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How to bring a high street back from the dead

Kevin Rushby

March 29, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, York

Revive local high streets by creating informal spaces for people to linger. That’s the lesson from Bishopthorpe Road in York. Once barely hanging on, Bishy Road’s fortunes changed when shopkeepers decided to band together, close off the road, and host a street party. Thousands of people showed up. The shops have continued to build spaces for people to relax and hang out, and the high street is now voted one of Britain’s best.

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How to Build a Better Jail

Joseph Darius Jaafari

March 29, 2018 |

NationSwell |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Rikers Island, New York

New York is shutting down the infamously isolated jail on Rikers Island in order to remodel with a newfound focus on how to integrate the jail into the community. Based off of the success of similar projects which prioritize the inmates environment in order to influence improved behavior, the outlook for Rikers Island also aims to incorporate needs of surrounding residents as well.

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Europe's beauty spots plot escape from the too-many-tourists trap

Joe Dodgshun

March 07, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Germany, Berlin

At the world’s most popular sites, innovations in tourism management can benefit both visitors and residents. Marketing efforts in Iceland are successfully distributing tourists all over the country throughout the year, and locals in Miami Beach, Florida, receive SMS alerts about traffic congestion so they can plan ahead. These are just two examples of the many initiatives currently in progress.

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The chewing gum you don't mind stuck to your shoe

Dougal Shaw

March 06, 2018 |

BBC |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Winchester, Greater London

Did you know that the main ingredient in most chewing gum is a synthetic rubber, which resembles a close relationship to plastic? "It's called polyisobutylene," explains Anna Bullus, a British designer, "the same stuff you find in the inner tube of bicycle wheels." After realizing this, Anna decided to embark on a mission to recycle used chewing gum as a means of cleaning up the streets. What resulted was a way to create everyday products that include at least 20% gum, while simultaneously saving institutions money on what otherwise would have gone toward cleanup efforts.

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Crowded cities search for nature-based solutions for residents' well-being

Sophie Davies

March 05, 2018 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Italy, Milan

A new investment project, worth almost 11.4 million euro, is creating public green spaces in concrete jungles across Europe. The projects include green roofs, parks, street trees, and more, all worked on in collaboration with local governments and organizations -- but concerns exist about their overall impact and the possibility of what some have termed "green gentrification."

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How Curators Are Taking Over Vacant Spaces and Changing Cities

Amanda Arnold

March 01, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

All around the world there is a trend for pop-ups to take over empty spaces and give the spaces meaning for a short period of time. For instance, in a time when capitalism dominates society, the Museum of Capitalism filled an Oakland warehouse for two months to spark conversation on the topic. These pop-ups act as an educational resource, a creative asset to neighborhoods, and a more accessible way for artists to engage with social issues and a large audience.

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Working with Dark Light: Puerto Rican artists are healing the spirits that Hurricane Maria broke

Samuel Granados

February 28, 2018 |

The Washington Post |

Video |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Puerto Rico, San Juan

In the wake of Hurricane Maria, artists are putting on performances of all kinds in traditional and non-traditional spaces. These performances provide entertainment; express pain, loss, and anger; satirize and critique government inaction; and instill pride and hope.

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3 Far-Flung Cities Offer Clues to Unsnarling Manhattan's Streets

Christina Anderson Winnie Hu Weiyi Lim Anna Schaverien

February 26, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Sweden, Stockholm

Cities like New York that are trying to decrease traffic congestion are looking to Stockholm, London, and Singapore. These three cities have all implemented forms of congestion pricing, in which they charge drivers a fee to enter a core congestion area during peak commuting hours. Despite challenges in implementation, the congestion taxes have decreased traffic and increased driving speed in each of these cities.

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Improvising Your Way Out of Anxiety

Tom Colls

February 13, 2018 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Canada, Toronto

Improvisational comedy teaches people to listen, act quickly on their feet, and be unafraid to make mistakes. An improv class in Toronto geared towards people who struggle to manage anxiety has found that these skills—which promote trust, connection, and confidence—has been beneficial for participants.

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How to Fight Gentrification With a Comic Book

Mimi Kirk

February 06, 2018 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, St. Paul, Minnesota

The diverse Frogtown neighborhood in St. Paul, Minnesota is filled with immigrants from all over the world. However, warning signs of gentrification are hinting at rising home prices that threaten the affordability of the area for its long-time residents. To ensure the neighborhood’s vision for the future is clear and accessible, local artists transformed the small area plan into a graphic novel that is helping residents have a voice in their community’s future.

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