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Dirt floors can kill you. This graduate might have a solution.

Marc Gunther

December 05, 2019 |

National Geographic |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Rwanda

Stanford University graduate Gayatri Datar founded a nonprofit called EarthEnable that aims to rid the world of dirt floors. EarthEnable sells an earthen floor covered with an environmentally friendly varnish at a cost less than a concrete floor. To date the organization has installed more than 4,400 floors, and customers and the Rwandan government love them.

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Rwanda invests in model villages to tackle poverty

Tara Heidger

November 13, 2019 |

News Decoder |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Rwanda

Rwanda is taking a controversial approach to tackling poverty within its borders—literally moving people from rural areas into model villages. On one hand, it alleviates the first markers of poverty: having a roof over one's head, access to infrastructure, running water, etc. But on the other hand, the people moved do not have a choice in the matter and now have to figure out how to build a life in a new community. Some villages have turned out to be more successful than others.

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'One Job Should Be Enough': How Charlotte's Low-Wage Jobs Make Housing Unaffordable

Pam Kelley

November 04, 2019 |

WFAE |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Charlotte, North Carolina

Living-wage advocates in North Carolina have turned to the business community to address low minimum wages which prevent employees from escaping poverty. Where local and state governments are unable to pass higher minimum wages, businesses have been encouraged to increase their minimum wages and consider the benefits of lower employee turnover and less money spent on recruitment and training, despite the increased payroll costs. Nonprofits like Just Economics of Western North Carolina calculate the living wage a person should make in a specific area depending on whether they have dependents or not.

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A New Housing Program to Fight Poverty has an Unexpected History

Scott Michels

October 22, 2019 |

Retro Report |

Documentary |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

The long-term results of the Gautreaux program, which was intended to reduce poverty, show upward mobility for children of families that were involved in the initiative. The experiment in desegregating neighborhoods led to the relocation of families from public housing projects to suburban neighborhoods which have vital resources like quality education, proximity to jobs, and public safety. Reducing the concentration of poverty from inner cities led to fewer social problems, with the exception of racism faced by the new Black residents in predominantly white neighborhoods.

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The Doomed 1970s Plan to Desegregate New York's Suburbs

Lizabeth Cohen

October 21, 2019 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

A plan forged in New York City suburbs in the 1970s addressed urban renewal and income inequality by creating low-income housing dwellings in nine separate towns outside of the city. Though the "Fair Share" program faced long-lasting criticism and ultimately failed, housing experts and developers still learn from the failed plan as they work toward urban renewal in the 21st century.

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Safety net program for Pa. women and children is switching out paper for plastic

Aaron Moselle

October 21, 2019 |

WHYY |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s WIC program, offering people experiencing economic hardship food stipends, is switching from paper checks to plastic cards. The seemingly small change will have a huge effect on how the benefits are used, allowing participants to be more flexible in where and how they spend the money. Such flexibility means more of an opportunity to buy healthier food and to use the entire stipend across a month, rather than having to spend it all in one place at one time.

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New Haven job training program possible model for other cities

Mary O'Leary

October 06, 2019 |

New Haven Register |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Haven, Connecticut

New Haven Nonprofit group ConnCAT provides free job training for low-income and disadvantaged individuals to help them find a stable income. The program has created positive partnerships with businesses and entities around New Haven in the medical, coding, and culinary arts fields and offers 6-month classes as well as 40-hour externships in members' field of interest.

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Bridges to Wealth tackles Philly's wealth gap through smart investment training

Alyssa Biederman

October 01, 2019 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A University of Pennsylvania professor's observation of the wealth disparity in West Philadelphia led to the creation of Bridges to Wealth: a program that teaches financial literacy to marginalized communities who have historically been shut out of building wealth. College students in the program teach financial literacy to high school students alongside computer technology and technical skills. Bridges to Wealth has grown to offer personal finance and investing advice to adults as well as young students.

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Finding Home: When Eviction Looms, Landlords Have Lawyers. Now More Tenants Do, Too.

Mary Newsom

September 30, 2019 |

WFAE |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Charlotte, North Carolina

In North Carolina’s Mecklenburg County, they’ve allocated funding for tenants to have access to free legal aid, provided by Legal Aid of North Carolina, in their eviction cases. With eviction often being the start of a downward spiral, having legal representation can help people prevent or delay their evictions. Beyond funding some legal aid, the courthouse also provides residents with information about evictions and their specialty eviction court.

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Farmers Markets Bring Together Communities in Mississippi Delta

Alexandra Watts

September 17, 2019 |

Mississippi Public Broadcasting |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Mound Bayou, Mississippi

Mound Bayou, Mississippi has been in the middle of a food desert for well over 50 years, as fresh produce is hard to come by for this small Mississippi Delta town. However, a local farmers' market has begun to change that; run by youth volunteers, the market brings fresh fruit and vegetables to residents through the Delta Fresh Foods Initiative.

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