Social Sciences

A new initiative is trying to make searching for tampons easier for Highland Park women. It's part of a national movement.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/highland-park/ct-hpn-free-tampons-feminine-hygiene-tl-0919-20190912-24sfihe3pngsjeit6pg4qdbptu-story.html?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker

Karen Berkowitz

Chicago Tribune

12 September 2019

Text / Under 800 Words

In 2013, the United Nations deemed access to menstrual supplies a human right. Since then, Illinois has taken a number of steps to make access to these products even easier. This story includes solutions such as free dispensers in public restrooms, eliminating the "luxury" or "tampon" tax, and drives to collect pads and tampons for low-income and homeless women.

This Man Says His Anti-violence Plan Would Save 12,000 Lives

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/09/can-thomas-abts-bleeding-out-curb-gun-violence/596164?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker

Mark Obbie

The Atlantic

11 September 2019

Text / Over 3000 Words

With support for a New York-based grant program, Buffalo has been trying various evidence-based approaches to decrease violence, especially gun violence, in the city. The grant program, Gun Involved Violence Elimination, or GIVE, provides funding for police departments to adopt strategies like hot-spot policing, deterring those most at-risk, or street outreach to break the cycle of violence. While such strategies are linked to success, the process of implementing them, gaining support and trust from the community, and waiting for long-term change has proven challenging.

LGBTQ Asylum Seekers Face Layered Marginalization, So These Four Organizations Are Here to Help

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/lgbtq-asylum-seekers-marginalization-four-organizations-help-resource-guide?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker

Ari Honarvar

Teen Vogue

5 September 2019

Text / 1500-3000 Words

LGBTQ asylum seekers face a unique set of problems coming to the United States, often from places where gender expression and sexuality are strictly regulated. Four organizations across the US, Mexico, and Canada are filling this unique niche. For example, AsylumConnect created an app of resources on how to apply for asylum and a catalogue of LGBTQ-friendly services and organizations in the US for them to learn about. All four aim to validate LGBTQ asylum seekers and keep them safe.

In South Africa, a Call to Punish Rapists

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/27/opinion/in-south-africa-a-call-to-punish-rapists.html?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker

Joseph Darius Jaafari

The New York Times

27 August 2019

Text / 800-1500 Words

In Diepsloot, South Africa, a small office called Lawyers Against Abuse offers legal support for sexual assault cases in a violent city that traditionally does little to address the issue. The organization offers lawyers, victim advocates, legal counseling, and therapy as they go through the process. Since 2015, they have helped more than 800 women and secured 28 convictions.

This land is their land

https://www.searchlightnm.org/this-land-is-their-land?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker

April Reese

Searchlight New Mexico

27 August 2019

Multi-Media / 1500-3000 Words

The Outdoor Equity Fund in New Mexico introduces troubled youth across the state to exploration in nature as a sort of informal therapy and mental retreat. The Fund - a first of it's kind across the nation - distributes resources and funding to local outdoor and youth-centered nonprofits to spread the impact of their missions across the state.

Reimagining New York Jails Without Solitary Confinement

https://thecity.nyc/2019/08/reimagining-new-york-jails-without-solitary-confinement.html?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker

Reuven Blau

Rosa Goldensohn

The City

19 August 2019

Text / 800-1500 Words

Solitary confinement was once thought of as one of the only effective punishments for violent prison inmates. As more research surfaces showing the severe damage it does to mental health, the racial bias of those placed in solitary, and its relative ineffectiveness, more cities, like New York City, are exploring alternatives to the relatively inhumane practice. In places like Denver, Chicago, and San Francisco, rather than invoking a punitive approach, they’re offering positive reinforcement – and seeing positive results.