A Massachusetts law requires the public school system to teach an experiential civics curriculum so that young people graduate with the basic skills and confidence to become informed and active citizens. The curriculum led to a student-organized "Civics Day" event at the Statehouse, where they were able to speak with political representatives and other officials. A handful of other states have similar laws, which advocates believe will lead to greater voter turnout when the youth become 18.

Amidst the rise of new forms and packages of higher education, a traditional four year college with no computer science department of its own and a coding boot camp are joining forces. Students at Dominican University of California can now take computer science coursework at Make School, while Make School learners can engage in liberal arts courses at Dominican.

As more states have added computer science courses to required education standards, teachers are taking creative approaches to integrating computer science into traditional subjects such as music and social studies. “When I think about entering a digital future, it’s simply understanding how machines work on a conceptual level and understanding what they can do," one high school English teacher says.

Years of illegal gold mining have left much of Peru's forests desolate and the lands poisoned. However, scientists have recently come across one species of tree that is thriving despite the harsh realities of the land. In a piloted attempt to restore the forest, these scientists are experimenting with a variety of tree species to see which will continue to grow.

Hunters Point South Park, a newly built park in Queens, NY, is functioning as a community space even before the addition of low- and middle- income housing slated for the area. But even more than that, the park has already proven that its storm resilient design is efficient and necessary.

Community colleges are increasingly leveraging technology to engage students and keep them on track to graduation. Personalized messages about deadlines, information about class performance from professors, and texts about homework resources all contribute to a "fuller picture" of students and empower administrators with the information to intervene when necessary.

Teachers are increasingly turning to meditation and mindfulness apps in their classrooms to address student anxiety and reduce fighting and behavioral disruptions. The co-founder of Calm, an app that partners with schools, explained, “I think a lot of education focuses on remembering facts or things that aren’t necessarily dealing with your own life skills or tools to deal with emotions … if we can teach the kids to meditate, that’s an amazing, actually world-changing opportunity.”

The United States is adopting a practice that much of Europe has been using for for decades. Green roofs, which utilize either solar panels or implement the growth of vegetation, will help many cities throughout the country meet their energy goals as well as help mitigate against the harmful impacts of climate change.

Originally developed as a tool for women in rural India to learn how to read and write, Khabar Lahariya has grown into an important outlet of Indian journalism. Covering events in small, rural communities whose isolation has often bred corruption, Khabar Lahariya is spreading information and holding people accountable.

Organizations working to turn people away from violent hate groups have found some success with holistic approaches that include wrap-around services and acknowledging how people get caught up in racist ideology. But finding what works is challenging because so few resources and attention are directed to domestic hate groups. Scaling successful efforts is also difficult because they often involve building personal relationships to help people rediscover their humanity and compassion.

A calendar featuring goats wearing warm clothing has raised thousands of dollars for local organizations in Varanasi, India. The creative gimmick draws on the power of large numbers of small donations, similar to the ice bucket challenge supporting ALS research.

Schools around the world are increasingly teaching yoga as a stress management tool. And students are responding enthusiastically -- in one district, over 70 percent of kids chose to also use the techniques at home.

In 2016, Kenya's government instituted a broadcast programming code that required reporting programs to include sign language interpretation. Through this code, people with hearing impairment have access to news and information to be well-informed and civically engaged.