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Students get piece of the action after seeking a say in budget

John Fensterwald

May 05, 2015 |

EdSource |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, San Jose, California

In response to youth calling for greater say in how California schools spend money, Overfelt High School allowed students to decide how to spend $50,000 of the school’s discretionary funding. Principal Vito Chiala reflected that the step was both nerve-racking and rewarding. “You have to trust the community to set priorities,” Chiala said. “The projects showed wisdom.”

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How Would Students Spend the Principal's Money?

Matt Cohen Daniel Schugurensky

March 11, 2015 |

Zócalo Public Square |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Phoenix, Arizona

When Bioscience High School put students in charge of a portion of its discretionary budget, nearly the entire student body participated in deciding how to spend the money. The experiment in participatory democracy unfolded so well that the school principal agreed to fund all three of the most popular project proposals, even though the sum slightly exceeded the originally allotted budget.

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How to Topple a Dictator (Peacefully)

Tina Rosenberg

February 13, 2015 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Serbia, Belgrade

The Center for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies provides a "blueprint" for peaceful and democratic revolution, busting myths about the process of nonviolent revolt and helping dissidents in countries around the world to accomplish political goals, such as fighting corruption or protecting the environment.

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It Takes a Village

Kirsi Jansa

February 11, 2015 |

Sustainability Pioneers |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United Kingdom, Balcombe

Two towns are fighting back against fossil fuel companies. From fossil free energy fairs in Pennsylvania to a solar energy co-op in the UK, citizens are relying on the idea of community power to unite in favor of renewable energy. In the UK, the creative financing structure of the co-operative REPOWERBalcombe will generate both financial and environmental returns.

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A Grass-Roots Drive for Clean Elections in Karnataka

Ankita Rao

May 15, 2014 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Karnataka

B. Godihal is one of the thousands of communities in Karnataka that have worked to hold clean elections, stirred by a confluence of awareness campaigns by nongovernmental organizations and rising public frustration with candidates’ broken promises.

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TurboVote Aims to Make Voting as Easy as Renting a DVD

Josh Dzieza

December 13, 2013 |

NationSwell |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

TurboVote allows users to fill out voter registration forms online and then mails them the paperwork to sign along with a stamped envelope addressed to the user’s local election office. The site also sends email and text reminders for mailing deadlines and polling place locations to its over 200,000 registered users. TurboVote partners with 68 universities, where many students are first-time voters and/or need to register at a new address. Students at partner universities receive the forms for free (otherwise it costs $1.60 per form) and popup windows on university websites remind students to register.

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Iowa keeping partisanship off the map

Tracy Jan

December 08, 2013 |

The Boston Globe |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Des Moines, Iowa

In Iowa, the “redistricting” of the state’s legislative and congressional boundaries is done by mapmakers who abide by nonpartisan metrics that all sides agree are fair — a seemingly revolutionary concept in the high-stakes decennial rite of redistricting.

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Can Democracy Work in Chicago?

Deanna Isaacs

September 16, 2010 |

The Chicago Reader |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

A Chicago Alderman experimented with participatory budgeting, where residents decide how some of their tax money will be spent, by allowing 49th Ward residents to determine how to spend $1.3 million in the district. Residents selected 14 projects, including commissioning murals, creating a dog park and community gardens, purchasing solar-powered garbage compactors, and repaving streets. All projects are moving forward. Over 200 mural proposals were received, which the Alderman’s office narrowed down to 24 choices for community members to vote on. 12 will be funded by the city with stipends for the artists.

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Compulsory Voting

Emma Eisenberg

October 01, 2001 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Australia

In the U.S. the electorate skews white, wealthy, and old because such demographics are more likely to vote. Creating mandatory voting laws would increase voter turnout and thus increase voting equity.

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