconsin

Facing environmental issues, changing consumer tastes, corporate mega-farms, and more, small dairy farmers in Wisconsin are quickly adapting their business models to stay afloat. This article looks at a number of solutions that farmers have taken across the state, such as switching to goat milk, growing hazelnuts, renting out barns, or even changing products entirely to wine or olive oil. All of the solutions show that dairy farmers have to be creative and adaptable in order to keep up with the future of farming.

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How a Beloved Bird Is Helping Save the Chesapeake Bay

Libby Sander

February 18, 2020 |

Hakai Magazine |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chesapeake, Maryland

The Natural Lands Project works with local landowners to turn hundreds of hectares of marginal croplands into native grasslands. The grasses offer refuge for the northern bobwhite quail and grip the soil, which helps prevent erosion and keeps agricultural runoff and sediment out of the Chesapeake Bay. The quail population has grown to 450, a 39% increase from 20 years ago. The project works with landowners to convert small parcels of their land for the habitat. The landowners receive a small payment and help planting and maintaining the native vegetation. Many species have flourished in the new habitat.

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