Artwork stating 'Education Destroys Barriers', 'We Demand Treatment', and 'I Need A Chance'

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  • Issuing Bonds to Invest in People

    In cases where funding is short for social programs, social impact bonds are becoming an increasingly appealing funding mechanism. Private investors and philanthropic institutions invest money upfront to fund a social program; if the program shows measurable success, the investors gain their original investment plus interest. A key example is in Connecticut, where a social impact bond was set up to expand the Family Stability Pay for Success Project. By spending money on prevention, investors and governments save money later.

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  • Philadelphia, a City Stalked by Overdoses, Fights Back

    Two initiatives in Philadelphia have been developed to treat heroin users and, above all, keep them alive. While a prescription for Suboxone—a drug that can safely ease withdrawal symptoms—is widely available from Philadelphia physicians, the drug is now commonly being given to people who present at the emergency department recovering from an overdose or in the midst of withdrawal. Secondly, a supervised drug consumption site has been established to provide a safe space and paraphernalia as well as staff on-site to respond to an overdose and ensure people do not die.

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  • Putting the Voters in Charge of Fair Voting

    Politicians across the country draw voting maps to favor their own political parties. In Michigan, a state with extreme congressional gerrymandering, voters are saying enough is enough. A nonpartisan group called Voters Not Politicians has collected 425,000 signatures in support of a ballot measure to create an independent commission to determine voting districts. The all-volunteer force gathered proposals at town hall meetings and spoke with voters at parades, football games, and even highway rest stops.

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  • A Year of Pushback to Save Social Innovation

    When the federal government fails to stimulate social change, local areas step up. Tennessee is giving more structure and funding to community college education, and it’s drastically increasing graduation rates. Alaska and other states are getting rid of money bail. All around the country, citizen activists are becoming advocates and attempting to make our political system accessible to everyone. Despite partisan politics in Washington, D.C., the country is nonetheless experiencing social progress.

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  • A Place to Play, on Wheels or Feet

    Children with disabilities often feel excluded in amusement parks where they are prevented from going on rides, and they don't feel included with the other children. Morgan's Wonderland amusement park and Morgan's Inspiration island water park are designed for children or adults with disabilities but can also be used by able-bodied individuals.

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  • Where Birds and Planes Collide, a Winged Robot May Help

    Airplanes and birds don't mix - thousands of birds are tragically killed around airports each year, and collisions (or "ingestions," as the industry calls them) of birds and jet engines can be extremely dangerous to flights. Finding an effective way to keep birds away has proven tricky, as birds are clever and quickly acclimate to many traditional methods, so the Edmonton airport in Alberta is "piloting" an exciting new technology: a robotic falcon that moves like a real predator, and seems to have had success in trial flights.

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  • Assisting the Poor to Make Bail Helps Everyone

    Organizations that supply funds to provide bail for people arrested for misdemeanors not only saves money for taxpayers, but reduces the number of guilty pleas, and could possibly save lives. Those who cannot pay for bail must either await trial in jail or plead guilty, leading to permanent criminal records. Organizations like the Bronx Freedom Fund supply $2,000 or less to help these individuals keep jobs, housing, and reduce the risk of suicide in jail without requiring them to plead guilty.

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  • Beyond the GPS, Mapping Every Place, Everywhere

    Across the world, lack of a precise address has created issues for communities, whether it be in terms of medical treatment, resource drop off, or even simple package deliver. Attempting to address this problem, this piece looks at What3words, a company that will generate a precise address for any location.

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  • A Better Way to Trace Scattered Refugees

    The world's 65 million displaced people are not tracked with any cohesive, international database, making reuniting families incredibly difficult. Refunite, a new website with backing from major corporations and international aid agencies, aims to simplify the process and help refugees find lost family members.

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  • In Africa, a Glimpse of Hope for Beating H.I.V.

    While Zimbabwe struggles with a dictatorship and an economic crisis, it has made strides towards achieving ambitious goals related to HIV/AIDS. This has been done through government investment in AIDS programs, intense outreach to youth and use of HIV positive teens as outreach workers, and the use of mobile testing sites.

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