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How Behavioral Science Solved Chicago's Plastic Bag Problem

Leigh Giangreco

November 21, 2019 |

Politico |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

In 2016, the city of Chicago “became a municipal laboratory” to test the different ways to disincentivize the use of plastic bags. The city initially attempted eliminating plastic bags, which led to more paper waste. Then it levied a plastic bag tax of 7 cents, an effective behavioral nudge that decreased plastic bag use and increased city revenue. The effort is now spreading across Illinois, as part of a growing trend of decreasing plastic usage across the country.

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Making a More Democratic Economy, One Revolving Loan Fund at a Time

Oscar Perry Abello

November 14, 2019 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Berkeley, California

Advancing the model of worker ownership requires expanding access to loans for cooperative businesses. In California, Berkeley City Council recently adopted changes to its Loan Fund for small businesses, allowing businesses without a CEO to apply for a loan. The City Council and Loan Administration board approved an idea put forth by the Sustainable Economics Law Center (SELC), which will permit coops to appoint a panel of owners to serve as guarantors of a loan, in lieu of a single CEO.

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Healing a Divided Nation Begins Face to Face

Chris Winters

November 12, 2019 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, South Lebanon, Ohio

Personal connections contribute to more productive discourse, reducing polarization and divisiveness. Outreach projects such as those led by the Better Angels nonprofit and KUOW-FM in Seattle encourage conversations between individuals with differing political points of view. KUOW has run several “Ask A…” programs, including “Ask a Muslim” and “Ask a police officer,” which focus on building conservations. The Better Angels program, which includes workshops centered on discourse, has spread nationwide.

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The Latest Innovation in Student Retention at Colleges: ‘Food Scholarships'

Rebecca Koenig

November 12, 2019 |

EdSurge News |

Podcast |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Montana

Policymakers and college students and faculty are testing a range of approaches to address food insecurity on campuses. One nonprofit provides small grants to students and professors to cover the cost of food, transportation, or other expenses.

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How the Texas Tribune, one of local journalism's greatest success stories, really got started

Barbara Allen

November 08, 2019 |

Poynter |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Austin, Texas

Non-partisan, watchdog journalism has formed a financially healthy platform for Texas Tribune in its first decade, filling a public-interest gap left by shrinkage in the number of statehouse reporters from 95 in 1989 to about 30 in 2008. By hiring an aggressive team of journalists and diversifying its revenue streams, the Tribune turned seed-money grants into a self-sustaining online publishing business whose serious coverage of neglected policy stories inspired Texas lawmakers to coin the term "the Trib effect" for the changes in capitol behavior when it's clear "someone is always watching."

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Ending Domestic Violence Requires Working With Those Who Harm, Too

Isabella Garcia

October 30, 2019 |

Yes! Magazine |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, California

The Healing Together Campaign, created by the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color, operates at the national and local levels to disrupt patterns of intimate partner violence. Rather than solely work with victims, though, they aim to spark behavioral and cultural shifts in the abuser. At a national level, they bring together over 200 organizations in a collaboration that executes research and policy recommendations. At the local level, they provide their member organizations – who each operate unique to their communities’ needs – with resources and outreach to strengthen their programming.

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What California can learn from Seattle about police shootings

Laurel Rosenhall

October 26, 2019 |

CalMatters |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Seattle has taken a comprehensive approach to police reform, including forming a community police commission, the development of policies on appropriate weapon use, more oversight on police force, and the creation of a specialty unit that focuses on mental health. While there has been pushback from officers, the safety of officers hasn’t been compromised and the use of force has decreased by sixty percent. With some calling it a success, California seeks to implement similar reform at the state level.

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The least sexy, most important resilience strategy

Laurie Mazur

October 21, 2019 |

American City & County |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Norfolk, Virginia

Unprecedented challenges are frequently popping up with the onset of climate change, so governments too have to adjust their processes and strategies. Some new procurement tools used by several different cities include requests for ideas, competitions, and performance contracts. This article looks at two places using these new and publicly accessible procurement tools—Prince Georges County, MD, and Norfolk, VA—to see how it impacts their success.

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An Athenian remedy: the rise, fall and possible rebirth of democracy

Patrick Chalmers

October 16, 2019 |

The Correspondent |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Greece

Citizens’ assemblies, which allow for mass participation in political debates and decision-making with a lottery system to select speakers, are increasingly being used to overcome issues such as corruption and the unwillingness by incumbent politicians to address controversial issues. Many countries now use citizens’ assemblies, including Ireland who used one in 2017 to push forward a debate and decision on its abortion ban after decades of political deadlock. Citizens’ assemblies do face challenges, including being dismantled by ruling politicians who feel they challenge incumbent power.

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Gun Reform is on the Agenda. But Victims of Color Aren't.

Champe Barton

October 09, 2019 |

The Trace |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

With gun reform being a key legislative topic, the majority of time, energy, and resources have focused on preventing mass shootings, which amount to just 2-3% of gun-related homicides. The rest affect majority communities of color, which policy, lobbying, and reform efforts have largely ignored. Even with local violence-reduction efforts like Oakland’s LIVE FREE focused deterrence or a Chicago school’s focus on cognitive behavioral therapy showing impact, the allotted resources at the federal level continue to pass them by.

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