Las Tres Prietas hacen Teatro

In the poorest places, the lack of proper clothing costs lives. Now a simple and efficient program in India is attacking the problem with the urgency it deserves.

Organizations in Detroit are piloting a program to apply food stamp credits in grocery stores towards the purchase of nutritious produce, in order to increase access to healthy items. The initiative can also help the local economy prosper through increased promotion of locally grown produce.

Hospitals in New York improve healthcare quality and reduce medical costs by staying in frequent contact with patients requiring frequent or long-term care. Montefiore's Accountable Care Organization pulls in care providers from across the medical and social spectrum to improve patient health while curbing expenses.

France’s cities, including Paris, are among the world’s most expensive to live in. In 2015, France passed rent control laws that restrict outlandish rent increases through the Rent Observatory that oversees the different zones and contracts, as well as a website that tells residents if their prospective landlords are charging too much. One year later, the regulations have been effective at controlling the rent by 30% in Paris.

Libraries in the United States have traditionally been centers to consume information, offering users books in quiet isolation. However, a new movement across the country is transforming libraries by providing internet access, creating spaces to study and learn, and meet with members of the community. There has even been the creation of pop-up happy hour libraries at bars, and bike book deliveries to distribute free books. These new libraries are re-inventing how communities learn and demonstrating that even the oldest institutions are elastic to communities' needs.

Uganda's open policy allows refugees to start a new life – and even a new business. But not all of them thrive due to governmental restrictions and limited cash flow.

Residents of Alaska's St. Paul Island live through a legacy of generational trauma that includes high rates of domestic violence, child abuse, and alcoholism. However, the Island's political leadership have accomplished financial control and are using the funds for a comprehensive system of services to help their community break the cycle.

In East St. Louis, which is often known by outsiders for its 50 percent unemployment rate and status as the worst performing school district in the country, leaders are using a "collective impact" approach to improve test scores and social services. Officials and nonprofits have connected all community services "and use the school district, the entity that touches the lives of almost every kid in town, to help parents tap into that network." Longtime residents, who have seen many efforts flail over the years, offer mixed reviews of the newest initiative.

To make neighborhoods safer, New York City is attempting to strengthen "collective efficacy." Research shows that an engaged community, where residents feel they can trust each other and the government, can help lower crime; improving buildings, offering summer jobs, opening a community center, and providing more services are just some of the actions taker to create safer communities - and it's working.

Denmark is first place in a 2018 ranking of digital governments, largely due to making it mandatory that citizens be able to access public services online. Their digital success is also credited to Denmark's ability to coordinate local and federal governments to ensure a joint effort.