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

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  • The peace talks with a difference

    In the People's Peace Talks, ordinary people from Israel and Palestine come together for five hours in a room to reach a peace agreement, without the presence of politicians. With no communication between the two governments, one academic is trying a new tactic by engaging the public in the negotiation process. Despite some shortcomings of a simulation, the ideas generated may be part of a real solution in the future.

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  • Mumbai's 'Rainbow Parents' aim to change hearts and minds in India

    Because there is not widespread acceptance of homosexuality in Mumbai, many parents of LGBTQ people struggle to accept it. To solve this, a number of parents formed a group called, "The Rainbow Parents." The group started in February 2017, and membership has been steadily rising since. They discuss the common issues that face them and how to solve them, and they meet regularly with supplemental Facebook and Whatsapp groups. Parents within the group testify to how comfortable and safe the space is.

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  • Redemption for Offenders and Victims

    In Boston federal courts, select criminal defendants can participate in a restorative justice program called RISE (Repair, Invest, Succeed, Emerge) that delays sentencing while defendants engage in dialogue with crime victims, family, and others. The restorative dialogues are designed for a type of accountability unlike a prison sentence. Eligible defendants must admit their crime, have a history of addiction or other deprivation, and get jobs or attend school. By addressing the harms they have inflicted and the obligations they have to make things right, defendants can earn a more lenient sentence.

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  • Our Best Hope for Civil Discourse on the Internet Is on ... Reddit

    Change My View is a moderated subreddit forum where “submitters” post a view, such as why they disagree with abortion, and “commenters” respond with information that respectfully seeks to change their view. The goal is to foster lively civil discourse and debate, so rude and “low-effort” posts are deleted. “Submitters” also commit to responding to comments within 3 hours, awarding a delta symbol to any “commenter” that successfully changes their view. The forum encourages intellectual curiosity and flexibility, providing a space where changing one’s mind is seen as a positive outcome rather than a weakness.

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  • Predicting Crime in Chicago

    What if a computer program could tell you who was at risk for shooting someone or being shot themselves? This is now a reality for Chicago Police Department. By piloting the use of this technology, and assembly a cohort of cops, social workers, ministers and moms to visit the names of those the computer names, the city has seen a decrease in violence over the last year.

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  • The Talking Cure

    At Lyons Community School in New York City, there's a different approach to discipline: Restorative Justice. Instead of suspending students for inappropriate behavior, teachers, and administrators try to talk it out with students. They see kid's emotional responses as a long-term project, rather than actions that should be treated with punishment. "Talking is how you are successful." Some students say the method is working.

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  • Pedal to Porch

    In Detroit, Michigan, residents reduce the effects of gentrification through physical activity and shared storytelling. The non-profit Pedal to Porch encourages residents to bike to their neighbors’ homes and record their memories. The effort helps retain some of the identity in Detroit’s changing communities and establishes new connections for the city to grow. Founder Cornetta Lane notes, “communities are more likely to bounce back from social and natural disasters when they know each other.”

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  • How white parents are addressing racism – by reading to their children

    St. Louis-based We Stories provides parents with a course curriculum and reading list for the children with the goal of sparking conversations about race, oppression, and cultural awareness. The target audience of the organization is white families, who—through neighborhood demographics or socioeconomic status—may not have to directly engage with these issues unless they choose to do so.

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  • What Happens When a School Stops Arresting Kids for Throwing Skittles

    After a school in Jefferson Parish gained national notoriety for having an 8th grader sent to juvenile jail for six days for tossing Skittles on a school bus, the area's schools reformed school discipline by adopting a system of mediation and community conflict resolution based on restorative justice principles. In the first year, one middle school's suspensions have dropped by more than half. Racial disparities in school suspensions or arrests have led many other schools to follow a similar path. Success seems to depend on making restorative justice central to the mission, not just a disciplinary add-on.

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  • Can America Depolarize?

    A Better Angels workshop helped eight liberals and eight conservatives talk with each other about divisive issues, such as immigration and LGBTQ rights. At a time when political partisanship is at record highs in the United States, the workshop left some feeling hopeful. Participants reflected on stereotypes and asked each other questions through a structured discussion format.

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