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Lessons learned: Hiring ex-offenders pays off, but the workers need help

Jane M. Von Bergen

November 27, 2017 |

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Network) |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

How do you find a job when you get out of prison? For some, it’s almost impossible. But, UpLift Solutions trains former offenders, and if they pass the six week course, they get hired at ShopRite, a grocery store. For some, the program is life changing.

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What Happens When a School Stops Arresting Kids for Throwing Skittles

Aviva Shen

November 27, 2017 |

The Atlantic |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana

After a school in Jefferson Parish gained national notoriety for having an 8th grader sent to juvenile jail for six days for tossing Skittles on a school bus, the area's schools reformed school discipline by adopting a system of mediation and community conflict resolution based on restorative justice principles. In the first year, one middle school's suspensions have dropped by more than half. Racial disparities in school suspensions or arrests have led many other schools to follow a similar path. Success seems to depend on making restorative justice central to the mission, not just a disciplinary add-on.

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A Prison Sits Empty. A Nonprofit Moves In

Neil Parmar

November 20, 2017 |

NationSwell |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Laurinburg, North Carolina

Hundreds of prisons sit empty and unused across the United States. Inspired by the potential, GrowingChange was founded to help flip the land into a space where former juvenile offenders could come together for constructive activities like gardening and group counseling, creating a positive space for reform and empowerment that has been helping to break the prison cycle for youth.

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How one district solved its special education dropout problem

Sarah Butrymowicz

November 18, 2017 |

The Hechinger Report |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Covina, California

The Covina-Valley School District in California reduced high school drop-out rates and chronic absenteeism among special education students by providing a more engaging environment and curriculum for students. Students are divided into three levels based on their levels of cognitive competence, and educators rewrote textbooks and curriculum to fit the varying needs and capabilities of students within each level, as opposed to putting all special students in one level. Another successful approach has been to combine general and special education staff meetings and increase curricular collaboration.

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Sexual Assault Response in Southern Oregon

Dave Miller

November 17, 2017 |

Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Ashland, Oregon

Oregon’s Ashland Police Department has implemented a new program to make reporting sexual assault a safer, more accessible process. The “You Have Options” program teaches officers how to respond to those volunteering information by showing appreciation, listening, and making sure they feel in control. The program has spread across the United States, with Ashland officers providing training to other departments.

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N.H. Businesses Step Up to Help Tackle State's Drug Crisis

Paige Sutherland

November 16, 2017 |

New Hampshire Public Radio |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Businesses across New Hampshire are contributing to the fight against the opioid epidemic by increasing efforts to recruit and support employees in recovery from addiction. Strategies include outreach to hire more people in recovery (with possible tax incentives pending as well) and training for workplaces on how to better support people who are struggling with addiction, either for themselves or a loved one.

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Assisting the Poor to Make Bail Helps Everyone

Tina Rosenberg

November 15, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Organizations that supply funds to provide bail for people arrested for misdemeanors not only saves money for taxpayers, but reduces the number of guilty pleas, and could possibly save lives. Those who cannot pay for bail must either await trial in jail or plead guilty, leading to permanent criminal records. Organizations like the Bronx Freedom Fund supply $2,000 or less to help these individuals keep jobs, housing, and reduce the risk of suicide in jail without requiring them to plead guilty.

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Americans want fewer prisoners. What's art have to do with it?

Julie Zeglen

November 14, 2017 |

Generocity |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Pennsylvania

"Songs in the Key of Free" is a program in a Pennsylvania prison brings together inmates to play music and write songs that they perform inside, while professional musicians also play the songs in venues outside prison. The program is just a year old and is based on a successful theater program in California that cut recidivism rates and helped decrease prison infractions. The founders of "Songs in the Key of Free" are creating an album of the work, but after that, future funding is unclear.

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Advice for firms to hire former inmates: Let a partner help

Jane M. Von Bergen

November 02, 2017 |

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Network) |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

What does a business like IKEA do if they want to hire former prisoners? They listen to a panel of people who have already done it.

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The Power of Being Seen

Holly Korbey

October 27, 2017 |

Edutopia |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Cold Springs, Nevada

For a decade, only a little more than half of the students from Washoe Country District graduated. So, school leaders launched a Social Emotional Learning program. That’s because research shows that kids that don’t form emotional connections at school are at a higher risk of dropping out. The “district’s three signature SEL classroom practices [include]: welcome rituals and routines, more engaging or interactive teaching methods, and end-of-class reflections.” In the five years since implementing the program, graduation rates increased by 18 percent.

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