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RIP Medical Debt helps poor Americans eliminate medical bills

Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

June 30, 2020 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York

Two former debt collectors have teamed up to put their experience and expertise to use paying off medical debts for Americans below the poverty line. RIP Medical Debt is a nonprofit that buys debt in bulk at reduced rates from hospitals. Within five years, $2 billion dollars of debt have been eliminated. The nonprofit has also launched projects researching systemic issues within healthcare and how to solve them.

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The housing policy that's turning back gentrification

Nick Bowlin

June 30, 2020 |

High Country News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

A "right-to-purchase" policy has enabled nonprofits to purchase residential buildings in gentrified neighborhoods in order to prevent the displacement of those relying on rent-controlled housing. Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) is a Bay Area nonprofit leading the cause to counter gentrification and prevent developers from purchasing residential buildings that house low and moderate-income households. MEDA has purchased and managed 32 buildings and is one of fewer than 10 nonprofits in the area that exercise the "right-to-purchase" policy.

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Mississippi: Local Groups offer financial aid to black businesses shunned by federal stimulus

Aallyah Wright

June 24, 2020 |

Black Star News |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Mississippi

Black businesses in Mississippi are receiving a financial boost from a nonprofit that seeks to level the playing field for rural African-Americans in the state who have historically been overlooked when it comes to federal aid. Higher Purpose Co is a black-led economic justice nonprofit that has raised $400,000 for entrepreneurs and has received over 2,500 applicants. The nonprofit has given up to $5,000 to small businesses with 20 or fewer employees.

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Martha Is Eliminating Tipping. What Does That Mean?

Maddy Sweitzer-Lamme

June 18, 2020 |

Philadelphia Magazine |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The elimination of tipping has allowed one Philadelphia bar to give their employees health insurance and ensure an equal distribution of income amongst all employees. Typically servers in the front of house make much more in tips than those working in the kitchen. The owners of Martha are instituting a 20 percent service fee in lieu of optional tipping, providing a more stable source of income for all employees.

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For Indigenous Zapotec Families, Spinning Becomes a Lifeline

Tracy Barnett

June 17, 2020 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Mexico, Oaxaca

Mark Brown has brought Ghandian economic principles of economic justice and local autonomy to the Mexican countryside to form a farm-to-garment textile business that employs villagers who once made woolen textiles until the industrial clothing era started producing cheap synthetic clothing and rendered their craft unprofitable. Khadi Oaxaca aims to regenerate the village way of life in a sustainable way and employs several hundred villagers who grow the cotton, spin the thread, design the clothing and bring it to market for tourists - bringing a previously economically depressed village out of poverty.

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Major Labels Are Donating Millions for Racial Justice. That Isn't Enough

Drew Schwartz

June 10, 2020 |

Vice |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

In the aftermath of George Floyd's death, the 'big three' major record labels - Sony, Warner, and Universal have taken meaningless actions to address the racial inequity in the music industry. Donations, diversity panels, and statements of support fail to address the lack of diversity among executive leadership, or the lack of ownership and power the artists have over their own music, nor do they address the lack of diversity in the types of artists being invested in or the lack of professional support for black artists. Their gestures are only paying lip service to racial justice.

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Out Of The Ruins

Patrick Chalmers

June 07, 2020 |

All Hands On |

Documentary |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Greece

Protests against severe “austerity measures” that were passed after the 2011 economic recession resulted in worker and housing cooperatives to address labor and housing inequities. Citizens protested by gathering in public squares and holding rallies where speakers were randomly selected from the crowd. This is based on an ancient democratic process where citizens are selected at random to speak their mind in regards to politics and public affairs. The organizations that emerged practiced participatory democracy through horizontal leadership, though many were eventually shut down by the government.

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Minneapolis Funding Its Parks With an Eye to Equity

Zoe Sullivan

April 09, 2020 |

Next City |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has approved a new scoring system to prioritize parks that are most in need of an investment, from the limited funds available, based on equity measures such as race, income, population density, and crime. This data-driven system is used in conjunction with the park board's judgment of a park's infrastructure and has pinpointed parks which were not typically on the park board's radar for renovation.

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Coronavirus: Groups reopen 805 Undocufund to help undocumented immigrants during pandemic

Erin Rode

March 31, 2020 |

Ventura County Star |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, California

The collaborators behind a relief fund that is normally used for natural disasters is pivoting its purpose to be redistributed to undocumented immigrants who have been financially impacted by the coronavirus. Although the application is not yet live and will not solve systemic problems such as barriers to receiving unemployment insurance, the program has in the past proven helpful to thousands of families by providing short-term financial stability.

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Bodegas and Corner Stores Are Part of Crisis Response — They're Also Uniquely Vulnerable

Oscar Perry Abello

March 19, 2020 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Amidst the COVID-19 crisis, bodegas offer local supplies in many food deserts across the country. While the bodegas struggle to find funding and stay in business for their neighborhoods, they also fight their way into policy discussions and micro-loan programs to stay afloat for low-income neighbors needing healthy food options.

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