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In Spain, a Strong Sense of Solidarity Drives Endurance in the Pandemic

Susana Malcorra

April 27, 2020 |

PassBlue |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Spain, Madrid

Spain's collectivist culture, free public-health system, and economic support structures have helped the country to combat the spread of coronavirus. One measure – known as "temporary employment regulation file, or expediente de regulación temporaria de empleo" – specifically helps those who would have otherwise lost their jobs due to business closures by allowing the employer to sign his or her employees up :to get paid by the state a monthly amount of approximately 70 percent of her/his latest taxable salary."

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Who is helping Texas businesses save jobs?

Ted Oberg

April 17, 2020 |

KTRK-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Sugarland, Texas

Community banks in Texas have outpaced much larger national banks in approving and funding loans that are keeping businesses afloat during the pandemic-induced lockdown. The lone star state leads in the number of loans processed totaling $17 billion - saving a reported 200,000 jobs. Businesses in Texas have received more loans than any other state due to community banks that have been working around the clock. The banks have managed to approve as many loans as they typically would in an 18-month period.

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Philly has handed out 72,000 free food boxes. Here's how they come together.

Jenn Ladd

April 16, 2020 |

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Network) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In response to COVID-19, Philadelphia has a no-questions-asked program that has given out over 72,000 boxes of food for free since it began on March 30th, 2020. It was a team effort between the government and two food banks named Philabundance and Share Food Program. This program is a supplement to the other 350+ programs to help those facing food insecurity in Philadelphia during the pandemic. Despite challenges to the supply chain, they are confident the program can survive because, "the supply chain in Philadelphia is among the strongest in the country."

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Drive-through food distribution at SAC draws long lines, thousands of families

Oliver Rivero

April 15, 2020 |

el Don |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Santa Ana, California

Santa Ana College hosted a makeshift food pantry on their campus (organized by Orange County-based nonprofits Power of One Foundation and Official No One Left Behind), distributing a week's worth of food for a family of five to over 4,000 waiting cars. This amount of food is expected to feed about 20,000 people. The college was already aware of food insecurity on campus and was even in the beginning stages of addressing that issue when the pandemic hit. They are now shifting how they can address food insecurity with the influence of COVID-19.

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The superhero firms helping out in the coronavirus crisis

Anna Tims

April 13, 2020 |

The Guardian |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: England

Across England, businesses are stepping up to help their neighbors during the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s Glasses Direct, which is gifting 4,000 pairs of glasses to National Health Service workers, and Fully Charged, offering health care workers 3 months of free e-bike usage. Remote services are being offered too, with Thrive Law has created a helpline for those experiencing crisis to receive free legal advice, and Ascenti, offering free and remote physiotherapy sessions for the elderly and NHS employees.

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Minnesota Central Kitchen gives restaurant workers jobs while feeding those who are hungry

Sharyn Jackson

April 11, 2020 |

Minneapolis Star Tribune |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota

With COVID-19 causing the shuttering of restaurants around the country, the Minnesota Central Kitchen collaboration brings together furloughed chefs – and their restaurants’ ingredients – to help feed those experiencing food insecurity. Participating restaurants and organizations pooled together their resources, spaces, and ingredients to make over 2,000 meals each week. Participants include volunteers and paid individuals, keeping 120 food service workers employed.

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How Europe manages to keep a lid on coronavirus unemployment while it spikes in the U.S.

Michael Birnbaum

April 11, 2020 |

The Washington Post |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: France

European countries like France and Germany have been able to keep their unemployment rates low because of pre-existing programs that have been called to action during COVID-19. In France, the government subsidizes up to 84% of wages to incentive companies not to lay their employees off. In Germany, their short-time work program pays up to two-thirds of employee pay. While not an inexpensive method, some say it could help their economies replenish quicker after the pandemic.

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Operation Food Bank Feeds 390 Families

Sam Gurwitt

April 09, 2020 |

New Haven Independent |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New Haven, Connecticut

Due to COVID-19, the Connecticut Food Bank has not been able to staff their food pantry distributors and thus drop off food with no distribution help. The town of Hamden whipped up an army of volunteers in response to make sure that no families went without food during this trying times. Demand was so great that unfortunately, after distributing food to 357 cars, they had to turn away another 400 cars. Volunteers are dedicated to continuing this new makeshift food pantry every few weeks until supplies run out.

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How custodians in Durham Public Schools were granted paid emergency leave

Victoria Johnson

April 09, 2020 |

The Daily Tar Heel |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, North Carolina

In March 2020, North Carolina’s Board of Education, in response to COVID-19, approved paid emergency leave for all school employees – but with 100% pay only going to those that qualify as “high risk.” With many of the affected employees being Spanish-only speakers explanations of the detailed leave policies were not comprehensive, making the roll out of the relief confusing and inaccessible.

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What a Solidarity Economy Looks Like

Paul Katz Leandro Ferreira

April 09, 2020 |

Boston Review |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Brazil, Maricá

The local government in Maricá, a small municipality in Brazil, is being said to have initiated "the most ambitious city-level response to COVID-19 in Brazil, and one of the most notable in the world." Even before the coronavirus spread, the city worked on the premise of mutual aid, which included a universal basic income and a solidarity economy. In the context of the coronavirus, these proactive policies are now emerging as examples of how a democratized economy can result in a region being better positioned to withstand a public health crisis.

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