Solving problems by addressing the underlying factors. By digging deep and attacking the root causes of a problem, changemakers are able to treat the disease rather than just the symptoms. These solutions offer help to those in need, employ a comprehensive approach to problem-solving, and address the determinants that keep individuals and communities from succeeding.
Treating underlying conditions, specifically those that are structural and systemic that cause social problems. These issues arise as a consequence from the way a society is organized. For example, a solution that addresses patriarchy or a lack of jobs in a poor neighborhood.
Help rather than punishmentThinking of behaviors such as addiction as diseases that require treatment.
Using a comprehensive approachProviding people with services that address multiple challenges at once.
2123
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/11/30/783001327/chew-on-this-farmers-are-using-food-waste-to-make-electricity?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker
Allison Aubrey
NPR
30 November 2019
Multi-Media / 3-5 Minutes
Food waste typically ends up on in landfills, which exacerbates climate change, but in Massachusettes, dairy farmers are converting the waste into electricity. Food waste from around the state is gathered, grinded and liquefied and then transported to an anaerobic digester on a dairy farm which is able to convert enough energy to power more than just the farm.
https://time.com/longform/world-aids-day-2019?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker
Juhie Bhatia
Time
29 November 2019
Multi-Media / 5-15 Minutes
There are over one million people in the United States living with HIV, reaching a crisis level in states such as Georgia; however, countries like Namibia are offering lessons for how to tackle the problem. By offering a community-centered approach that addresses underlying issues like poverty and lack of access to education, the country has seen a significant decrease in new diagnoses.
https://www.inquirer.com/life/rutabaga-toy-library-for-kids-northwest-philadelphia-20191124.html?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker
Grace Dickinson
The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Network)
24 November 2019
Multi-Media / 800-1500 Words
The Rutabaga Toy Library in Philadelphia - which was born out of a borrowed idea from Austin, Texas - helps parents afford to checkout donated toys for their kids by offering low-price memberships to families in the surrounding area. The business addresses the common trend that enables parents to throw old toys away and create unnecessary waste; instead, Rutabaga accepts donations to the toy library for other families to use while offering a space for sharing and community gathering.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-24/learning-to-recycle-when-you-dont-have-a-word-for-it/11729690?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker
Margaret Paul
ABC News (American Broadcasting Company)
24 November 2019
Text / Under 800 Words
Cities in Australia were facing a recycling problem, but realized it was related to a large migrant population and a language barrier with the word "recycling." To help address this problem Melbourne implemented the 'Waste Watcher' program, which provides hands-on education through recycling bin audits.
https://ensia.com/features/this-turkish-chef-is-fighting-climate-change-with-the-help-of-syrian-refugees?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker
Jennifer Hattam
Ensia
22 November 2019
Text / 800-1500 Words
The Turkish organization, Living Soil, Local Seed, is working with Turkish women and Syrian refugees to help rebuild and diversify the local agricultural system that was once thriving. Using local knowledge and surveys, the organization has gathered different varieties of native crops which it then uses to work with local farmers and employ women in order to create more complex ecological systems. In 2019, the program yielded over 400 tons of wheat and has proven to be more financially beneficial to farmers.
https://www.10news.com/news/transparency-project/exclusive-how-san-diego-law-enforcement-responds-to-mental-health-crises?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker
Jennifer Kastner
ABC 10 (San Diego)
20 November 2019
Broadcast TV News / 3-5 Minutes
In San Diego county, the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) provides mental health training to police officers. The team is comprised of mental health technicians who are present for 911 calls that involve individuals with mental health concerns and train officers in de-escalation, behaviors to be cognisant of, and interpersonal communication.
https://bhekisisa.org/multimedia/2019-11-19-ruff-justice-meet-the-dogs-helping-put-rapists-in-jail?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker
Dhashen Moodley
Danny Booysen
Bhekisisa
19 November 2019
Podcast / 5-15 Minutes
A practice in Johannesburg is making the courtroom and trial process less scary for sexually abused children by letting them play the role of court officials alongside therapy dogs in a pretend court. The Teddy Bear Foundation, responsible for this role play activity, wants to children to be less scared but also prepared for their day in court when it comes.
https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/breaking-the-cycle-fulton-s-first-all-female-program-works/article_9296ebb8-00e1-11ea-af7b-7bc329e2a127.html?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker
Sarah Haselhorst
Sarah Straughn
Columbia Missourian
19 November 2019
Text / 1500-3000 Words
The Fulton Community Supervision Center in Missouri provides trauma-informed, gender-specific care and services to women who face the risk of recidivism. Participants live at the center, where they receive services like cognitive behavioral therapy and classes that teach coping mechanisms and personal and professional development. Core to much of the programming is helping women find their self worth.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/climate-solutions/israeli-startup-ubq-turning-trash-into-plastic-products?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker
Jim Morrison
Shoshana Kordova
Washington Post
18 November 2019
Multi-Media / 1500-3000 Words
A company in Israel is setting its sights on reducing plastic waste by converting garbage into pellets that can then be used in manufacturing plastic to create "everyday items like trays and packing crates." Although the approach has been met with some skepticism, the company has already shown promise due to the creation of "a radical technology that transforms garbage into the raw materials for plastics manufacturers and earns them a profit in the end."
https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2019/1118/Houston-we-have-a-solution-How-the-city-curbed-homelessness?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker
Henry Gass
The Christian Science Monitor
18 November 2019
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Across the country, governments at every level are working to tackle homelessness. In Houston, connecting permanent housing to services has proven an effective strategy but it has required an increase in affordable housing stock and more strategic organization between non-profits and officials.
Help us grow our database of solutions stories! Please enter the following information. Our staff will review the story, and if it meets our criteria (see below), it will be added to the Solutions Story Tracker®.
If you want to get notified when your story is added, register or login before submitting stories here.
Great suggestion! So great, that we already have that story listed in the Solutions Story Tracker®. View it here.
It may take a few weeks to see your piece in the Solutions Story Tracker®, as we have a backlog of submissions longer than Ben Hur that we’re diligently working to eliminate. We appreciate your patience.
Our issue area taxonomy was adapted from the PCS Taxonomy with definitions by the Foundation Center, which is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 4.0 International License.
Photos are licensed under Attribution Non Commercial 2.0 Generic Creative Commons license / Desaturated from original, and are credited to the following photographers:
Fondriest Environmental, David De Wit / Community Eye Health, Linda Steil / Herald Post, John Amis / UGA College of Ag & Environmental Sciences – OCCS, Andy B, Peter Garnhum, Thomas Hawk, 7ty9, Isriya Paireepairit, David Berger, UnLtd The Foundation For Social Entrepreneurs, Michael Dunne, Burak Kebapci, and Forrest Berkshire / U.S. Army Cadet Command public affairs
Photos are licensed under Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike 2.0 Generic Creative Commons license, and are credited to the following photographers:
Ra'ed Qutena, 段 文慶, Fabio Campo, City Clock Magazine, Justin Norman, scarlatti2004, Gary Simmons, Kathryn McCallum, and Nearsoft Inc
Photos are licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons license / Desaturated from original, and are credited to the following photographers:
Burak Kebapci and SCY.
Photos are licensed under Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) and are credited to the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Conference attendee listening to speaker, Jenifer Daniels / Colorstock getcolorstock.com.
Photo Credit: Kevork Djansezian via Getty Images
Photo Credit: Sonia Narang