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Ex-logger leads firefighters defending Indonesia's peatlands

Harry Jacques

October 14, 2020 |

Thomson Reuters Foundation |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Indonesia, Rawa Mekar Jaya, Riau

An Indonesian government program called Masyarakat Peduli Api, or “Fire Care Community,” aims to improve community responses to wildfires and restore peatlands — valuable ecosystems that store carbon. Through community engagement and education, this volunteer fire brigade patrols the peatlands and addresses small fires before they spread. The program remains underfunded, but residents recognize the importance of their work.

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San Francisco Doula Program Tackles Birth Equity and Economic Justice in One Fell Swoop

Sarah Kwon

October 14, 2020 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

A doula program in San Francisco is helping to create jobs and build equity in maternal health, especially for Black mothers. Training is free for the client as well as for the doulas, with trainees also receiving mentorship and full benefits. To date, the organization has raised nearly $1 million for operational expenses from a variety of channels including "foundations, a city-managed health plan, and revenue from a local sugary drinks tax."

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How Fishers Became Data Scientists to Strengthen Their Marine Protected Area

Nick Dall

October 08, 2020 |

Hakai Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: South Africa, Kleinmond

A research project in a marine protected area (MPA) off the coast of South Africa brought fishers and scientists together to understand the abundance of fish and rock lobster in the waters. The project paid fishers to lower baited remote underwater video stations and got youth involved to review the video footage. By bringing fishers into the project and building trust with the community, they were able to demonstrate the importance of a MPA and empower them to be part of the decision-making process.

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Wooster's virtual tutoring program offers educational aid to students during pandemic

Grant Pepper

October 08, 2020 |

Knox Pages |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Wooster, Ohio

A collaboration between Ohio's Wooster City Schools and the College of Wooster has allowed for an enhanced educational experience for many students during the coronavirus pandemic. The partnership not only provides tutoring services to the K-12 students but has also "strengthened the bond between the college and its surrounding community."

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Short of mental health professionals, Nigeria tries a new approach

Paul Adepoju

September 29, 2020 |

Devex |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Nigeria, Ibadan

In Nigeria, a methodology known as task-sharing is helping to lessen the burden on the country's mental health care system. The premise of this model is to train "other health personnel, such as community health workers, to identify mental health issues and provide basic interventions, thus reducing the number of cases that are brought to the very few specialists." Although some do not believe it to be a long-term solution, the model is credited with being a good option in resource-constricted regions.

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Brokering peace on the South Side

Antonia Hylton

September 28, 2020 |

NBC News |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Outreach workers with CRED (Create Real Economic Destiny) in Chicago's Roseland neighborhood are paid under a city grant to de-escalate and mediate disputes among the same gangs that some of the workers once belonged to. Able to win the trust of people who distrust the police, CRED's violence prevention workers also provide therapy to trauma victims and job development help, in order to address the underlying causes of violence in a neighborhood where a lack of hope can breed a lack of respect for others' lives. Fatal shootings in Roseland are down by one-third while up elsewhere in Chicago.

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Program offers alternative to calling police

Jeff Kolkey

September 19, 2020 |

Rockford Register Star |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Eugene, Oregon

For 31 years, CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets) has used unarmed medics and crisis intervention experts to respond to mental health and other non-violent crises, saving money and preventing potentially violent reactions that can result from having police respond first. No effects on police officers' use of force have been measured. But CAHOOTS estimates it saves taxpayers $8.5 million annually in police costs.

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The US police department that decided to hire social workers

Josh Wood

September 19, 2020 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Alexandria, Kentucky

When Alexandria, Kentucky's police chief realized how many of his officers' calls were for mental health crises or minor interpersonal disputes, and then how many of these unresolved problems resulted in repeat 911 calls, he hired a social worker to follow up with people to offer health and social services after the police leave. Now the department's two staff social workers do that work, costing less than hiring more police and reducing repeat calls. Alexandria is a small town, but now its approach is being copied in nearby Louisville.

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‘Vigilantes' on a mission to reunite owners with their stolen bikes

Donna Ferguson

September 19, 2020 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: England, Cambridge

Facebook groups are reuniting bicycle-theft victims with their property by creating a place to report thefts and alerting others to be on the lookout for the bikes. A pandemic-inspired boom in bicycling, as a means to avoid public transportation, has fed a concurrent boom in bike thefts. Police praise the Facebook groups' public spirit and effectiveness, but warn of risks when confronting those trying to sell stolen bikes. More than 90% of bike theft reports to police hit a dead end, lowering faith in the police as a solution.

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Citizens' assemblies are increasingly popular

The Economist

September 19, 2020 |

The Economist |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Ireland

Citizens' assemblies have been used in a number of countries to give groups of ordinary people the chance to grapple with big, difficult problems and then recommend what actions their governments should take. Assemblies in Ireland led to referenda on subjects long considered intractable, same-sex marriage and abortion, leading to public approval of liberalized policies. As in France, the key to success is when politicians actually listen. By hearing from experts and giving a range of views space to be heard, citizens' assemblies can move people off extreme positions toward compromise.

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