A Sacramento group united an affordable housing complex. Here's how it changed lives

Through Project Elimu, children in the Kibera neighborhood of Nairobi can take free dance classes that help them develop confidence, teamwork, self-expression, and physical fitness. The organization provides free meals to participants and also offers programming around sexual health, a crucial resource in an area where rates of teen pregnancy are high.

At the Kiishi Readers Club, students in Oyo state can borrow books and attend lectures and discussions to help develop their reading, writing, and leadership skills. Students who have participated in the club say the experience has helped them improve their academic performance and given them more confidence in their public speaking abilities.

Should police be law enforcers or social responders? Some leaders say "guardian" duty is at least important as purely law enforcement tasks, sometimes known as "warrior" work. That idea is rooted in centuries-old principles of policing.

Custer Elementary School in Washington State transformed from a chaotic, low-performing school into a twice-awarded "Best Public School" by implementing Integrated Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, a framework that addresses student needs across three tiers, from schoolwide culture-building to intensive individual interventions. As a result, student survey data showed that 95-97% of students felt safe, included, and cared for, leading to better academic outcomes.

Nonprofits Manufacturing Renaissance and Youth Crossroads provide vocational training that Chicago's public schools have largely abandoned, particularly in disinvested communities. Manufacturing Renaissance runs free seven-week metalworking cohorts that include stipends, tools, job placement support, and an alumni network, and has trained more than 1,200 young adults since 1982. Youth Crossroads offers multiple workforce tracks, including HVAC certification and paid internships, and 88% of trade program graduates report feeling prepared to enter the workforce.

In Washington, D.C., where only 27% of Black students read at grade level, the nonprofit Everybody Wins DC launched Power Readers, a program that pairs elementary students with volunteer mentors for weekly one-on-one reading sessions. Operating in six schools, the program allows students to choose their own books, receive personalized attention during lunchtime sessions, and access free, culturally relevant reading materials. J.O. Wilson Elementary recorded more than a 10% increase in literacy rates between 2022 and 2024 after implementing the program.

Operation Fresh Start is tackling workforce barriers faced by economically disadvantaged young adults through its Legacy program, which combines classroom instruction with hands-on construction and conservation work. Participants receive individualized learning plans, financial stipends and wraparound support to help them stay on track. In 2024, the program helped 36 young adults earn high school diplomas, 32 earn pre-apprenticeship certifications and reported an average three grade-level increase in reading and math among participants.

Adventure playgrounds such as Berlin’s Kolle 37 put kids in charge of play, giving them the space, tools, and freedom to solve conflicts, learn new skills, and even build their own play structures as adults monitor for hazards from a distance. Research shows that this type of “risky play” can help children mature and learn to navigate complex psychosocial situations.

The Claire Aid Foundation works to bridge the literacy gap in Jebbu Miango by hosting after-school classes in a newly created library in the area. About 350 children attend the after-school programs during the week where they’re taught basic grammar. The group also offers summer school programming, where students are taught more vocational skills like bead-making, tailoring, and pastry making.

To better serve Black students, Joe Shoemaker Elementary School uses “equity cohorts.” Teachers select four to seven students of color who are reading below grade level and then focus on building relationships with them, helping to nurture their social and academic skills. Over the past two years, they’ve seen improved test scores and reading levels among students who participated.