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Trash to Treasure: A Mongolian Man Turns a Landfill Into a Children's Park

Didem Tali

September 10, 2018 |

The Diplomat |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar

A Mongolian man named Ulziitogtork transformed a former granite mine that was filled with rubbish into a park/community center for children that sits on top of an artificial lake. Children used to play in the mine, which presented a real health risk, but now they can use the park to boat, ice skate, watch movies over the lake, and learn about Mongolian culture. Ulziitogtork considers it a work in progress and is counting on the local government to address the pollution and infrastructure problems that led to the park's creation, but already provides fun for over 6,000 children a year.

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Reform Activists and a New DA Find Common Ground

Ruxandra Guidi

September 09, 2018 |

70 Million |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

In Texas' Harris County, the state's most populous county, a grassroots collective of criminal justice activists contributed to a political shift that led to reforms in prosecutions, jails, bail, and policing. Inspired by the movement sparked by the death of Michael Brown in Missouri in 2014, groups such as Houston Justice and the Texas Organizing Project backed the election of a reform-minded district attorney, who turned toward community collaboration and away from tough-on-crime solutions. The new DA, plus favorable court rulings and state laws, softened the country's rough-justice reputation.

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Recreation revolution: Why Wales enshrined kids' playtime in law

Burton Bollag

September 07, 2018 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Wales

Wales is the first country in the world to recognize playtime as a children’s right. Local authorities must access and promote playtime opportunities for children in their area. Sometimes, this means simply removing “no ball games” signs from parks.

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How 50 Years of Latino Studies Shaped History Education

Natalie Escobar

September 07, 2018 |

The Atlantic |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

In 1968 Cal State founded the first Chicano studies program, which focused on the history of Mexicans and their relationship to the U.S. Since then, several universities followed suit. The program was also made possible through the activism of 15,000 students, who walked out of class in the historic East L.A. walkouts demanding a better education. While there are critics, educators believe these type of programs are beneficial to Hispanic students. “Now they have tools to understand the microaggressions they’ve experienced or the economic struggles in this society, and that they’re not the only ones.”

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Stripped: The Search for Human Rights in US Women's Prisons

Adam Skolnick

September 07, 2018 |

Longreads |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington

After her client and friend gets sentenced to 13 years in prison at the Washington Corrections Center for Women, Laurie Dawson, an activist, sets out to reform prison practices. With the guidance of the Bangkok Rules, an international document that outlines 70 principles meant to reform women’s prisons, Dawson sets her sight on eliminating strip searches from WCCM, and succeeds.

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Maternity Care Gets a Racial Justice Focus

A. Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez

September 07, 2018 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

Mamatoto Village is a maternal health group that offers services to women of color. The aim of the group is to address racial inequality in healthcare and level the playing field to give women of color access to services. Last year the group served almost 500 women, the vast majority of which gave birth vaginally and initiated breastfeeding.

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As a teen he killed a man. A new law has given him a second chance.

Keith L. Alexander

September 06, 2018 |

The Washington Post |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

The Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act was passed is a D.C. law that allows people who commited a crime before the age of 18 to have their sentences reduced if they’ve served at least 20 years in prison. The law was built on the idea that youth, whose brains haven’t even fully developed yet, should not receive adult sentences. ““This isn’t about giving people a slap on the wrist,” he said. “It’s about giving people consequences that are age-appropriate.”

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Youth Need Community-Based Treatment, Not Jails

Megan Hadley

September 05, 2018 |

The Crime Report |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States

The number of youth confined in U.S. detention facilities has dropped by nearly half since 1997, saving money and reducing recidivism. A report by the Justice Policy Institute says this has made communities safer, but that reductions are only among those accused of nonviolent crimes and that racial and ethnic disparities have increased. The report calls for changes, such as repealing state laws on mandatory sentences, offering better probation supervision and creating more diversion options.

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Can New Zealand Provide the U.S. With a Model for Juvenile Justice Reform?

Arvind Dilawar

September 04, 2018 |

Pacific Standard |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: New Zealand

New Zealand introduced restorative justice practices for juveniles in their criminal justice system after incredibly high rates of child incarceration and an over-representation of minorities. The practice, in places since the late 80's, includes youth justice councils and limits police arrests. The "overall number of youth arrested, charged, and incarcerated" has fallen, but there is still disproportionate representation of minority groups in the system.

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The searing photos that helped end child labor in America

Jessica Contrera

September 03, 2018 |

The Washington Post |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

In the 1900s Lewis Hine posed as a bible salesman so he could get inside factories and take pictures of child workers. At the time children from 10-15 were put to work, and had no legal protections. Years later his pictures became a catalyst for passing child labor laws.

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