When Clothes Fly Off, This Intimacy Coordinator Steps In

The Spanish-Language Community Advisory Network works with a performing arts center in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, to bring in Latino audiences by showing culturally-relevant films, reducing language barriers, and even inviting the films’ cast and crew to the screenings.

The production model of the documentary Disclosure prioritized diversity, inclusion, and empowering transgender people both on screen and behind the scenes. Over 120 trans people contributed to the film. Nine trans Fellows, many of whom have since made their own films, received stipends, mentoring, hands-on training, and networking opportunities. Trans representation behind the camera increased interviewee openness and all interviewees were compensated for their time. While a controversial practice in documentary film making, it was implemented to avoid exploitative and extractive storytelling practices.

Uganda has some of the highest fertility and HIV prevalence rates in the world. Yet the government has banned comprehensive sexuality education in schools, and parents feel uncomfortable talking about the taboo subject. So Chicken & Chips, a television show about puppets, was created to educate the country’s young people about sexual and reproductive health.

The DIKSHA youth club looks after the children of sex workers when their mothers are working. The club teaches youth about their rights, bodily autonomy and empowers them to take control of their futures and avoid joining the sex trade themselves. The club started in 2001, and over the past two decades, it has helped prevent young girls from joining the sex trade, reduced rates of trafficking in the area and also helped reduce the stigma children of sex workers face.

In an effort to fix the climate movement’s voter turnout problem, the Environmental Voter Project’s 6,000 volunteers use behavioral and data science in their outreach campaigns to encourage environmentalists to become consistent voters so the issues they care about are prioritized by politicians.

In Monte Vista, Colorado, an elementary and a high school are improving teacher retention by building an environment that makes them feel heard, appreciated, and supported. The administrators take time to build relationships with teachers and students, check in with teachers on a regular basis, allow teachers to have a say in decision-making, and create teacher revitalization rooms.

An awareness campaign in Rwanda promotes cattle vaccination to prevent Rift Valley Fever transmission. Campaign organizers broadcast messages on TV, radio, and during community events.

To improve access to live theater for the Deaf community, the Omaha Community Playhouse stages an annual shadow-interpreted performance of "The Christmas Carol," in which ASL interpreters in costume "shadow" the actors on-stage.

Constrained by the threat of lèse-majesté, a prohibition against insulting the monarchy, Thai protesters have turned to a genre of humor and satire called "kuan teen" to spark discussions about social change in their country. The campy protests, which often feature elaborate skits and over-the-top costumes, have helped normalize critical conversation around LGBTQ issues, education, and beauty standards.

Utah’s Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District is encouraging “localscaping” to conserve water by reducing lawns. The concept uses efficient irrigation, native and low-water vegetation, less turf overall, and discourages unnecessary lawns.