Artwork stating 'Education Destroys Barriers', 'We Demand Treatment', and 'I Need A Chance'

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  • Towards a greener construction with fly ash bricks

    February 19, 2021 |

    Climate Tracker |

    Text |

    Under 800 Words

    Response Location: India

    Fly ash bricks help reduce construction waste by utilizing the powdery by-product of burning coal. They are a green replacement for red clay bricks, which contribute to 5-15% of India’s emissions. They also utilize waste from coal-based thermal plants, which often gets disposed of by being dumped in water bodies and on roadsides. In comparison to red clay bricks, fly ash bricks are less expensive and the production process doesn’t emit smoke or use the more fertile top soil. Their use has been mandated by some regions and about 150 small fly ash enterprises have emerged.

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  • How Banana Waste Is Turned Into Rugs, Fabric, And Hair Extensions

    February 19, 2021 |

    Business Insider |

    Video |

    5-15 Minutes

    Response Location: Uganda, Kampala

    A Ugandan company called TEXFAD is taking the stems from banana trees that would normally go to waste and is turning them into new textiles like rugs, place mats, and hair extensions. Over its eight year existence, TEXFAD has grown to also employ 23 people, many of whom started in their internship program for students. While the cost to make these products can be expensive, the textiles are biodegradable and use less water and land to produce.

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  • To maximize emission cuts, this Boston campus gets its power from the Midwest

    February 18, 2021 |

    Energy News Network |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

    Boston University is getting all of its electricity from a wind farm in South Dakota, which should cover its annual energy needs of 205 million kilowatt-hours. Some energy advocates say the higher education institution should have purchased their renewable energy locally, but the university says their main goal was to maximize its reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. They hope to share their model with other “large energy buyers” and use the wind farm as an educational and research opportunity for students.

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  • The Bakery That's Owned by an Idea

    February 16, 2021 |

    Next City |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

    Firebrand Artisan Breads hires people with high barriers to employment, such as people experiencing homelessness or who were formerly incarcerated. The higher-than-minimum-wage starting salary, paid time off, and insurance benefits provide sustainable and secure employment to people whose life circumstances make it harder to get a job. In order to raise capital while maintaining their employment model, the owner worked with lawyers to become a perpetual purpose trust, an alternative ownership model that allows the company to sell shares to private investors while ensuring their principles remain in place.

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  • Oonee Wants to Fix New York Bike Parking with Free, Secure Storage Pods

    February 11, 2021 |

    Bloomberg |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, New York, New York

    An early-stage startup with big plans to change bicycling culture and commuting habits has notched one victory already, with its first secure-parking pods in New York City: Out of 60,000 times they've been used, the pods have only suffered one theft, at a time of rampant bike theft. Startup Oonee provides an alternative to locking up bikes and scooters on the street during work hours. Parking in an enclosed shelter is advertising-supported, so it's free to users. Ultimately, Oonee hopes to surround parking with a suite of services useful to two-wheeled commuters.

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  • An Architecture Firm's Push to Build Net-Zero Apartments—on a Budget

    February 05, 2021 |

    Wall Street Journal |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    Apartments at Front Flats, a new residential building in Philadelphia, is powered by 492 solar panels that are wrapped around the building. The point: to demonstrate that developers can design buildings that are energy-efficient and be built at an affordable cost. It’s not clear yet if the building is “net zero” in terms of producing as much energy as it consumes, but residents are paying only $40 a month for utilities.

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  • Covid-Certified Businesses Try to Woo Leery Patrons

    February 04, 2021 |

    KFF Health News |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Grand Junction, Colorado

    Colorado counties have launched "The 5-star Certification Program" as a way to incintivize businesses to comply with COVID-related precautions. Businesses that join the program must agree to adhere to certain public health protocols, and in return they are held to less stringent rules that those who are not part of the program. Although it is yet to be seen if this is an effective method to slow the spread of the virus, the program has spread to other states as a way of avoiding economic devastation.

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  • Nonprofit Grocery Store May Be A Solution for Food Desert In Southern Dallas

    February 03, 2021 |

    KERA News |

    Radio |

    3-5 Minutes

    Response Location: United States, Waco, Texas

    When a Dallas nonprofit failed to attract a corporate grocery owner to one of the city's food deserts, a nonprofit looked to Waco's Jubilee Market as a model for a nonprofit, community-based grocery. Jubilee's parent organization, the nonprofit Mission Waco, carefully researched the market before taking the plunge into this low-margin business. Though it doesn't quite turn a profit yet, Jubilee has improved the surrounding community and the lives of people who once lived miles from the nearest quality produce and other affordable groceries.

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  • Planting crops — and carbon, too

    January 22, 2021 |

    The Washington Post |

    Multi-Media |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Rock Hall, Maryland

    Maryland farmer Trey Hill became the first seller in a tech startup’s carbon marketplace, paying him $115,000 for initiating regenerative farming practices. By introducing cover crops, he has been able to sequester about 8,000 tons of carbon in the soil, which then buyers can purchase the credits to offset the carbon they produce. If more farmers get on board, supporters say it can be a tangible solution to curbing climate change.

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  • With women-only transport, South African city tackles sexual abuse

    January 18, 2021 |

    Thomson Reuters Foundation |

    Text |

    Under 800 Words

    Response Location: South Africa, Cape Town

    To combat high rates of sexual violence in the Cape Flats neighborhood, an entrepreneur steeped in activism founded a women-only driving school. Hundreds of women have learned to drive without having to fend off assaults or harassment from male instructors, while gaining a skill that frees them from the risks inherent in taking public transportation or taxis. To tackle the latter risk, the same entrepreneur, Joanie Fredericks, recently started Ladies Own Transport, an all-female taxi service.

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