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How to Really Help Children Abroad

Tina Rosenberg

October 23, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Short-term volunteering trips, especially those that involve working directly with vulnerable children, can do more harm than good. Instead, volunteers should look for opportunities to support staff and primary caregivers. Or even just send the money that would otherwise go towards airfare and expenses. “We confuse our own caring for help,” argues Tina Rosenberg.

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To prevent devastating wildfires, old adversaries are finding ways to work together

Tom Banse

October 21, 2018 |

KLCC |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Oregon

The prospect of mass wild land devastation sparred by both wildfires and logging was enough motivation for people on each side of the debate to sit down and figure out a solution. What came of that conversation was the Blue Mountains Forest Partners that have worked together to propel the management of the forest.

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Unfinished business? Vancouver mayor departs with 'Greenest City' goal uncertain

Gregory Scruggs

October 19, 2018 |

Thomson Reuters Foundation |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia

In 2008, Vancouver’s mayoral candidate Gregor Robertson said he would transform the city to be the world’s greenest by 2020. One decade later, steps toward decreasing greenhouse gas emissions have been made, but the 2020 prospect seems much farther ahead. While the city has run into obstacles, the Canadian city is moving forward to achieve its next goal: for buildings to produce more energy than they use.

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The Lasting Pain of Children Sent to Orphanages, Rather Than Families

Tina Rosenberg

October 16, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Costa Rica, San Jose

Casa Viva is an organization in Latin America that prioritizes family reunification over adoption. They have placed about 640 children with foster families, “60 percent of those went back to their biological family or another relative. About 35 percent were adopted.” In contrast to foster homes, orphanages have become thriving business which recruit western volunteers and charge them large fees. Casa Viva opposes this model because most kids have parents who are alive, but can’t afford to raise them.

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The Power of Sharing Stories

Liz Brazile

October 16, 2018 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada, Peterborough, Ontario

Storytelling is integral to shaping individual's identity, but researchers across the world are now finding that it may even impact an individual's health. From better communication between doctor and patient to group reminiscence activities, health care practitioners are seeing broad benefits to patients' mental health.

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This 24-year-old lawsuit could radically alter public education in North Carolina

Michael Cooper

October 15, 2018 |

Scalawag |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, North Carolina

Twenty years ago, five, poor, rural counties sued the state of North Carolina for failing to provide students with a good education, and won. In 1997 the Chief Justice Supreme Court judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in the case known as Leandro v. State. However, the decision wasn’t really enforced by the government, and until 2017 a court appointed agency was hired to investigate the state. “Leandro sets the bar but you still need to have elected officials, school officials and court officials willing to uphold it,”

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How a Booming City Can Be More Equitable

Barry Yeoman

October 15, 2018 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Durham, North Carolina

Durham, North Carolina works to maintain diversity of communities and perspectives by evaluating the inequities built into their current housing laws and economic opportunities. In redevelopment planning, the city also incorporates artists and activists into planning to ensure the city doesn't lose diversity of culture in its renewal plans.

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Changing the environment in Iowa's prisons to change results for women

Jessica Pupovac

October 14, 2018 |

Chicago Reporter |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Mitchelville, Iowa

The Iowa Correctional Institution for Women has reformed how inmates are treated, adapting approaches informed by gender and past trauma. A new campus provides private counseling suites and a mental health unit, larger cells with light controls and a visitation area with play space and a garden so women can engage with their children. Disciplinary policies have also shifted toward building women up for returning to society rather than automatic discipline for small infractions.

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The Crime Machine, Part II

PJ Vogt

October 12, 2018 |

Gimlet Media |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

CompStat seemed like a miracle of technology and data when it was rolled out in New York City in the 1990s. Crime dropped as police leadership demanded precincts report every crime and what they were doing about it at weekly meetings where they were pressured to conform to this new system. But this also resulted in police distorting actual crime data to avoid reporting crimes in their districts and the push for increased police activity resulted in cops targeting minorities for minor offenses.

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Unprotected

Finlay Young

October 11, 2018 |

ProPublica |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Liberia, Monrovia

Created to “help some of the world’s most vulnerable children get off the street and into school," More Than Me Foundation exposed its students to widespread sexual abuse by an influential staffer. The charity lacked board members and top leadership with experience running schools and resisted being held accountable for the abuse.

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