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Can Social Scientists Help Control Epidemics?

Elizabeth Svoboda

April 07, 2021 |

Sapiens |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Sierra Leone

When the rise of Ebola in West Africa strict protocols when handling those who were dying or had died from the disease, public health officials began working with anthropologists and other social scientists to increase trust and influence people’s willingness to seek treatment. At the center of the success was the social scientist's recommendations for burial services which addressed concerns about first responders disrespecting the dead. Today, these social scientists are providing similar consult for the Covid-19 pandemic.

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In a Pennsylvania town, a Facebook group fills the local news void

Brandy Zadrozny

April 05, 2021 |

NBC News |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chippewa Township, Pennsylvania

In areas with no newspapers, locals are increasingly turning to Facebook groups to share resources and information about local happenings, particularly crime. Many of The News Alerts of Beaver County's 43,000 members praise the benefits of the group, in which members can post and comment on local news, including everything from infrastructure and businesses to lost dogs and suspected criminals on the loose. However, critics claim it is a hub for misinformation and vigilantism. The group is moderated, but the misinformation, which is shared in good faith by neighbors, is hard to spot without training.

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The invisible shield: how qualified immunity was created and nearly destroyed the ability to sue police officers in America Pt. I

Herb Boyd Damaso Reyes

April 01, 2021 |

New York Amsterdam News |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

The Civil Rights Act of 1871, as a direct response to white resistance to Reconstruction-era reforms in the former Confederacy, gave people the right to sue government officials for depriving them of their civil rights. But a series of court decisions from the Civil Rights Era of the 1960s through the 1980s undercut the law's intent, so much so that police officers ended up with "qualified immunity" from liability for rights violations – effectively avoiding accountability, even when they act in bad faith.

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Algorithmic Redlining Is Real. Why Not Algorithmic Greenlining?

Vinhcent Le

March 31, 2021 |

Governing |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

Urban planning algorithms have contributed to the racial wealth gap by prioritizing funding for communities that don’t need extra funding, but which would create a higher return on investment. The algorithm bias negatively impacts neighborhoods that are typically Black and poor. Detroit’s water and sewage utilities were disconnected as a result of an algorithm, highlighting the “fundamental pitfall of algorithms, as well as the risks that they can be misused or produce unintended consequences.”

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Can California's Organic Vegetable Farmers Unlock the Secrets of No-Till Farming?

Gosia Wozniacka

March 30, 2021 |

Civil Eats |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, California

A trial experiment with three farmers and several California universities is looking to better understand how to farm with little or no chemicals. No-till farming can boost soil health and better store carbon, but it’s not a perfect system. These farmers are testing how to reduce soil disturbance, use cover crops, and diversify their species of crops, yet so far, they haven’t found much success. “Figuring this all out has been ‘a school of hard knocks,’” says one of the farmers.

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Finding childcare is hard. It's even harder when you don't work 9 to 5.

Yadira Lopez

March 28, 2021 |

Miami Herald |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Miami, Florida

More than 50 percent of children from economically-disadvantaged families have at least one parent who works non-traditional schedule, which consists of hours outside of the 9am to 5pm. However, subsidized child care often does not apply to the few childcare facilities that do cater to families with nontraditional schedules. Over-regulation of child care, which makes it illegal for parents to leave children for more than 12 hours, also forces parents into unregulated options which don't qualify for federal subsidies. Expanding access to after-hours childcare is key to upward mobility.

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In Denver, Tiny Homes Take On Affordable Housing

Mona Dougani

March 26, 2021 |

QNotes Carolinas |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Denver, Colorado

Denver's Beloved Community Village is a development of 20 "tiny houses," affordable single-family homes that have helped residents obtain stable housing at rates that allow them to get ahead financially. Charlotte would have to change its zoning laws, and some residents' attitudes, to allow for such a hedge against homelessless. Those changes are possible, but will take time and much effort.

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Tactics other states use to boost vaccination rates

Allison Salerno

March 21, 2021 |

Atlanta Journal-Constitution |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Georgia

Georgia's Covid-19 vaccine rollout has been slow and confusing, but Wisconsin's offers lessons for how to improve the system. Unlike Georgia, Wisconsin has created a pre-registration list to eliminate confusion regarding eligibility and has also focused on outreach to marginalized communities. These efforts have helped the state achieve one of the nation's highest vaccination rates.

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The New Push for Corporate Diversity Comes with an Atlanta Address

Te-Ping Chen

March 20, 2021 |

Wall Street Journal |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Atlanta, Georgia

Companies are making the move to Atlanta in their efforts to diversify their workforces. Corporate diversity is hard to achieve in places like Silicon Valley. Instead, companies like Pandora have drastically increased the number of diverse employees since moving to the majority-Black city.

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Juvenile (in)justice

Tennessee Watson Eda Uzunlar

March 20, 2021 |

Reveal |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Mitchell, South Dakota

Five years after South Dakota replaced a failing, punitive juvenile justice system that emphasized incarceration and probation with approaches focused on rehabilitation and local services for youth, the state's investment has paid off in far lower recidivism, incarceration, and expense. Counties have financial, justice, and moral incentives to follow the evidence of what works and help teens improve their lives. The state also keeps the data needed to track what is working. Neighboring Wyoming does the opposite on all counts, and it has the wrecked lives and high costs to show for it.

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