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An International Final Four: Which Country Handles Student Debt Best?

Matthew Chingos Susan Dynarski

April 02, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

In a March Madness bracket style competition between Sweden, the United States, Australia, and Britain, experts choose Australia as the country with the most effective student loan repayment system. Judges cite automatic collection of income-based payments as Australia's best feature and discuss what the U.S. can learn by "acknowledging that possible ideas for improvement don't stop at the border."

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The Opposite of Gentrification

Jill Harkins

April 02, 2018 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A new program in a Philadelphia neighborhood is offering opportunities for locals to curb gentrification. Gentrification occurs when outside developers come to an area and change it without leaving room for locals to remain. The nonprofit Jumpstart Germantown provides training, mentoring, and loans to community members who want to learn to develop their own neighborhoods in an inclusive and sustainable way. So far, 235 people have graduated from the program, and the model has inspired other Philadelphia neighborhoods to start similar programs.

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The rebel bank, printing its own notes and buying back people's debts

Anna Leach

March 23, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Walthamstow, London

How is Street Central Bank buying back the debt of ordinary people? Part art installation and part charitable endeavor, the “bank” prints its own money, sells it for real tender and then uses the funds to help neighbors. The project draws inspiration from similar debt buyback efforts in the United States.

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'We exist': Public art project gives India's transgender community a voice

Priti Salian

March 21, 2018 |

NBC News |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Bengaluru, Karnataka

The Aravani Art Project is a project that works to raise the visibility and voice of the trans community in India. It does so by employing them to paint murals across the country (and even one in Sri Lanka) featuring slices of life as a trans person. It took time to build trust with the community at first, but eventually the people behind the project developed a system of idea conception to realization with their participants. Over time they have developed long-term relationships with each other, and the trans community is slowly becoming comfortable with having a public voice.

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Pump House, city look to the future

Courtney McNaull

March 15, 2018 |

Richland Source |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Ashland, Ohio

In Ashland, a pump factory turned into Pump House Ministries. However, after facing several fires and unfortunate tax trouble, the non-profit handed most of its property over to the local government. The city and charity are learning from their mistakes. Both want to see the building used as a community space that benefits residents. The city wants to engage city planners to get it right this time. (This is the third article in a four part series).

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Want to save your job and make more money? Buy out your boss

Aditya Chakrabortty

March 14, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Glasgow

The owners of Novograf, a UK-based marketing company, faced a challenge when they were ready to retire. They did not want to sell their company and risk a relocation of the factory, which would take away jobs from the local economy. Instead, they sold their company to their employees. Data shows that employee-ownership leads to higher wages and higher job satisfaction. One year after the transition to employee-ownership, Novograf sales grew by 20%.

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Richland County takes chance with opportunity zones

Tracy Geibel

March 13, 2018 |

Richland Source |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Mansfield, Ohio

Many cities have the potential to prosper under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which created “opportunity zones” to increase investment in “distressed” areas. To maximize the potential for local investment, the Richland County Community Development Group united key players to ensure census tracts in the county would be considered. Though the opportunity zone program is in its early stages, Richland County led all the preparation work for local cities to receive big business investment for years to come.

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Issuing Bonds to Invest in People

Tina Rosenberg

March 06, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

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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Cash Payments During Crisis Can Give Women More Power at Home

Danny Lee

February 27, 2018 |

News Deeply |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Jordan, Mafraq

To maximize help in humanitarian crisis situations, there is a trend for NGOs to provide cash payments specifically to women. This acts as a stipend beyond traditional humanitarian aid programs. Not only does the cash payment method offer financial independence for women, but it has also been shown to decrease gender-based violence. Success has already been shown for Syrian refugees in Jordan. However, it is important to anticipate potential problems with cash transfers and be prepared for those consequences as well.

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Is 2018 the Year of the Public Bank in America?

Aaron Fernando

February 27, 2018 |

The Progressive |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

The Bank of North Dakota, the only public bank in the United States, has weathered financial crises and provided financial stability to the state. Now, in 2018, many municipalities across the United States are looking at North Dakota’s success, as well as success in countries such as Germany, and gathering the support needed to start their own public banks. In Los Angeles, a group called Revolution LA is making substantial progress toward creating a local public bank that will also help support green energy.

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