Artwork stating 'Education Destroys Barriers', 'We Demand Treatment', and 'I Need A Chance'

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  • Meet the young lawmakers crossing party lines for a green future

    As the youngest state legislators in Iowa, Zach Wahls, a Democrat, and Joe Mitchell, a Republican, are working across party lines to find solutions to climate change. While there has been pushback about their bipartisan work, the duo is bridging the political divide and engaging in dialogue to find common ground on several environmental initiatives like renewable energy.

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  • NYC volunteers extend 'invisible hands' to most vulnerable during coronavirus crisis

    To help at-risk neighbors access necessities during the Covid-19 pandemic, volunteers in New York City have formed a delivery service called Invisible Hands. While the main goal is to help neighbors get the food and medications they need, the volunteers also engage in conversation with the recipients to promote companionship while still socially distancing.

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  • Bridging the red and blue divide one conversation at a time

    Many groups have formed to reduce political polarization by applying active listening and respectful communication skills. Mission Valley Rises is a small community led group in Montana that hosts events where Republicans and Democrats come together and outline community issues and brainstorm effective responses. Better Angels is a national group that holds citizen-led workshops where, using marriage counseling techniques, people are taught, not to change their own beliefs, but how to respectfully disagree so they can work together to effectively solve common problems.

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  • Albishirin Ku: Community Dialogues for better Mother and Child Health in Sokoto

    Throughout Sokoto State in Nigeria, community conversations are taking place as part of an awareness campaign to encourage community members to change their perceptions of maternal health and safe-birth practices. The conversations, which are held with both women and men's groups, have resulted in an increase in health center visits and family planning outreach.

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  • Talking to your neighbours is mandatory if you live here

    To combat loneliness, a flat in Helsingborg rents only to retirees and people under 25, and their contract requires that they spend at least 2 hours a week socializing together. The building, a former retirement home run by a housing company and funded by the city council, has many common areas to socialize including spaces to cook, workout, do arts and crafts, and play games. Most of the over 70 residents are happy to socialize and some have formed strong bonds, although there have been a few small conflicts. The managers hope to open more housing using this model in Sweden and internationally.

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  • Rome's ‘invisible' immigrants offer an alternative view of the Eternal City

    Guide Invisibili is an audio storytelling initiative by Laboratorio 53 that increases understanding of Rome’s refugee and immigrant communities. 40 young people, who left their home countries due to conflicts and instability, record their perceptions of the city and point out similarities between life in their home cities and Rome. The free audio tours include moderated discussions with the storytellers and are opportunities to break down barriers, especially with anti-immigrant sentiments and racially motivated attacks increasing. Despite not being well known, 2,500 people have participated.

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  • Peace Studies Program Attracts Young Iraqis Eager for Social Change

    In Iraq, where unemployment is high for recent grads, students gravitate towards science and math degrees. But, a new program in peace-and-conflict resolution is the first and only of its kind in the country. It teaches students about peace-building. Close to 250 people have enrolled. "For many undergraduates in the new program at Duhok, that means working side by side to create a more inclusive society. “It’s important for people in our society to know how to deal with conflict.”

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  • The Old Asylum Is Gone: Today A Mental Health System Serves All

    In Trieste, Italy, accessing mental health care resources is made easier by an approach that allows for people to seek assistance without the fear of being punished. In most cases throughout the region, mental health centers act as first responders and treatment facilities are open-door with very few instances of coercive treatment initiated. While individuals report that this model of care is successful, another element of success includes the employment rate of patients.

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  • Students in the U.S. and Iraq Discover Common Ground

    A program that was inspired by rising racial tensions is helping students from Pennsylvania State University and the University of Mosul in Iraq erase misconceptions about each other’s cultures. Participants of the “World in Conversation Program,” gather for virtual conversations and talk about their issues, concerns, and daily life. The program is helping them dismantle stereotypes they might have of Arabs and Americans. “I want to show them who we really are, beyond the stereotypes in the media.”

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  • They were paralyzed and alone. Here's what's happened since they started a gunshot survivor group.

    In the first six months of its existence, a support group for paralyzed gunshot survivors provided both emotional support and sharing of tips on getting the help its members need to regain control over their lives. Led by a victims' advocate who eventually plans to hand off her facilitator role to someone from the community it serves, the group has discussed everything from obtaining wheelchair lifts, accessible housing, and jobs to coping with anger and grief. Says one of the participants, "I had to learn everything myself. It doesn't have to be like that."

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