Schools are digging underground for their heat — and saving money

A panoply of responses to poverty has emerged to address poverty in the United States and abroad. The responses share in three key tactics: Measuring impact, paying for success, and collaboration.

ARPA-E, a Department of Energy program that provides high-risk grants to clean energy startups and universities, has leveraged $4 billion in government funding into $20 billion in additional private investment and 1,400+ patents. Companies like Fervo and Form Energy have advanced clean energy technologies using these grants.

Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City partnered with a private waste management company and an alternative energy firm to implement a citywide system that segregates, collects, sorts, and recycles household waste.

Sage Geosystems has developed a geopressured geothermal battery system in Texas that uses oil-drilling techniques to store energy underground for 4-6 hours—longer than lithium-ion batteries. This is one stage in a plan to replace an aging coal plant with renewable energy, though the system is not yet operational or connected to the grid.

Black Soil, a nonprofit organization founded in 2017, supports Kentucky's Black farmers through direct investment, grant assistance, and market connections while bridging information gaps that prevent farmers from accessing existing government programs.

The Aloha i ke Kai Ocean Stewardship User Fee ($1 per ocean activity per person) was passed by legislators in 2021 to create dedicated resources for marine–focused projects with support from the state’s Division of Aquatic Resources. While still in its early stages, the program raised $2 million, with 55% to 60% compliance in its first year.

The Bail Project is posting bond for men and women who cannot afford to pay and haven’t been convicted of a crime. Based in Detroit, the nonprofit has locations across the country and uses a revolving fund to bail out individuals, meaning once the bond is recovered, the funding is then available for another person. Its Detroit location has bailed out nearly 200 individuals in an effort to end mass incarceration and prove that holding people – most of whom are people of color or experiencing poverty – does not diminish recidivism.

In 2013 and 2016, Brownsville, Texas was ranked the poorest city in the U.S. That hasn't stopped students in the border district from outperforming their wealthier Texan peers. Leaders credit data-based interventions, effective principals, family engagement, and effective use of state and federal dollars for the district's remarkable success. "People love silver-bullet stories," Seth Rau, government and community relations coordinator for San Antonio's Independent School District, said. "It's not a turnaround story. It's a story of continuous improvement."

As cities across the United States grapple with the decline in law enforcement applications and officers, New York is adapting by using a workload allocation model to figure out the number of police officers actually needed and in what positions. While other cities, like Memphis, seek private funding to hire more police officers – a model that hasn’t shown demonstrably to decrease crime.

Detroit implemented the Montessori Method at several public schools, despite funding constraints. The program has attracted families that might otherwise look to the suburbs and private schools for education. It has resulted in more diverse classrooms and more opportunities for students.