Story Search Results

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 2388 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

Urban forests increasingly central to planning in poor and rich countries alike

Gregory Scruggs

January 30, 2017 |

Citiscope |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada, Vancouver

Implementing and maintaining healthy urban forests is becoming more popular throughout communities internationally. Results from cities that have moved in this direction not only include an improvement to community and environmental health but also come with an economic valuation in the form of pollution removal, carbon sequestration and stormwater alleviation.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Student Drama Is Rampant—Can This Rural School Stop It?

Emily Richmond

January 27, 2017 |

The Atlantic |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Pittsfield, New Hampshire

Schools nationwide are dealing with the ramifications of social media and cyber bullying. Pittsfield Middle High School in New Hampshire has created a new elective, “Drop the Drama,” where students discuss bullying and develop campaigns to improve their school’s environment.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Shanghai: A Model for Teaching Maths, My Perfect Country, The Compass

Fi Glover

January 22, 2017 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: China, Shanghai

Shanghai students have consistently performed at the top of the world on math tests - a 15 year old in Shanghai scores better than most 18 year olds in the UK. Sometimes called "the mastery method," the Shanghai model assumes everyone can be a "maths master" and never separates students according to ability. Teachers introduce new topics gradually and ensure all understand before moving on. This radio piece explores whether Shanghai's idea can work in the UK and other countries.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How Mormon Principles and Grassroots Ideals Saved Utah

Colin Woodard

January 18, 2017 |

Politico |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Salt Lake City, Utah

In Salt Lake City, a bipartisan coalition of public and private actors, including members of the business, industrial, religious, political, and civic communities voluntarily came together to pass an ambitious twenty year land use plan. The plan, which conserves water, promotes clean air, and imposes new taxes for new rail lines, was made possible by Envision Utah, a public-private partnership that capitalizes on many Utahns' cultural and religious heritage.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Japan: Gun Control

Fi Glover, Henrietta Moore, Martha Lane Fox

January 04, 2017 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Japan

Japan’s annual gun deaths are in the single digits, thanks to tight regulations on firearms. Even police defuse violence using martial arts rather than guns. Criminals use knives instead and find ways of illegally importing guns, but overall the near-taboo reduces deaths.

Read More
Go to Original Story
After the Pain, a Chance to Meet and Forgive

Timothy Williams

January 03, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Topeka, Kansas

A program in Kansas facilitates meetings between the survivors of those killed and the people who brought this pain into their world. This article delves into just one of these stories to explore how a couple reconciles with the man who got drunk, stole a truck and killed their son in a horrific crash. It looks at the impact on the perpetrator as well and how this meeting helped him understand the full scope of what he did so he could get sober and start healing.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Changing the Face of National Parks

Tik Root

January 02, 2017 |

National Geographic |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

At the vanguard of initiatives to increase diversity among visitors to the National Parks are groups like Oakland, CA-based H.E.A.T.—Hiking Every Available Trail -- which uses social media and group park expeditions to increase minority groups' awareness, use, trust and enjoyment of the outdoors. Emerging alongside changes in policy—such as the Park Services' creation of a Diversity and Inclusion Office—, HEAT demonstrates how local organizers in minority and, often, urban regions around the U.S. are moving the presence of diversity at National Parks from rarity to normality, with studies and polls revealing the positive changes in attendance and interest.

Read More
Go to Original Story
This Small Town Refused to Settle for Wal-Mart When Its Last Local Grocery Store Closed

Melissa Hellmann

January 02, 2017 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Iola, Kansas

The small town of Iola, KS, and Allen County's GROW Council offer a case study of how local communities across this prairie state have worked to solve the absence of grocery stores in many rural areas. Through local resourcefulness and organizing efforts; knowledge and financial support from the state government; and partnership with Kansas State University's Rural Grocery Initiative, towns have succeeded in bringing grocery stores, from locally-owned coops to school-based distribution hubs, back to their Main Streets.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Cloud Catchers In Peru

Sahar Zand

January 01, 2017 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Peru, Villa Lordes, Lima Metropolitan Area

Abel Cruz "catches" clouds on his fog net farm to help provide free water for his community in a slum on the outskirts of Lima, where access to water is very limited and costly. While this solution may never compete with large scale and traditional technologies, many argue there is enormous potential for this simple concept in certain, rural areas of the world.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Years with no nation, 90 days to become a Minnesotan

Mila Koumpilova

December 31, 2016 |

Minneapolis Star Tribune |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Thousands of refugees are navigating hurdles of integration in the United States. Organizations like the Minnesota Council of Churches provide comprehensive support in a number of areas - from housing to job applications to health insurance paperwork - but all with the end goal of helping the relocated families towards independence and sustainability in their new life.

Read More
Go to Original Story