How peer tutoring can transform high school academics

Meg McIntyre

June 14, 2021 |

GreatSchools.org |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Newark, New Jersey

A peer tutoring program at a New Jersey high school has helped students improve academic success while feeling connected and supported by their peers. The program started by providing time during study hall periods for small groups of peers to meet. Then, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the program went virtual with pairs of students meeting twice a week in zoom breakout rooms. About 54% of students who were tutored passed a class they had previously failed. The program also fosters social connections and a supportive school culture.

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Drug testing takes off in the Laurentians — even dealers are doing it

Christopher Curtis

June 11, 2021 |

Ricochet |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, St-Jérôme, Quebec

To reduce overdose deaths from the increasing number of deadly substances found in street drugs, Centre SIDA Amitié uses lab testing to help understand exactly what drugs users are putting in their bodies and how to slow the spread of deadly drugs. They distribute testing kits to hundreds of people every year, analyze urine samples, have handed out 12,189 naloxone doses, and trained over 1,000 people to administer the drug. Staff works directly with clients in communities that don’t have access to many resources, also helping them navigate court proceedings, find housing, and get into rehab if interested.

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Minnesota Repurposes Transit Buses to Give COVID-19 Vaccines to Communities That Need Them Most

Henry Pan

June 10, 2021 |

Next City |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota

With extra buses available due to lower ridership during the pandemic, Metro Transit worked with key partners to turn six buses into mobile vaccination clinics. Metro Transit provided drivers and retrofitted the buses by removing seats, relocating stanchions, and ensuring buses could draw power from electrical outlets. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota provided staff and licensed clinicians to administer the vaccines. The health department provided funding that made it all come together. The buses prioritized areas with gaps in vaccine access, including low-income areas and communities of color.

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Wichita's homeless providers navigate congregate living in age of social distancing

Matthew Kelly

June 09, 2021 |

The Wichita Eagle |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Wichita, Kansas

Wichita secured $850,376 of federal grant money through the CARES Act, which it is distributing to homeless shelters and other organizations that work with people experiencing homelessness to slow the spread of COVID-19. Local providers connect with each other to share their best practices for stopping the virus, including taking temperatures, mandatory hand-washing, and mask wearing, and making sure that beds meet social distancing guidelines. None of their clients in homeless shelters have tested positive so far.

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Germany Makes Rapid Virus Tests a Key to Everyday Freedoms

Christopher F. Schuetze Melissa Eddy

June 09, 2021 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Germany

In Germany, where vaccination rollout has been slow, rapid antigen COVID-19 tests are used to allow people to attend indoor social, business, education, and personal care activities. There are 15,000 pop-up testing sites across the country, many in businesses that had fully or partially shut down due to the virus. People who want to participate in indoor activities like eating inside a restaurant need a negative rapid test that is no more than 24 hours old. The testing centers are funded by the government. While there is no conclusive evidence, experts believe widespread testing is lowering case numbers.

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Recovered Covid Patients Send Their Leftover Meds to Those in Need

Priti Salian

June 08, 2021 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Mumbai

Volunteers with India’s Meds For More initiative (MFM) collect leftover unused medications from recovered Covid-19 patients by canvassing their apartment buildings, offices, student clubs, schools, and other locations. Once collected, MFM distributes them to NGOs licensed to work in the health sector, who transport the medicines to marginalized communities in urban and rural areas. Medical professionals sort and pack the medicines and give them to local hospitals and health care centers, who distribute them to patients. The success of the program has inspired similar initiatives in several other cities.

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Community Ambassadors Are the Link to Toronto's Unvaccinated Populations

Brannavy Jeyasundaram

June 04, 2021 |

The Local |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada, Toronto, Ontario

Toronto’s Vaccine Engagement Teams Grant has awarded $5.5 million to community organizations in 140 neighborhoods to hire and train local ambassadors for vaccine outreach. Because the ambassadors share a lived experience with the communities, they can effectively identify the barriers people face. The on-the-ground effort includes sharing information, advocating for community needs, and helping people access services. The outreach focuses on people often overlooked by government services, such as unhoused people and people who do not speak English or have precarious immigration status.

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Black Women Come Up Short On Funds And Food In COVID-19 Pandemic

Marissa Evans

June 01, 2021 |

Fierce for Black Women |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Village Minds was started by Natia Simone as a Facebook page to connect people in need of food and assistance, due to COVID-19 and grocery store closures after the protests following the murder of George Floyd. However, a broader issue of food insecurity led her to expand into a formal organization that has made more than 3,650 grocery deliveries. A partnership with a local produce store helps fill bags with fresh food and a food pantry provides other staples. With the help of friends and family, Simone uses a rented U-Haul to deliver the groceries to seniors throughout Chicago.

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The Group Turning Religious Leaders into LGBTQ Rights Crusaders

Tolu Olasoji

May 31, 2021 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Mombasa

Persons Marginalized and Aggrieved in Kenya works with religious leaders over the course of many years to build empathy and understanding towards the LGBTQ community. Faith leaders are often not immediately aware of the goal, but PEMA’s continuous and carefully orchestrated engagement allows them to gradually build relationships, hear personal stories from real people, and learn to preach tolerance. PEMA has worked with 619 religious leaders, 246 of which are currently active, and runs a Training of Trainers program where “converted” religious leaders train their colleagues to increase LGBTQ acceptance.

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How Native Americans launched successful coronavirus vaccination drives: ‘A story of resilience'

Rachel Hatzipanagos

May 26, 2021 |

The Washington Post |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Comprehensive COVID-19 vaccination strategies helped some Native American Nations achieve high vaccination rates. Tribal sovereignty gave Nations the flexibility to create their own methods of distributing the vaccine and allowed officials to distribute doses to hard-to-reach areas – even by dog sled in Alaska. They could prioritize who to vaccinate and diversify how vaccines were offered – from private appointments to mass-vaccination events – to ensure broad accessibility. Medical professionals, tribal leaders, and Native youth used social media to share information and encourage people to get vaccinated.

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