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A Portland foundation's infusion of talent and money helps set small Maine town back on its feet

Ernie Clark

June 21, 2020 |

Bangor Daily News |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Monson, Maine

A Portland-based foundation has revitalized a small town in Maine with the establishment of an arts colony, reconstruction of old buildings in downtown, and a full health center - a rarity for small towns. A declining population and the shuttering of major businesses contributed to the decline of Monson. The Libra Foundation's philanthropic efforts have spurred enthusiasm within the town well known for being the last stop along the Appalachian Trail.

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Coronavirus concerns revive labor organizing

Carl Segerstrom

June 18, 2020 |

High Country News |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington

Employees at 7 Yakima Valley fruit packing plants, who are predominately Latinx, went on strike to protest inadequate protection and pay during the Covid-19 pandemic. Agricultural workers accounted for nearly one-fifth of the county’s positive cases. The worker initiated strikes and picket lines were supported by community members, union representatives, and non-profit legal centers. Workers returned to work after gaining concessions on better pay, safety protections, and the formation of worker advocacy committees. The state also issued new workplace safety standards for agricultural workers after protests.

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Meet the people sharing their homes with injured and orphaned wildlife

Aislinn Sarnacki

June 18, 2020 |

Bangor Daily News |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Maine

For some Mainers, in their spare time, they treat and care for wild animals and return them to the wild. These small-scale wildlife rehabilitators care for animals like flying squirrels and black bears by opening up their homes and wallets for these creatures. Rachel Ann Parsons of R&R Wildlife Rehabilitation cares for more than 80 wild animals annually in her home. While their services are often in high-demand during spring and summer months, these licensed professionals provide a public service for those who find a wild animal in need.

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How a West Baltimore nursing home has zero COVID-19 infections

Dan Rodricks

June 18, 2020 |

The Baltimore Sun |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Baltimore, Maryland

Quick, restrictive and decisive action helped the "oldest African American owned and operated nursing home" in Maryland remain free of Covid-19 cases. With only 15 cases reported in the country, the nursing home didn't wait for government direction to take action. Instead, they immediately eliminated visitations and enacted their protocols for combatting infectious diseases which included procedures such as limited travel from the facility, increased cleaning protocols and health checks, and elimination of community meals.

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For Indigenous Zapotec Families, Spinning Becomes a Lifeline

Tracy Barnett

June 17, 2020 |

Yes! Magazine |

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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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This Hermon company's work dried up when coronavirus hit. Now it's making masks for the long run.

Emily Burnham

June 17, 2020 |

Bangor Daily News |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Bangor, Maine

A tension fabric structures manufacturing company in Maine has repurposed their facility and transformed their local workforce to create grade-one medical masks for the local hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic. Because the company uses only U.S.-made materials, they have been able to avoid supply chain interruptions and now plans to continue making masks as part of their standard business model even after the pandemic passes.

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‘I just need a connection': the refugees teaching languages across borders

Ruth Michaelson

June 17, 2020 |

The Guardian |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: Lebanon

NaTakallam offers classes in Arabic, Spanish, Persian and French that are taught by refugees. The 64 teachers conduct classes with 770 students entirely online, allowing people from all over the world to learn from native speakers. It also circumvents work restrictions for refugees in their new homes, which means they can earn money. The group’s teachers also speak in university classes, offer translation services, and some now work on New York University’s Arabic-language program. Deep friendships that help combat the isolation experienced by many refugees have also emerged from the online classes.

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This Seattle protest zone is police-free. So volunteers are stepping up to provide security.

Gregory Scruggs

June 16, 2020 |

The Washington Post |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

In Seattle's police-free street encampment that sprang up during protests over policing abuses, a mostly unarmed group of volunteer "sentinels" has defused a number of potential problems while largely avoiding the use of force. Trained in de-escalation and mediation tactics, the sentinels have used listening techniques to understand people's anger or mental state. Among the incidents they have addressed: fights, attempted vandalism of storefronts, visits from armed people who wanted to confront a supposed leftist threat, and the attempted arson of a police precinct building.

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Community groups have consistently failed to improve policing. These advocates are pushing a new way.

Jamie Smith Hopkins Kristine Villanueva

June 11, 2020 |

Mother Jones |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Denver, Colorado

Civilian oversight panels serving as watchdogs and disciplinary enforcers for police departments have a generally poor record of effectiveness, thanks to multiple structural flaws. But examples of successful oversight are multiplying, and thanks to protests of police violence many more cities are working to establish bodies with real power to investigate wrongdoing in specific cases and effect change throughout an agency. One city getting high marks for its program is Denver, where the Office of Independent Monitor succeeded in pressing for new use-of-force rules, which cut incidents by 21% in a year.

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American Indian patrol in Minneapolis credited with saving buildings during protests

Jean Hopfensperger

June 11, 2020 |

Minnesota Star Tribune |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Volunteer street patrols organized by the American Indian Movement, the national civil rights group, saved the heart of the Twin Cities’ native American community from damage during the looting and arson that broke out during protests over police brutality in Minneapolis. AIM street patrols that had been created in 1968 were revived for the June 2020 unrest. Local businesses praised the effort for protecting their buildings, often by standing guard overnight armed with walkie-talkies and sometimes with guns.

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