180 Days

https://www.pbs.org/show/180-days

Sam Chaltain

PBS

17 March 2015

Broadcast TV News / Over 15 Minutes

Harsville, South Carolina is trying to better its educational program. But first it must change the standard of living in the town to provide greater examples of success for the children to follow.

A Chance to Go From Hard Lives to Healing

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/18/a-chance-to-go-from-hard-lives-to-healing

Patricia Leigh Brown

The New York Times

18 September 2014

Text / 1500-3000 Words

A novel way to help young men growing up in communities in which concentrated poverty, violence and unemployment are well-documented barriers to health and longevity: male youth of color are trained to be the emergency response team to help stabilize street victims before doctors or nurses begin procedures.

A New Model of School Reform

http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/a_new_model_of_school_reform

Jeremy Adam Smith

Greater Good Magazine

21 May 2014

Text / 1500-3000 Words

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is transforming educational systems in Oakland by forming mentor relationships between adults and students. Unlike other models, though, the adults are the ones held accountable.

Battling America's other PTSD crisis

http://news.yahoo.com/battling-america-s-other-ptsd-crisis-194336514.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

Tina Rosenberg

Yahoo! News

6 March 2015

Text / Over 3000 Words

A program in Philadelphia is pioneering new ways to treat the urban wounded. By seeing it as PTSD, and not pointing fingers, the city is using mental health tools to decrease violence and heal communities.

Can You Fight Poverty by Paying Kids to Go to School?

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/08/can-you-fight-poverty-by-paying-kids-to-go-to-school-109962.html#.VYmDrPlVikp

Glenn Thrush

Politico

12 August 2014

Text / Over 3000 Words

In an effort to break the cycle of poverty in Memphis, a government organization is using conditional cash transfers, paying students if they earn good grades and adults if they maintain a full-time job.

Couples lined up for Newark's Valentine's Day vacant lot sale

http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/newark-valentine-sale-vacant-lots

Cassie Owens

Next City

16 February 2015

Text / 800-1500 Words

As a blight-reduction and urban-development effort, the city of Newark sold bare lots in a distressed area to families willing to build a house and live in it for five years.

Dealing with blight complaints requires new approach, Memphis says

http://www.fayobserver.com/a9f5d553-c59b-5643-9b12-55aca76dde64.html

Greg Barnes

Fayetteville Observer

22 February 2014

Text / Under 800 Words

In Memphis, a creative blight-reduction initiative called 25 Square Blocks broke down the city into blocks. Inspectors were able to quickly identify all the violations and fix them, using the same amount of funding, but less time, as the old call-and-respond model.

Foreclosure Is Not an Option

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/foreclosure-is-not-an-option

David Bornstein

The New York Times

6 December 2010

Text / 1500-3000 Words

Foreclosure affects millions of homeowners and millions more owe more on their mortgages than what their homes are worth, but Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People (ESOP), offers assistance. As a free service to borrowers, ESOP holds lenders accountable with fair lending agreements, creates constructive communication, and ultimately saves homes.

Hot, Crowded and Smart

http://nextcity.org/features/view/hot-crowded-and-smart-san-antonio-water-system-drought

Sarah Goodyear

Next City

22 July 2013

Text / Over 3000 Words

For the past three years, water levels in the San Antonio Edwards Aquifer have decreased to uncomfortable levels and drought periods may continue as the population booms. The San Antonio Water System organization has set up rules to limit water use and has recycled water for conservation frugal innovation.

How the Fastest-Warming City in the Country Is Cooling Off

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/12/louisville-heat-tree-cover-113424.html#.VYmlw_lViko

Erica Peterson

Politico

9 December 2014

Text / Over 3000 Words

Although residents turn up their air conditioners, Louisville heat is increasing the city’s death rate by 39 people every year. The city mayor launched a tree commission for planting more trees and since 2011 has planted over 12,000 trees. The canopies from the tree offer cooling shade and bring down the temperature of the city as a whole. The response also includes the installation of green roofs and in-depth research on urban heat islands.