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Baked-in biases challenged by child welfare workers in Pennsylvania

Emily Bregel

March 08, 2018 |

Arizona Daily Star |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Tucson, Arizona

Implicit biases, among other systemic factors, can lead to a disparately punitive approach to child welfare and services for people of color, especially African Americans. Allegheny County has enlisted the help of consultants to help train caseworkers about implicit bias and to track the data about racial differences in treatment by child services agencies. So far, the effort has improved the "disparity between how often black and white children are removed from their homes improved by 28 percent," along with other disparities.

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The homeless in San Diego are getting jobs - thanks to a 16-year-old boy

Christopher Dawson

March 07, 2018 |

CNN |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, San Diego, California

High school junior Kevin Barber became aware of a program that was helping the homeless find work in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Inspired by it and what he knew of the homeless population in his hometown, Barber decided to try to implement a similar program in San Diego. He and his mom reached out to city government and before long implemented "Wheels of Change," a program that pays the homeless to help clean up the streets they were once sleeping on.

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Issuing Bonds to Invest in People

Tina Rosenberg

March 06, 2018 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Haven, Connecticut

In cases where funding is short for social programs, social impact bonds are becoming an increasingly appealing funding mechanism. Private investors and philanthropic institutions invest money upfront to fund a social program; if the program shows measurable success, the investors gain their original investment plus interest. A key example is in Connecticut, where a social impact bond was set up to expand the Family Stability Pay for Success Project. By spending money on prevention, investors and governments save money later.

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The chewing gum you don't mind stuck to your shoe

Dougal Shaw

March 06, 2018 |

BBC |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Winchester, Greater London

Did you know that the main ingredient in most chewing gum is a synthetic rubber, which resembles a close relationship to plastic? "It's called polyisobutylene," explains Anna Bullus, a British designer, "the same stuff you find in the inner tube of bicycle wheels." After realizing this, Anna decided to embark on a mission to recycle used chewing gum as a means of cleaning up the streets. What resulted was a way to create everyday products that include at least 20% gum, while simultaneously saving institutions money on what otherwise would have gone toward cleanup efforts.

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Montgomery's Renascence gives men on parole a chance for rebirth

Marty Roney

March 02, 2018 |

The Montgomery Advertiser |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Montgomery, Alabama

In Montgomery, Ala., a transitional program offers former inmates a place to live and support while they focus on staying clean and finding work. Officials say programs like this play a key role in reducing recidivism by addressing obstacles like learning to live again in society and making decisions, establishing a support network and basic things like getting a bank account and drivers license. It offers former inmates new paths that can help them avoid falling back into old ways and re-offending.

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Can religion solve El Salvador's gang problem?

Sarah Esther Maslin

March 01, 2018 |

The Economist |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: El Salvador, San Salvador

For many in El Salvador, finding religion can mean finding a way out of violent gang life. The country has become one of the most violent in the world following the civil war in the 1980s that drove refugees to the U.S., where their children formed gangs and then brought them back home when they were deported. Pentecostalist churches founded by former gang members have often stepped in where civil institutions have failed, offering a sense of belonging and sometimes jobs to those who want to leave gang life, but their longterm success in rehabilitation remains unclear.

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These four cities have achieved inclusive growth—here's how

Josh Lowe Thomas Graham

March 01, 2018 |

Apolitical |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Austin, Texas

Only four U.S. cities - Albany, Austin, Charleston, and Denver - have achieved inclusive growth between 2010 and 2015. It’s part dumb luck, and part strategic policymaking, say city officials. They recommend nurturing the unique identity and assets of your city while being agile and transparent when facing problems.

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Saving The Future, One Kid At A Time

Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

March 01, 2018 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A program in Philadelphia created to divert students who get in trouble away from the juvenile justice system is poised to grow into the first Juvenile Justice Hub in the country with help from a competitive grant program through Bloomberg Philanthropies. The hub would be based on successful program created in the city's schools that has cut the number of kids arrested in half and is designed to address students' behavior by understanding the environment in which students live and connecting them to social services.

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How a small town reclaimed its grid and sparked a community revolution

Aditya Chakrabortty

February 28, 2018 |

The Guardian |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Germany, Wolfhagen

In Wolfhagen, Germany, one man led the quest to take back the electricity supply into the hands of the public. By entering a lengthy negotiation with E.ON, one of the biggest energy companies in the world, Martin Rühl demonstrated that public ownership of utilities would save residents money and empower them, as well. The small German town is now using its extra funding to explore renewable energy, acting as a leader for municipalities across Europe.

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Why good policies go wrong: Seattle's botched bikeshare model

Jennifer Guay

February 27, 2018 |

Apolitical |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Traffic for both everyday commuters and tourists in big cities has increasingly become more of a hassle across nations. Various cities like Portland, Oregon have found success with bikeshare models. Seattle, however, found failure with this approach first. By learning from what didn't work, the city has been able to pilot new bikeshare models that so far are showing more potential than limitations.

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