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Rising from the ashes, a Buffalo suburb ends its dependence on coal

Elizabeth McGowan

July 11, 2017 |

Grist |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Tonawanda, New York

When the coal-powered Huntley Generating Station began to shut down, the livelihood of the local community in Tonawanda was greatly threatened; numerous jobs were at stake and looming impacts on the town's largest tax revenue stream meant shuttering schools and choking public services. Local community members organized and, through tenacity and frugal reallocation of resources, diverse groups - including labor unions, politicians, and environmental activists - joined forces in creating a way to sustain and revitalize their community beyond coal.

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Refugees find temporary havens on Airbnb

Carolyn Said

July 11, 2017 |

San Francisco Chronicle |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

Airbnb hosts are offering free short-term rentals to refugees. The option, called Open House, has attracted new hosts to the Airbnb platform and has given refugee families independence, privacy, and a sense of home while they find more permanent housing.

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Thailand's Disease Detectives

Ruth Evans

July 11, 2017 |

BBC |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Thailand, Chiang Mai

"Poor man Instagram" is how vets at Chiang Mai University describe their system of pandemic preparedness and emergency prevention. Recruiting community members throughout the region to be disease detectives, the scientists train these volunteers to use a mobile app that allows them to document dead animals that may have been sick with an illness that could pose a threat to humans. When scientists are alerted of cases, they are then able to investigate and intervene if the situation merits danger.

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At Leschi Elementary, equity conversations are common — among teachers, parents and, increasingly, students

Paige Cornwell

July 07, 2017 |

The Seattle Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

For many years, Leschi Elementary was a divided school - white kids were overwhelmingly enrolled in Leschi's Montessori program, while students of color were most likely found in the "contemporary" classes. In 2014, staff decided to combine the two curricula, offering all students a "Best of Both" blended model. Leschi now openly encourages conversations about social justice and inclusion among both students and parents and while there was some initial attrition after the change, most families are now quick to point to the clear benefits of the school's shift.

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At the UN, a New Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Is Adopted by 122 Nations

Maria Luisa Gambale

July 07, 2017 |

PassBlue |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

On July 7, 122 United Nations member countries approved a new treaty prohibiting and eliminating nuclear weapons. The legally binding agreement emphasizes humanitarian concerns, including the disproportionate impact of weapons testing and deployment on indigenous people as well as on women, young children, and reproductive systems. All nine states holding nuclear weapons boycotted negotiations.

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In Philly courts, whether they'll die in prison comes down to their birthday

Samantha Melamed

July 06, 2017 |

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Network) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A 2016 U.S. Supreme Court decision allows those sentenced to life for crimes committed as juveniles to seek parole. These people make up more than half of lifers in Pennsylvania, which is considering numerous appeals, but now those sentenced when they were slightly older are arguing the impulsivity and immaturity that makes juveniles less culpable are also present in the brains of those in their 20s. They are seeking to ensure the same legal rulings also apply to them and the legal system is trying to reconcile legal definitions of adulthood with evolving brain science.

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Urban Planner Turned Poet Maps Seattle's Story

Josh Cohen

July 05, 2017 |

Next City |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Through poetry, Seattle's Civic Poet collected the stories, observations, and creativity of past and present residents. These poems were entered into a Poetic Grid, an online interface that connected the writing on a map to the specific location being addressed.

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Putting Citizenship Back in Congress

David Bornstein

July 04, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Stop underestimating yourself. That’s the call of Sam Daley-Harris to the many everyday Americans who feel that they cannot effect change in their country. He’s the founder of Results, a grassroots network that has spent decades teaching people how to build relationships with their congressional representatives and advocate for legislation.

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The Heartland Wants More New Americans

Tanvi Misra

July 04, 2017 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Louisville, Kentucky

In the aftermath of an election "consumed with anti-immigration rhetoric," many of the same states that helped put Trump in the White House are not just home to growing numbers of immigrants and refugees, but many are actively seeking to naturalize these populations, as they play a significant role in bolstering economic growth. The Cities for Citizenship initiative is helping local governments to make the naturalization process more transparent and accessible for immigrant communities across the midwest.

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IDB Aims to Catalyze Energy Efficiency in Latin America

Abhilasha Purwar

July 03, 2017 |

Clean Energy Finance Forum |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Barriers, such as lack of standardization and information dispersion, are preventing market development for global financing of energy-efficient projects. The Inter-American Development Bank's Energy Savings Insurance Team has developed a scheme that could increase investments resulting in greater energy efficiency; through implementations such as standardized contracts, market auditors, and an engagement framework.

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