Boston's free CultureHouse pop-ups may be on their way to Philly

A unique boarding school in Thailand has inspired close to 200 more of its kind. At Mechai Bamboo School, students benefit from a combination of traditional classroom instruction and hands-on activities, including starting their own small businesses. Targeted at some of the most disadvantaged students in Buriram Province, the lessons in economic development encourage students to give back to their home communities instead of migrating.

Community development groups are working closely with "middle neighborhoods" - areas "that aren't distressed today, but they may become so sooner than anyone expects." From Cleveland to Milwaukee to Chicago, CDCs are improving the lives of long term homeowners and helping interested parties generate the capital to move into these neighborhoods: “You're investing to a place that is on the edge, still has assets, still has people who want to be there, but need a nudge to get over the top, versus investing 60 homes in a non-functioning market."

To help develop the arts scene and also increase economic development in the North Shore area of Staten Island, one family formed a non-profit organization to renovate the St. George Theatre and build it up as a revitalized performing arts space. Since 2004 when the theatre was reopened, the area has seen economic growth, and data supports the idea that cities with arts and cultural resources make for healthier and happier communities.

Maine's coordinated workforce training programs—including state-funded community college labs, apprenticeships, and business-led initiatives—are rapidly building a skilled HVAC workforce, significantly accelerating heat pump adoption to meet the state's ambitious climate and employment goals, though challenges around training consistency, licensing standards, and funding uncertainty remain.

The Call for Change Helpline in Massachusetts takes phone calls from across the country to help prevent domestic violence. The line is confidential and anonymous. Most callers are people causing harm, and responders are trained to help them change abusive behavior.

Yonkers Partners in Education is a nonprofit making college more accessible for low-income students of color through mentorship and tutoring.

Los cocineros y productores que conocen las tradiciones culinarias de los pueblos originarios en Costa Rica están creando nuevas cadenas de valor y, poco a poco, sensibilizando a más personas sobre esta herencia gastronómica. La iniciativa Sikwa Restaurante ha contribuido a ese proceso desde un barrio en la capital.

Health Care Advocates International’s free breast binder program provides binders to transgender youths by donating them to local clinics or paying to ship them. The binders help prevent body dysphoria triggers by creating a flat-chest appearance.

Food Connect is a nonprofit that acts as a middleman between businesses with edible food waste and people battling food insecurity. From donations to delivery, the whole process is streamlined through an app.

Angel Rider Wheelchairs provides free wheelchairs to children across Rwanda. The group constructs and distributes the wheelchairs themselves and coordinates with the National Council of Persons with Disabilities, who provides a list of children nominated to receive one. Access to the wheelchairs have changed the quality of life for many of the children, allowing them to attend school and other social activities for the first time in their lives. The non-profit has donated over 2,000 wheelchairs in the last five years.