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'It seemed like our lives didn't matter'

Margaret Coker

November 30, 2021 |

The Current (Georgia) |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Glynn County, Georgia

The murder of Ahmaud Arbery sparked nationwide rage, but the people most affected by local racism felt it most keenly. A Better Glynn formed to seek reforms in Glynn County law enforcement after years of status-quo racism and resistance to change. The group worked with an existing group of Black pastors and other leaders and found success in the firing of the police chief, his replacement by the county's first Black chief, the district attorney's reelection defeat, and the beginnings of police reforms.

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‘An utter failure': Law meant to clear old convictions, including for marijuana possession, helps few

Dan Adams

November 28, 2021 |

The Boston Globe |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Massachusetts

In 2018, Massachusetts legislators passed a law allowing people with certain lower-level criminal records to seal the records or expunge convictions altogether. The law was meant to remove the burden that a criminal record imposes on people seeking jobs or renting apartments, particularly when the conduct is no longer illegal, such as marijuana possession. Thousands have managed to get their records sealed. But relatively few have sought or won expungement, thanks to an overly restrictive and complicated process that hasn't been explained well to those who could benefit.

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St. Paul police credit jiu-jitsu training for reducing injuries — and excessive force settlements

Mara H. Gottfried

November 28, 2021 |

Twin Cities Pioneer Press |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, St. Paul, Minnesota

When St. Paul police studied controversial cases in which officers used physical force, they found troubling examples that were products of the training given to officers. So they began training new and veteran officers to use tactics inspired by the Brazilian martial art jiu-jitsu, which prizes teamwork by two officers to use leverage to restrain resistant people rather than using brute force, weapons, or chemicals. In the six years after the training began, St. Paul officers used force far less often, injured far fewer people, and cost the city much less money in settlements payments.

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This library lets you borrow people instead of books. It just may help bridge our bitter divisions

John Blake

November 14, 2021 |

CNN |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Human Library is a nonprofit learning platform that allows people to borrow “human books” instead of books. Each person represents a group that faces prejudice or stigmas because of their lifestyle, ethnicity, beliefs, or disability. The group has held in-person and online events in over 80 countries where participants can ask difficult questions that they might feel embarrassed to ask otherwise. The experiences encourage empathy and are nonpartisan. The library has over 1,000 “human books” who speak over 50 languages and has provided speakers for major corporations conducting diversity trainings.

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Why Albuquerque's latest experiment in policing doesn't involve officers

Henry Gass

November 12, 2021 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque established a new city department, Albuquerque Community Safety, that handles some of the 200,000 calls to 911 every year for a range of low-level, non-violent problems that don't require a police response. Since its launch in August 2021, the department has fielded just two teams of behavioral health specialists on call during the day. The city plans to expand the team's hours and responsibilities, though some are uneasy about exposing the unarmed workers to the potential for violence. The city has a long history of police shootings of mentally ill people, and ACS is meant to curb that threat.

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Meet the amazing people rewriting the narrative about LGBTQ youth homelessness

Sam Manzella

November 10, 2021 |

LGBTQ Nation |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

The Ali Forney Center is the largest of several organizations across the country serving LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness. It has seventeen sites and serves about 2,000 young people a year, nearly half of whom come from out of state. In addition to setting people up with stable housing, the drop-in center serves daily meals and offers showers and laundry. Advocacy programs and case managers help the youth find permanent jobs, further their education, or put funds aside to secure stable long-term housing. They also offer counseling services, support groups, and temporary employment for many young people.

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A record number of cities used ranked-choice voting this week. Will it make elections more inclusive?

Sravya Tadepalli

November 04, 2021 |

Prism |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Ranked-choice voting has been adopted by a record number of municipalities. The system allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, and votes for the bottom candidates are reallocated to the voters second choice until one candidate wins a majority. The system has expanded opportunities for independent and third-party candidates to win elections and, in some jurisdictions, has led to greater numbers of people of color and women winning elected office.

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In Portsmouth police reforms, some see 'model' for other communities

Paul Cuno-Booth

November 02, 2021 |

Granite State News Collaborative |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Residents, community leaders, and the Police Commission came together to instate police reforms. Data will now be collected from every police stop of a civilian to provide a better understanding of who is being stopped and how that effects the entire criminal justice system.

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Taking Mental Health Crises Out of Police Hands

Jenee Darden

November 01, 2021 |

70 Million |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

Until Oakland joins the list of cities sending counselors and social workers on emergency calls concerning mental health crises, a grassroots program called Mental Health First is diverting a small number of emergencies from police involvement to a community-based response. Hundreds of volunteers, many with their own experiences with mental illness and crises, answer dozens of calls per month in which they de-escalate, counsel, and direct people to needed services – all without the threat that a misunderstood person could be harmed by police untrained in correctly handling such crises.

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How a Group of Black Doctors Got Philadelphia Vaccinated

Linda Poon Jeff Green

October 28, 2021 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

More than half of Philadelphia’s Black residents were vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine due to the efforts of the Black Doctors Consortium: A group of health-care professionals that was present within the community through mobile-testing sites, general health checkups, and a presence that built trust during the pandemic. When the vaccine became available the Black Doctors Consortium was able to draw large numbers of people to their vaccination site.

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