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Where Danes Butt Heads (Politely) With Their Leaders

Martin Selsoe Sorensen

June 23, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Denmark, Allinge

Thousands of Danes attend a political festival called Folkemodet every year to mingle with government ministers and corporate executives and enjoy live music, comedy, and art. The casual atmosphere allows participants to ask tough questions of their leaders in person. Participants say the festival helps them learn more about political issues and inspires them to become more politically active.

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Reviving the City: How an Asphalt Plant Turned Into a Public Park

Laura von Puttkamer

June 21, 2018 |

Urbanet |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Mexico, Mexico City

By participating in the decision-making process, Mexico City residents successfully convinced the government to build a public park instead of an office development. The Parque Imán is 2.4 hectares, includes 163 trees, and the green space can potentially benefit up to 200,000 residents of some city boroughs. While there are some concerns about the soil quality in the park due to the adjacent asphalt plant, the park shows how participation from residents and transparency from the government allowed the public space to be built.

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Cities are getting more crowded: better design could stop violence

Edward Siddons

June 15, 2018 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Researchers found that more greenery in urban spaces reduces crime and this idea of combatting crime with good design is part of a discipline called Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, or CPTED. It spread around the world, but there also downsides. A new generation of CPTED advocates are expanding the field to consider social factors underlying crime and engage with local communities when designing projects because just discouraging crime is not enough to make spaces inviting.

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Jordan's young protesters say they learned from Arab Spring mistakes

Taylor Luck

June 05, 2018 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Jordan, Amman

Protesters opposing a proposed income tax hike in Jordan stayed away from polarizing language and avoided proposing structural changes to the political system, a shift away from rhetoric used during the Arab Spring. “This is a Jordanian movement for the core causes that affect all Jordanians: taxes, unemployment, and corruption,” said Mohammed Hussein, a 26-year-old protester. “We do not want a group to hijack this movement for their own agendas.”

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Tilden High School Civics Class Helps Students Affected by Gun Violence Find Fellowship, a Way Forward

F. Amanda Tugade

May 25, 2018 |

City Bureau |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Students in Chicago coping with gun deaths and violence among their families and friends find empowerment and support through teachers and administrators who encourage them to become active in national protests against gun violence. The students feel supported and also connected to a larger community and movement that helps them feel less isolated. It also sparked interest in getting active on other issues.

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Games in government: How to get public servants excited about work

Jennifer Guay

May 15, 2018 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, London

Games can help government employees feel more engaged in their work. The United Kingdom’s Department of Work and Pensions uses a game called Idea Street to encourage innovation, and the City of Louisville, Kentucky, awards digital badges for creativity and collaborations. Sustaining staff interest in games can be a challenge. It helps to have clear rules and to align games with the top motivations of employees.

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Cities are crowdfunding more. But is it fair to ask the people to pay?

Anoush Darabi

May 08, 2018 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Brighton and Hove

Governments in the United Kingdom, the United States, and elsewhere use crowdfunded donations to restore historic areas and fund new developments. The approach can build democratic participation and community cohesion while plugging budgetary holes from falling tax revenue.

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The People's Peace Talks

Elizabeth Davies

April 30, 2018 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Israel, Tel Aviv-Yafo

Public support is key to advancing peace. That’s the idea behind Minds of Peace, an initiative that brings together ordinary Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate mock trust-building measures and political agreements. These small-scale events could mobilize public support during future high-level talks.

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As Seattle struggles with bike lanes, Vancouver, B.C., has won the battle

David Gutman

April 23, 2018 |

The Seattle Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia

As Seattle tries to implement bike lanes effectively, it can look to Vancouver as a success story. Vancouver’s bike lanes are physically separated from roads, making riders safer and increasing the number of people who commute by bike by 60% since 2013. After several tests and then responding to both positive and negative public feedback, Vancouver has miles of bike lanes connecting many parts of the city.

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The peace talks with a difference

Richard Kenny

April 19, 2018 |

BBC |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: Israel

In the People's Peace Talks, ordinary people from Israel and Palestine come together for five hours in a room to reach a peace agreement, without the presence of politicians. With no communication between the two governments, one academic is trying a new tactic by engaging the public in the negotiation process. Despite some shortcomings of a simulation, the ideas generated may be part of a real solution in the future.

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