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How do you fix a broken system? One U.S. city offers a model for handling sex-assault cases

Robyn Doolittle

February 10, 2017 |

The Globe and Mail |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

If not properly investigated, sexual assault claims can be dismissed prematurely, disrupting the justice process and allowing offenders to continue hurting people. In Philadelphia, after an audit revealed more than 2,000 mishandled sexual offense claims in five years, police officers and women’s rights advocates began sitting together once a year to review police files and catch procedural problems. Now 17 years strong, the collaboration continues to hold law enforcement accountable and catch mishandled claims.

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Australia: Has it Cracked the Solution to Curb Smoking?

Fi Glover, Henrietta Moore, Martha Lane Fox

January 25, 2017 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Australia

Tough laws, taxes, and a public information campaign helped cut Australia’s adult smoking rate in half. The country leads the world in these efforts, including being the first to require plain tobacco packaging in 2012. However, some smokers protest, saying that the government is interfering with their individual rights.

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How reformers beat the Koch brothers in South Dakota

Hedrick Smith

December 01, 2016 |

Los Angeles Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, South Dakota

Ninety percent of Americans believe that the political system is broken and nothing can be done. Yet in 2016, South Dakota a state with low probability for political reform became the first state in a decade to adopt public funding of future political campaigns all thanks to a grass-roots citizens movement.

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Gerrymander reform opens up Florida politics

Hedrick Smith

December 01, 2016 |

Sacramento Bee |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Orlando, Florida

For the third election in a row, House Republicans got bonus seats in 2016, through gerrymandering. Thanks to a grassroots citizen movement and computer sleuthing, Florida admitted to breaking the law and has replaced state maps with more competitive, voter-friendly districts.

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What Caused the Populist Earthquake of 2016

Hedrick Smith

November 28, 2016 |

Reclaim the American Dream |

Video |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Eastsound, Washington

In 2016, the US had a historically large populist backlash against the political establishment. This inspired Hedric Smith to highlight where and how political reform in the US has succeeded or failed in an Orcas Current Lecture Series.

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The Art of the Protest

Tina Rosenberg

November 21, 2016 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

With a major political party taking over the presidency, most governorships, Congress, and state legislatures, the minority party can feel powerless. However, there are effective ways to organize protests including using humor, acting locally, and intense planning strategies.

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Estonia ditches paper with model e-governance services

Denys Krasnikov

October 28, 2016 |

Kyiv Post |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Estonia

Through the Estonian government's e-services, which include digital options for voting, paying taxes, storing identification, and more, the country saved roughly €280 million over the span of a decade thanks to the lower cost of collecting digital signatures.

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In Uganda, Fostering a World without Adoption

Kathryn Joyce

September 06, 2016 |

Bright Magazine |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Uganda

In Uganda, where international adoptions and orphanages are the most present form of child welfare, nonprofits like Reunite, Alternative Care Initiatives-Uganda, and CALM Africa are shifting the country to a welfare model focused on family reunification and community-based foster care. Although pilot programs are still small, there is also a focus on closing technical loopholes and providing practical support to encourage foster care programs.

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The Tiny NGO That Changed Reporting on Rio's Favelas During the Olympics

Katia Savchuk

August 24, 2016 |

Bright Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro

Catalytic Communications provides resources to reporters to help them move beyond stereotypical ideas and present a multifaceted perspective of life in favelas. This is especially important during times like the Olympic Games when thousands of journalists arrive to cover a country they often know very little about. CatComm provides journalists with tools such as a list of underreported subjects and community leaders to contact and has actively informed over 200 articles. CatComm is also developing tools for their model to be created in other cities.

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Secret Cameras Record Baltimore's Every Move From Above

Monte Reel

August 23, 2016 |

Bloomberg |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Baltimore, Maryland

Technology developed in the military to find who was planting roadside bombs to take out American soldiers has been adapted for civilian use by a former member of the Air Force, whose company seeks to work with police departments to use it to solve crimes. The airborne cameras provide hours of consistent surveillance and have proven highly effective at tracking down perpetrators so police can arrest them. But civil libertarians are alarmed what this widespread surveillance means and how it will be used, particularly since Baltimore officials did not tell the public about it for months.

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