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The Detroit Success Story Visible From Space

Erick Trickey

May 18, 2017 |

Politico |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

In just three years, Detroit carried out an ambitious $185 million project to re-illuminate the city's 88,000 streetlights, half of which were dark, with new energy-efficient LED lights. Through its new Public Lighting Authority, the city used an innovative funding scheme to pay for the lights even in the midst of municipal bankruptcy. After the lights went up, residents felt safer, and businesses felt a noticeable bump.

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Ladakh's Ice Stupas

Russell Beard

May 17, 2017 |

Al Jazeera |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: India, Leh, Kashmir

Nearly a billion people living in the arid regions of the Himalayas depend on glaciers for their water supply. But with climate change, glaciers have been retreating drastically every year, threatening the life source of villagers like those in the Ladakh region of Kashmir. One engineer, Sonam Wangchuck, has come up with an ingenious feat of engineering to help the villages store glacier water by constructing stupas - or towers - using thorn branches that retain ice in tall structures, which melts and provides clean water for drinking and agriculture during the dry season.

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Turning Goats into Water

Mukul Devichand Dougal Shaw

May 16, 2017 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Pakistan, Pathan Goth, Sindh

Fariel Salahuddin was determined to tackle the extreme lack of access to fresh water she encountered in rural Pakistani communities, but she wanted the model to be sustainable, not dependent on donations. Most of the communities didn't have regular access to rupees to help sustain their solar water pump micro-enterprises - what they did have, however, were goats. Salahuddin set up a scheme where villagers could pay for their clean water access with livestock instead of cash, which she then sells using Facebook at high rates during Muslim festivals to generate a sustainable revenue source.

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Library hotspots can help those in internet deserts

Noah Jones

May 12, 2017 |

Richland Source |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Mansfield, Ohio

Rural areas struggle to have internet, which can be a problem for everyone including students. Mansfield/ Richland County Public Libraries have started lending out hot spots, which has been very successful and useful for residents.

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Food waste is the world's dumbest problem

Jess Wheelock

May 10, 2017 |

Vox |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Since 1999, the FoodCam has helped to nearly eliminate food waste at one MIT lab. Any time someone has leftover food at the lab, they can place it under a camera and hit a button, which then triggers the FoodCam to take a photo of the food and post it to slack, Twitter, and an email list. The simple invention has significantly reduced food waste, representing a small positive change to a serious global challenge.

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These Chicago Activists Are Making Soccer More Inclusive For POC and LGBTQ+ Athletes

Martín Xavi Macías

May 10, 2017 |

Remezcla |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Despite being one of the most rapidly-growing and popular sports in the United States, soccer - like most other sports and organizations of all kinds - faces challenges with disparity and exclusion over race, gender association, and socio-economic status. Activist groups like Left Wing Xicago, and the Athletic Alliance of Chicago are working to create spaces for people of color, LGBQT, and low-income community members to come together and enjoy the sport, as well as increase their representation in intramural and professional leagues.

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In Kenya, Phones Replace Bank Tellers

Tina Rosenberg

May 09, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Kenya

Building on the widespread use of mobile phones in Kenya, applications have been developed to provide people with financial services. Through these applications people can securely receive money, save money, and make payments increasing their fiscal stability and their ability to access assistance when adverse events happen. The applications also create a record of financial transactions resulting in people being able to establish credit, receive loans, and access pay-as-you-go programs.

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How Rang De is using crowdsourcing to make micro loans cheaper

Anu Thomas

May 04, 2017 |

The Economic Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Bengaluru, Karnataka

A husband and wife team in Bangalore (Bengaluru) have created a peer-to-peer, online micro-loan platform to help make poverty history by addressing credit needs of underserved communities. Lenders on the platform can choose the individuals and projects they loan to, and interest rates are kept low so as to be accessible for the recipients. The platform, Rang De, has seen great success and boasts a 93% repayment rate.

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Catholic Charities: Taking a holistic approach to address food insecurity

Emily Dech

May 04, 2017 |

Richland Source |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Mansfield, Ohio

Food security has increasingly become an issue for many families across the country, as economic instability and other factors contribute to the rising costs of living. Catholic Charities in Mansfield is taking a more comprehensive approach to addressing the multifaceted challenges of food security. They provide a food bank that offers the needy the option to choose foods that suit their lifestyle and needs, in addition to support services such as housing and medical assistance, and financial and career workshops that can help break the cycle of poverty long-term.

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The Transformative Power of Play in Urban India

Priti Salian

May 03, 2017 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India

Safe play spaces are few and far between in India's rapidly growing urban centers. One organization is making the most of limited open areas to teach kids a range of life skills.

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