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How Funding Black Businesses Can Help Bridge the Racial Wealth Gap

Liz Brazile

December 14, 2018 |

Yes! Magazine |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

An Oakland nonprofit incubator, The Runway Project, addresses racial and economic injustices in entrepreneurship by offering flexible loans for people of color and low-income individuals looking to start a business. Borrowers benefit from flexible loan terms and qualifications, both of which are usually barriers to entry for people of color in the business world.

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California Wildfires Destroy Homes and Lives. Why Do Regulators Encourage Building in Fire Zones?

Christian Britschgi

November 14, 2018 |

Reason |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, California

In California, Proposition 103 – a decades-old ballot initiative – disincentivizes homeowners affected by wildfires to rebuild in less fire-prone zones. The proposition – which can only be reversed through another ballot initiative – bars insurers from raising their rates based on future risks, meaning people who live in fire zones are not paying a higher rate. Furthermore, because of these regulations and the lack of response to the problem, insurance agencies often err on the side of caution and won’t sell policies at all, leaving some people uninsured entirely.

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Program matching low-income "leaders" with higher-income "allies" graduates second cohort

Sarah Rigg

November 14, 2018 |

Concentrate |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Ypsilanti, Michigan

Circles Washtenaw County is a “financial stability program” that is part of a national network. The local version in Ypsilanti involves matching leaders, who participate in 12 weeks of training, with allies, who support the leaders upon completion of the program. Beyond promoting financial stability among local residents, the program also promotes accountability and helps foster relationships among people who might not otherwise work together. The program has had two successful cohorts so far, with plans to grow in the future.

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Houses intact after Hurricane Michael were often saved by low-cost reinforcements

Patricia Sullivan

October 17, 2018 |

The Washington Post |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Blountstown, Florida

Small, cost-effective improvements to home construction were often the difference between houses that suffered small amounts of damage from Florida hurricanes and those that were destroyed. Knowing to ask for extra nails, strong windows, and hurricane clips for their roof, home owners can not only save their homes but save money from decreased insurance and energy costs.

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Stopping scams takes teamwork

Emily Dech

October 12, 2018 |

Richland Source |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Mansfield, Ohio

In cases of exploration and scamming, particularly of senior citizens, Richland County, Ohio has found that teamwork and collaboration between local agencies is key. Those agencies include Adult Protective Service, the Area Agency on Aging, and Police Departments working together to catch exploiters and return money to its rightful owners.

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PA Banking On New Program Providing Inmates With Financial Savvy To Succeed

Sara Hoover

October 08, 2018 |

WHYY |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Pennsylvania

Two state agencies in Pennsylvania collaborated to launch a program that trains inmates on financial literacy skills in an effort to curb recidivism. The Department of Corrections and the Department of Banking and Securities have reached more than 4,300 inmates through the classes, many of whom have been inside for years and may have never had bank accounts. Research found having a bank account is strongly correlated with not returning to prison and higher employment rates.

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Financial Empowerment Centers Help City Residents Improve Their Fiscal Health

Oscar Perry Abello

August 06, 2018 |

Next City |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Financial Empowerment Centers work with clients to help them build savings, improve credit scores, and take full advance of assistance programs. While the daily demands of poverty often create an inability to plan for the future, the Center's clients have found that counseling has provided a path to engage with these issues and a trusted helper to improve their financial health.

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A unique nature insurance policy aims to preserve Mexico's Great Mayan Reef

Shay Meinecke

June 29, 2018 |

Deutsche Welle (DW) |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Mexico, Cancún

Coral reefs can dramatically reduce the power of a wave's energy, making the impact of severe storms (such as hurricanes) less devastating. In order for this to work, however, the coral reefs have to be healthy. In Mexico, the government and The Nature Conservancy have collaborated with a reinsurance firm, reef engineers and oceanographers to figure out how to create an insurance plan that uses tourism dollars to guarantee reefs will restored should they be harmed.

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Good design is good policy

Sara Hudson

June 26, 2018 |

FastCompany |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, St. Louis, Missouri

As the treasurer of St. Louis, Tishaura Jones is making transformative change to connect more people to banks and savings accounts. Modeling initiatives after other successful municipal government programs across the country, Jones helped start the College Kids Children’s Savings Accounts, which creates a college savings account for all children entering public kindergarten. This is one of many steps to help St. Louis residents take better advantage of financial services.

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What Alabama Can Teach You about Storm Resilience

Emily Nonko

June 18, 2018 |

Next City |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Mobile, Alabama

After witnessing the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina, changemakers in Alabama took control of creating a more accountable insurance system that valued weather-resilient home construction.

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