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The Green New Deal is already at work in one Portland neighborhood

Jessica Kutz

February 01, 2019 |

High Country News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

A community in Portland, Oregon piloted a sustainable housing initiative that looks a lot like a micro-scale of the touted Green New Deal. While the Cully neighborhood's local sustainability nonprofit, Verde, already trains and employees locals in the field of sustainable landscaping, the organization has bigger goals: building green affordable housing.

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On-the-ground pollution data spurred stricter zoning in Los Angeles

Ruxandra Guidi

January 31, 2019 |

High Country News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Boyle Heights, California

In Boyle Heights, a working class neighborhood of Los Angeles, members of the community have taken to the streets armed with clipboards and pens to document environmental hazards, zoning violations, and and other things that endanger their fellow residents. They then took this on-the-ground information, which they called "ground truths," to local politicians to advocate for change.

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Volunteer scientists study flowers to battle climate dread

Jane C. Hu

October 03, 2018 |

High Country News |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington

As climate change takes it's toll across the world, volunteer scientists in Washington are helping to track the changes. MeadowWatch, a program made up of these volunteer scientists, encourages the collection of data while hiking the Mount Rainier National Park. Not only does this help in data management, but offers a tangible way for people to take their climate awareness a step further.

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Students explore nature in densely built Los Angeles

Ruxandra Guidi

September 24, 2018 |

High Country News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

A principal in one of the most park-poor and low-income areas of LA is imploring students to "find nature in the unlikeliest of places." By setting up a community garden, sharing a passion for birdwatching, and sparking interest in the schoolyard's habitat, Brad Rumble is instilling in future stewards the key principles of urban conservation.

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As the West burns, a town fields its own amateur firefighters

Carl Segerstrom

September 05, 2018 |

High Country News |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Dufur, Oregon

In the town of Dufur, Oregon, local residents have been acting as firefighters to protect their fields and homes, using farming equipment to bury dry vegetation and tanks of water to put out the flames. While this has been the norm for years – because of the length of time it takes professional firefighters to arrive – the recent increase in wildfires is calling into question the safety of this informal fire fighting and figuring out how to work together with professionals.

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Truckers take on human trafficking

Carl Segerstrom

August 20, 2018 |

High Country News |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Denver, Colorado

The group Truckers Against Trafficking launched in 2009 to enlist the help of truck drivers to spot and report cases of human trafficking, which was common at many truck stops. The group trains truckers through video tutorials using experts on trafficking to offer tips on how to spot people being coerced into prostitution. Eight states now require the training and parts of the program are used in nearly 40 states, while truckers have helped identify more than 1,000 trafficking victims.

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Counties lacking mental health providers turn to technology

Zachariah Bryan

July 25, 2018 |

High Country News |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Montana

In rural areas, access to mental health care can be a challenge, but Eastern Montana Telemedicine Network connects rural patients to mental health services in Billings through live video. Video consultations can spare patients in underserved areas hundreds of miles of driving—often the difference between whether or not they receive care at all. Last year almost 2,000 patients in the region were connected to services.

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In a state troubled by suicide, teens learn mental health skills

Melody Martinsen

July 24, 2018 |

High Country News |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Montana

Making space for mental health awareness in school curricula aids in suicide prevention among teens. Schools in rural Montana have begun to adopt the Youth Aware of Mental Health program (YAM), which originated in Sweden. An initiative at the Center for Mental Health Research and Recovery at Montana State University succeeding in developing the pilot program, launched in 2018. The ongoing classes serve as a safe space for discussion and student-driven activities, using role-play scenarios and teaching students how to look out for signs of mental illness and reach out for help.

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The lifelong consequences of childhood trauma

Kathi Beeks

July 17, 2018 |

High Country News |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Flathead Reservation, United States, Montana

Trauma-informed care and social support systems encourage resilience in the face of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). With evidence of strong links between childhood trauma and long-term health, behavioral, and even social issues in adulthood, programs like the Best Beginnings Children’s Partnership of the Flathead Reservation and Lake County in Montana and the BARR (Building Assets, Reducing Risks) curriculum promote healing and resilient thinking. Creating positive, supportive environments also reduces the likelihood of passing down inter-generational trauma.

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Neighbors on call to help care for one another

Alex Sakariassen

July 14, 2018 |

High Country News |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Haiti, Mirebalais

Although Haiti and Montana appear to be vastly different places, they have a few important things in common; they are geographically rural, they both face high rates of mental illness and a shortage of mental health care workers, and they are both combatting this problem by utilizing Community Health Workers. These workers regularly visit people who struggle with mental health issues to check up on them and ensure that they stay on track with their treatment, and provide consistent support.

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