Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 429 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

What It Takes To Keep Kentucky's Black-Led Farms Alive

Anabel Peterman

September 26, 2025 |

Next City |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Kentucky

Black Soil, a nonprofit organization founded in 2017, supports Kentucky's Black farmers through direct investment, grant assistance, and market connections while bridging information gaps that prevent farmers from accessing existing government programs.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Fifty Years After Mount Laurel, Affordable Housing Is Gaining Ground in New Jersey

Roshan Abraham

August 21, 2025 |

Next City |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Jersey

In 2024, New Jersey passed a new law that formalized longstanding requirements that municipalities periodically submit affordable housing plans to the state. The law also created a new mediation program for municipalities that want to dispute the state’s calculation of its affordable housing requirements, and the new system has helped cut down on lawsuits that slow down the process of getting new housing approved.

Read More
Go to Original Story
A Historic House Museum Advances Small Artisans and Makers

Ilana Preuss

May 16, 2025 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, District of Columbia

The Heurich House Museum in Washington, D.C., has created two targeted initiatives—the Urban Manufacturing Incubator and the DC Makers' Guild—to support local small-scale artisan businesses facing barriers to growth such as high rent fees and limited visibility. These programs provide mentorship, business coaching, market entry opportunities, like various mini markets throughout the year, and advocacy support to improve market conditions for these small businesses.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The Quiet Engine for Affordable Housing in Red and Blue States

Lucas Grindley

May 01, 2025 |

Next City |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Nashville, Tennessee

Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) like BlueHub Loan Fund are stepping up to help create and preserve affordable housing. BlueHub Loan Fund recently financed a project in Nashville that converted two abandoned motels into affordable studio apartments, when larger banks wouldn’t finance the project.

Read More
Go to Original Story
These Cities Are Welcoming Immigrants With Municipal ID Programs

Lucas Grindley, Marielle Argueza

January 21, 2025 |

Next City |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Municipal ID programs such as IDNYC provide identification for residents who aren't able to access official government IDs, such as those who are undocumented or unhoused. The municipally-issued IDs make it easier for these residents to access local services and benefits and interact with officials, including law enforcement.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The City That Wiped Out $100 Million in Medical Debt

Aysha Khan, Lucas Grindley

January 08, 2025 |

Next City |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, St. Paul, Minnesota

The city government of St. Paul, Minn. partnered with Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit organization that buys up and forgives personal medical debt. Leveraging pandemic relief funds, the city was able to forgive more than $100 million in medical debt through the partnership.

Read More
Go to Original Story
A Little-Known Federal Program Is Keeping Senior Housing Affordable in Denver

Robert Davis

December 05, 2024 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Denver, Colorado

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development offers funding for affordable housing properties to retrofit their buildings to be more resilient to climate change and improve resident’s quality of life. The funding ensures the properties remain as affordable housing because these upgrades typically reduce bills and because property owners must agree to keep rent affordable for 25 years.

Read More
Go to Original Story
A Community Health Model Is Helping Latinx Immigrants Understand Their Reproductive Rights

Kimberly Izar

September 17, 2024 |

Next City |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Jersey

Promotora de salud, or community health workers with the Abortion Justice Committee of New Jersey, help Latinx immigrants navigate and access reproductive healthcare. In a community survey, 42% of respondents said they struggled to access and understand reproductive health services, so the promotoras model helps share information with those who struggle to access it, advocates for expanding language access, and combats misinformation.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The Urban Gardens Where Gender and Climate Justice Grow

Peter Yeung

September 11, 2024 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Ecuador, Quito

The city of Quito’s Participatory Urban Agriculture Program creates sustainable access to food by providing land and agricultural training, and it prioritizes empowering vulnerable populations, particularly women.

Read More
Go to Original Story
When Neighbors Choose How to Spend Philanthropic Dollars

Ryan M. Moser

August 06, 2024 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Kensington Community Resilience Fund supports local initiatives through participatory grant-making, a process where advisory committees made up of community members – who are deeply familiar with their community’s needs – help decide which organizations should receive a share of the funding. Since 2020, KCR has awarded $760,000 in grants to neighborhood programs.

Read More
Go to Original Story