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Bookstores are finding creative ways to survive and thrive in the age of Amazon

Catherine Curan

September 14, 2018 |

Crain's New York Business |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Despite the looming competition from Amazon, independent bookstores in New York are finding ways to innovate and create bookstore experiences that go beyond the books. The Lit. Bar is a bookshop-wine bar in the Bronx that hopes to instill a love of reading while customers shop and drink. By selling non-book products, new iterations of bookstores can increase their profit margin to remain sustainable. Many even succeed with creative financing, from crowdfunding to finding local investors.

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Federal program to aid low-income areas ready for local investors

Brian Edwards

September 07, 2018 |

The Montgomery Advertiser |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Montgomery, Alabama

Since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed, investors, community leaders, and local governments have been talking about Opportunity Zones. These are low-income areas in each state--Alabama has 150--that will incentivize investor spending by providing tax breaks for longer-term investment in areas typically not on the highest priority list for traditional investors. Montgomery, Alabama is seeking input from local groups on where funding can best be spent. Though the opportunity zones legislation is in its early days, many are excited about the potential to stimulate economic growth.

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An initiative that helps teachers buy a home is expanding to 15 Colorado districts

Melanie Asmar

September 04, 2018 |

Chalkbeat |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Colorado

Landed, a philanthropic for-profit organization, has loaned money to 90 Colorado school district employees for down payments on homes. This funding fills a pressing gap - in Denver, the average home goes for over half a million dollars while the average teacher is paid an annual salary of $57,000. As Landed expands to 14 new Colorado districts, it stands out from similar initiatives for its generous down payment loans and focus on securing teachers permanent housing instead of rental units.

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What crowdfunding is telling us about the future of Chicago education

Elaine Chen

September 04, 2018 |

Chalkbeat |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Since Chicago Public Schools started using the crowdfunding platform DonorsChoose.org in 2004, educators from 500 schools have collected over $20 million in donations. Most notable is that teachers are not only using the service to cover basic supplies, but are also pitching ideas to support innovative learning approaches such as personalized instruction. According to the company's founder, "We can tap into classroom teachers’ frontline expertise to unleash better targeted, more creative, more innovative, micro solutions than what someone would have come up with from on high."

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This Chef Is Fighting Gentrification With Hot Chicken

Deonna Anderson

August 31, 2018 |

Yes! Magazine |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Nashville, Tennessee

A chef shows the "absurdity" of gentrification with a creative fundraising campaign. At one of Tunde Wey’s pop-up dinners, he charged $12 for a plate, but charged white people $30, to spark up conversations about racial wealth inequality. His H*t Chicken Sh*t, “a dinner series to end gentrification,” successfully raised $52,000 to go towards residents of North Nashville, “a historically Black neighborhood,” and their affordable housing.

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College Not for You? He Offers a Skills 'Boot Camp' Instead

Keith Griffith

August 30, 2018 |

OZY |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Since opening its doors in 2013, Praxis, an innovative higher education company, has placed 96 percent of its graduates in entry level jobs by graduation. Praxis accelerates the traditional college path, combining a six month boot camp with a six month apprenticeship.

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How the Formerly Incarcerated Support the Formerly Incarcerated

Zoe Sullivan

August 30, 2018 |

Next City |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New Orleans, Louisiana

A nonprofit launched by formerly incarcerated men in New Orleans addresses some of the immediate challenges people face in the first 72 hours coming out of prison. The First 72 offers them a place to go, which can be a serious problem for those with records, as well as support and mentorship. There is also a small business incubator that some returnees have used to turn their side hustles into small businesses with plans to grow and employ other former felons.

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How to help homeless people – without feeding a habit

Stephen Moss

August 29, 2018 |

The Guardian |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Oxford

It's not uncommon for people to hesitate to give money to homeless because of an uncertainty of how the money will be spent. To address this, as well as an increasingly cashless society, an app known as Greater Change is being piloted in Oxford that "allows passersby to make donations via their phones using the QR code."

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How Church-Owned Property Can Help Communities 'Grow'

Joseph Darius Jaafari

August 29, 2018 |

NationSwell |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Rockford, Michigan

Across the United States, communities and local churches are coming together to create farming projects that utilize unused, church-owned land. The farming ventures typically benefit students and families throughout the respective regions.

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Wanted: Rural Doctors

Joseph P. Williams

August 22, 2018 |

U.S. News & World Report |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Alabama

To combat the shortage of rural doctors, Alabama universities are offering rural medicine programs or helping fund the studies of students who commit to rural practice after graduation. Admissions staff also keep in mind that applicants from rural areas are four times as likely to return to rural areas to practice.

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