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A South Burlington Nonprofit Aims to Recycle Every Tennis Ball in America

Ken Picard

June 12, 2019 |

Seven Days |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, South Burlington, Vermont

The Vermont nonprofit, RecycleBalls, has partnered with over 950 tennis facilities to collect and recycle used tennis balls. The organization has collected more than 1.7 million thus far, and using a processor is able to shred and separate the fuzz from the rubber – the latter of which gets reincorporated into tennis courts. While the organization is looking to scale and financially sustain its own efforts, making sure the process remains no-cost for partnering facilities is important to RecycleBalls, citing it as a leading incentive for participation.

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These voters are using democracy vouchers to influence Seattle's City Council races

Daniel Beekman

June 12, 2019 |

The Seattle Times |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

In Seattle, taxpayers are funding a program called democracy vouchers, in which registered voters and other eligible residents receive $25 vouchers that they can contribute toward city council races. In this program unique to Seattle, each donor can contribute up to four vouchers, which are helping to diversify the field for grassroots candidates.

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The latest YouTube craze? Videos that show you what it's like to live in prison.

Peter Holley

June 03, 2019 |

The Washington Post |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chesapeake, Virginia

As former inmates face the immense challenge of finding employment post-incarceration, some have turned to YouTube as a way of turning their stories into financial security. With just a handful of prison channels garnering upwards of 2.1 million subscribers, the successful videos give viewers a range of information, including advice on how to survive prison and what their lives have been like after release. Underpinning all of these videos is the desire to have a voice, help others as they try to reintegrate, and humanize the criminal justice system.

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Luring Refugees: N.Y. Cities Desperate for People Try a New Strategy

Christina Goldbaum

May 13, 2019 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Utica, New York

Places like Utica, New York are working to convince refugees and new immigrants to move to their cities to stimulate the local economy and counteract population decline over the decades. Through more comprehensive services, a welcoming atmosphere, and word-of-mouth, refugees are arriving and making these cities home.

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State of decay: How Maine's dentists get help to practice in underserved areas

David Singer

May 02, 2019 |

WGME-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Portland, Maine

Rural areas of Maine were being underserved when it came to dental hygiene, so the state opened a dental college and a loan repayment program in order to increase the amount of industry professionals. Since opening, the amount of dentists serving these areas has increased and now the university is looking to scale even further by increasing the amount offered in the loan repayment program.

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In Uganda, Threatened Chimps Find Protection in Former Poachers

Michele Catanzaro

May 01, 2019 |

Undark |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Uganda, Budongo forest

In Western Uganda’s Budongo forest, the Budongo Conservation Field Station is saving chimpanzees by giving poachers the opportunity to do something different. The organization operates on two levels: First, employing former poachers to help scour the forest in search of traps, and second, by giving poachers goats in an effort to provide them with enough livelihood to stop poaching.

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One overlooked way to fight climate change? Dispose of old CFCs.

Juli Berwald

April 29, 2019 |

National Geographic |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Banned refrigerants called CFCs are being cleaned up and recycled to help offset climate change. The refrigerants were banned decades ago as part of the Montreal Protocol due to the extremely destructive effects they carry with them. The voluntary carbon market has allowed private companies in countries with more resources to travel to countries like Ghana and Costa Rica to transport the CFCs, clean them, and offset their carbon footprint on carbon markets.

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Paying and Scraping in Pursuit of Zero Waste

James A. Anderson

April 22, 2019 |

Next City |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Worcester, Massachusetts

Pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) is a model that charges residents of a given city for the trash they throw away, aiming to spur people to decrease the amount of waste they dispose. Acting like a utility payment, this model has been successfully implemented in a handful of cities, even decreasing trash by half in Worcester, Massachusetts. Some cities have even aimed for zero waste by adding in composting programs - though there’s still a long way to go.

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Can Community Investment Trusts Help Slow Down Gentrification?

Brendan Seibel

April 15, 2019 |

Pacific Standard |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

In East Portland, Oregon, a new Community Investment Trust is working to ensure that low-income residents have the opportunity to build equity by investing in their real estate. The program is limited to four zip codes with a maximum contribution of $100 to ensure that the investments stay open only to the members of the community it's intended to serve. More than 95% of investors have kept their money in the trust, but the model might be difficult to scale nationally without effective partnerships.

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As Climate Change Depletes Forests, One Of India's Greenest States Turns To Its People

Disha Shetty

March 23, 2019 |

IndiaSpend |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India, Mawphlang, Meghalaya

In 2007 a program in Meghalaya, India called The Khasi Hills Community REDD+ Project was created to bring together the community members in an agreement to protect the sacred groves there. This was part of the larger REDD project within India by the United Nations to mitigate some of the effects of deforestation and forest degradation. The longterm goal is to revive 27,000 hectares (about 66,718 acres) of forests and to serve as an example for other biodiverse areas in the country. The project has since received international funding to support other things as well, like stimulating the tourist economy.

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