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

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 1909 results  for your search.  View and Refine Your Search Terms

  • The town that gave the world Spam is proud to be ‘autism-friendly'

    In order to reduce autism stigma, the city of Austin, Minn., became an autism-friendly town. A system was created to label businesses as autism-friendly, if they implement specific requirements that reduce autism triggers like lowering the lights and diminishing loud noises, among others. Employees must also go through educational training's. So far, 15 businesses are designated as autism-friendly. The move, was “a grass-roots effort to improve our community. “Having this autism-friendly movement — it’s incredible to have people who want to understand.”

    Read More

  • A Grassroots Call to Ban Gerrymandering

    In Michigan, a group of people decided they were done with gerrymandering: a political process in which district maps are redrawn to favor one party over another. They formed a group called “Voters Not Politicians,” and did what no one thought they would be able to do. “The crowdsourced campaign held 33 town-hall meetings in 33 days, wrote a ballot proposal to give redistricting powers to a citizens’ commission” and “collected 425,000 petition signatures in four months to secure a spot on Michigan’s ballot—a rare feat, usually accomplished only by hiring paid signature gatherers.”

    Read More

  • This new coalition protects protesters' right to civil disobedience

    Protect the Protest is an initiative created by more than 20 of the world’s largest nonprofits to address SLAPP lawsuits. SLAPPs often target nonprofits and activists in order to derail them from protesting. “The goals are to communicate about common types of SLAPP suits and how to avoid or dismiss them, campaign together when such salvos are lobbed against both Protect the Protect members and smaller pods of activists or organizers that might not have the resources to defend themselves.”

    Read More

  • Lango women find wealth in shea tree

    In a town in Uganda, women are taking control of their financial stability by joining together to market shea butter. Through a team effort, the women are able to make and sell lotion, bathing soap, edible oil and jelly from the shea butter they harvest from the local forest. This has allowed the women to both educate and provide housing for their families.

    Read More

  • Nosara Firefighters Manage to Respond to 260 Emergencies This Year With Their Cell Phones

    In Costa Rica, a group of volunteer firefighters use donated equipment, gear, and their own cell phones to fill in a big gap in emergency services. More residents are now accustomed to calling them directly for fires and other emergencies, and the community supports them financially. The firefighters are trying to integrate their work into the country's emergency alert system and to build their own fire station.

    Read More

  • Simple but effective: The community mobilisers driving immunization in Borno State

    In Nigeria, a lack of immunizations has contributed to increased rates of childhood mortality. However, Volunteer Community Mobilizers are actively changing this trajectory by conducting in-home visits and providing resources that aid in mobilizing families to have their children vaccinated at local clinics.

    Read More

  • Where a Sore Throat Becomes a Death Sentence

    In poor countries, where strep throat is not diagnosed, a seemingly harmless bacteria eventually causes the immune system to attack the heart valves. In order to help, the humanitarian group Team Heart, sends 40 to 60 volunteers of cardiologists, heart surgeons, and nurses, to Rwanda every year. Together, they help around 16 people get a new heart valve, and a chance to live a longer life.

    Read More

  • From prison to college: Consortium puts inmates in a positive ‘pipeline'

    Inmates who enroll in higher education programs during their sentence are 43 percent less likely to return to prison than their peers who don't, according to a study by the RAND Corporation. A consortium of Massachusetts colleges and state law enforcement agencies are taking action in light of this finding - 13 colleges will offer bachelor's degree programs to offenders either when they are in prison or once they have left.

    Read More

  • Meet the Delaware Teen Fighting for the Rights of Former Juvenile Offenders

    After her neighbor was incarcerated, a Delaware teenager and her brother began supporting youth coming out of detention with clothes, school supplies and other items. Their nonprofit grew and was so successful in raising money and awareness that the state legislature took over the re-entry fund just a year and a half after the organization's launch. The founder is now working on a pilot program to provide financial literacy training for formerly incarcerated youth.

    Read More

  • How Baltimore City Started Listening to Its Residents about Food Policy

    Leaders in Baltimore realized that improvements in food policy would be enhanced by more accurate language and more local activism. The Baltimore Food Policy Initiative brings together city agencies and uses data and shared terminology to improve their work, referring to “food deserts” as “ healthy priority areas.” The group also engaged 14 new “resident food equity advisors” to begin the work of assessing the landscape, in terms of accessibility of healthy food. This data will be used to move thoughtful policies forward.

    Read More