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How Philadelphia Has Tried to Address Water Debt

Emily Nonko

September 01, 2020 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

An income-based payment structure has alleviated water debt in Philadelphia. Decreasing federal aid to municipal water utilities in conjunction with rising costs associated with climate change has increased the cost of water, making it unaffordable for many. Philadelphia created an income-based program, which caps water bills at three percent of income. The Tiered Assistance Program, or TAP, also provides debt elimination for those who make their minimum payments. Advocates have successfully pushed for similar reforms in Baltimore.

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Black Communities Have Known about Mutual Aid All Along

Vicky Mochama

September 01, 2020 |

The Walrus |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, British Columbia

The black community has a rich history of crowdfunding that goes back generations to help the most vulnerable stay afloat, creating a security net for those who would otherwise fall through the cracks. Mutual aid groups are once again coming to the rescue for many black communities. Students in Canada unable to work due to visa restrictions, migrants, and those who relied on odd jobs for income are all unable to receive government aid during the pandemic. Groups like Black in BC Mutual Aid Collective attracted an influx of donations in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, providing much-needed relief.

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How investor pressure prompted oil majors to wake up to climate change

Attracta Mooney

August 31, 2020 |

Financial Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom

Due to pressure from shareholders and asset managers to invest sustainably, there has been a rapid growth in environmental, social, and government investing. Assets in sustainable mutual funds globally reached $1 trillion in the second quarter of 2020 and fund managers rolled out 107 new sustainable funds in Europe. Despite this increase in interest, shareholders continue to grapple with balancing sustainable considerations with investment decisions.

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Rebuild Foundation and Sunshine Enterprise team up to train city's creative entrepreneurs

Arionne Nettles

August 31, 2020 |

The Chicago Reader |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Artists in Chicago can benefit from entrepreneurial training programs which teach technical business skills, provide access to information about art grants and also build a network of like-minded creatives. Rebuild Foundation and Sunshine Enterprise are two initiatives that have provided creative entrepreneurs with the specific skills needed for creative ventures to succeed. The needs of this community of business owners is different from typical entrepreneurs.

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Cincinnati Tenants Are Building Equity With Each Rent Payment

Emily Nonko

August 28, 2020 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Cincinnati, Ohio

Dividend housing is an innovative initiative in Cincinnati giving renters the benefit of building equity without buying or selling real estate. Residents earn credits by maintaining the property, attending monthly tenant meetings, and paying their rent on time. In addition to equity, residents are guaranteed permanent affordable rent. Rental equity provides a security net, which can be cashed out and is also available as credits that residents can use to invest in other properties being built by their property developer.

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Could the Coronavirus Yield a More Robust Northwest Seafood Economy?

Virginia Gewin

August 28, 2020 |

Bitterroot |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Garibaldi, Oregon

The international seafood supply chain was disrupted in the wake of the pandemic but small fisheries in the northwest have tapped into new local markets. The fisheries, which generally depend on exporting seafood internationally as well as supplying restaurants, have found an interest among local consumers in fresh seafood that has led to community-supported fisheries and includes meal kits. Smaller operations have found it easier to pivot to regional customers and have taken the opportunity to build a stronger regional food system which creates a sustainable seafood market.

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‘Digital Detroit' Works to Bridge Digital Divide for Small and Micro Businesses

Kristi Eaton

August 25, 2020 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

The city of Detroit is offering business services to entrepreneurs who want to bring their business online in the aftermath of the pandemic. Digital Detroit is the name of the program offering content creation and website development completely free of charge for a variety of businesses. Over 100 businesses were selected for the five-week program, helping the entrepreneurs to move their services online, creating, and launching websites as well as establishing social media presence, all of which has gone a long way in increasing sales and profits.

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The Forgotten Stones That Still Inspire Turks to Help Their Neighbors

Jennifer Hattam

August 24, 2020 |

Atlas Obscura |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Turkey, Istanbul

Building on a history of anonymous charity, a mosque in northern Istanbul started a pop-up communal food bank to help those most impacted by the pandemic. The initiative is one of several mutual aid efforts underway in the municipality, with each paying homage to the nation's historical use of a charity stone - a place where "people who had money would leave some on top of the stone, and those who didn’t would take some, according to their need."

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Hold the Salt: The Promise of Little Fresh Fishes

Paul Tullis Htoo Tay Zar

August 24, 2020 |

Hakai Magazine |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Myanmar, Yangon

In Myanmar, aquaculture production from medium-sized freshwater farms is growing and could be an important and sustainable supplier of food for the world’s growing population. Aquaculture businesses are thriving in Southeast Asia despite the decline of wild fisheries — the acreage of cultivated fishponds in some regions has expanded by more than 250 percent. While some environmentalists argue that it damages ecosystems, research suggests that freshwater aquaculture have a much lower environmental impact than marine fish farming.

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Vaccine Tech 30 Years in the Making Is Getting Put to the Ultimate Test

Emily Mullin

August 21, 2020 |

Medium |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

A key set of entrants in the race to develop an effective COVID-19 vaccine use a genetic approach that has shown promising but preliminary results in human safety trials. Genetic vaccines, which have been in development for 30 years but have never undergone large-scale clinical trials or been used widely, differ from traditional vaccines, which inject a form of an actual pathogen to trigger an immune response. DNA and RNA vaccines can be developed much more quickly by using a small piece of genetic code to instruct a body's response. Initial human safety trials worked enough to move to large-scale tests.

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