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Be Cool, Stay in School

Adam Davidson

December 12, 2017 |

This American Life |

Podcast |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Rochester, New York

Most jobs require at least a high school education, but 80 million Americans don’t have one, leaving millions of people locked out of the social economic ladder. In Rochester, New York, an organization called Pathstone trains people without a high school degree. They created an optics apprenticeship program, graduating 9 students.

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Build, flood, rebuild: flood insurance's expensive cycle

David Hunn Ryan Maye Handy James Osborne

December 09, 2017 |

Houston Chronicle |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

What was originally conceived of to help protect homes from flooding has instead trapped homeowners in an endless cycle of filing claims and rebuilding their homes. The National Flood Insurance Program was supposed to discourage development in flooding zones and ease the costs after disasters. With lobbying money and power from developers, realtors associations, and others with vested interests, any opportunity to redesign the system through Congress have haven’t gone far.

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In Oregon, You Can Now Save for Retirement. Unless You Object.

Elizabeth Olson

November 17, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

More than half of Americans struggle - especially in recent years with considerable economic and political changes to systems like Social Security - to save for retirement, and it costs states millions in public assistance programs. Oregon is piloting a new solution where the government helps private companies facilitate a small, automatic deduction from employees paychecks and sets it aside into savings, which is proving especially helpful for small businesses in helping their workers plan for retirement.

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Free Money: The Surprising Effects of a Basic Income Supplied by Government

Issie Lapowsky

November 12, 2017 |

Wired |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Cherokee, North Carolina

In North Carolina, the Cherokee tribe members receive cash payments every year from the revenue of local casinos. Native American reservations have one of the highest poverty rates in the country, but this payment has shown a positive impact on children's lives. As inequality increases, tech companies are advocating for "universal basic income," using the Cherokee community as a case study. More research needs to take place in order to define what the universal basic income will be, how people will respond to it, and what will be the overall effects.

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SNAP-Ed addresses food insecurity with lessons on healthy eating, living

Emily Dech

November 09, 2017 |

Richland Source |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Mansfield, Ohio

Food insecurity, obesity, and poor nutrition are all currently major challenges facing many US communities, particularly in the Midwest. SNAP-Ed is helping to tackle all of those issues through a program that teaches food stamp recipients handy tips such as better shopping habits, how to prepare tasty but healthy meals, and ways to stay physically fit.

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Brazil is helping its poorest children get an equal start in life

Jack Graham

November 01, 2017 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Brazil

Brazil's national Happy Child program, modeled after similar initiatives on the local level and in Jamaica, is working to help parents develop their children's motor coordination and cognitive development. The program works by targeting families who receive public assistance and connecting them to social workers and service providers who provide individual support.

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Manufacturing in Massachusetts: : Teaching a Younger Workforce New Skills

Frank Dutan

October 02, 2017 |

The GroundTruth Project |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Springfield, Massachusetts

Despite heavy pressure, attending college is not for everyone, and a university degree no longer guarantees job placement; meanwhile industries like manufacturing are facing a decline in interested, qualified workers. Various initiatives in Massachusetts are implementing accessible job training programs, especially for minorities, that are helping to place people in manufacturing jobs that provide improved economic opportunity, while hopefully positioning the state for burst of industrial growth.

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D.C. offers amnesty to parents who are behind in child support

Michael Alison Chandler

September 07, 2017 |

The Washington Post |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

Billions of dollars in child support goes unpaid every year in the United States, but not all of those parents missing payments are negligent deadbeats - many are unemployed, incarcerated, or have disabilities that are prohibitive to earning enough money. A new amnesty program in Washington D.C. is taking a closer look at individual cases to determine which parents may just need an extra boost to help find a job or otherwise make their payments, and is forgiving debt while providing grants and other resources to help them support their children.

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Courting The Ones Who Need It

Kaylee Tornay Brittany Norton Sam Felton Natalia Riccardi

August 24, 2017 |

Eugene Weekly |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Eugene, Oregon

Developed in 2016, the Eugene Community Court program offers individuals cited for nonviolent, minor crimes an alternative to prison. If a person agrees to participate, they are matched with a case manager who connects them to the resources they need, like substance abuse treatment or job training services. The city hopes to decrease the rate of recidivism by creating tailored programs for each individual and spark a societal shift that has long criminalized poverty.

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Free Lunch at the Library

Catherine Saint Louis

July 30, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Cincinnati, Ohio

From New York to Ohio to California, librarians have teamed up with the USDA summer food service program, along with other non-profits, to feed kids dependent on free/reduced-price lunches during the school year. Using census data to locate communities of greatest need and data to measure participation trends, the collaborative has witnessed a surge in effectiveness and impact across the states. Families, librarians, and public officials alike express satisfaction and enthusiasm for the initiative and its future.

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