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In Kansas City, a lesson in transforming closed schools

Kalyn Belsha

January 24, 2017 |

Chicago Reporter |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Kansas City, Missouri

When public schools close, what can communities do with the buildings? Kansas City hired an urban planner to help repurpose school buildings to better engage the community and enabled non-profits a chance to purchase the old properties. This school reuse excelled from increasing the transparency of the decision-making process and “creative financing.”

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Entrepreneurship Provides New Hope for Former Prisoners

Riva Richmond

January 19, 2017 |

The Story Exchange |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

People exiting incarceration often struggle to land jobs. But a growing number of organizations are promoting entrepreneurship as an alternative path to economic stability for former inmates and it's not a big stretch considering that many of these folks know how to hustle, think creatively and are resilient. Last year the U.S. Small Business Administration launched a pilot program with several funders to foster business ownership among former inmates but some programs have been around for years and have impressive track records.

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Kenya's booming digital sharing economy?

Harriet Constable

January 05, 2017 |

African Business Magazine |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Nairobi

Though the big players in the sharing economy like Uber and Airbnb are eyeing growing middle class markets like that of Kenya, the concept of shared access to goods and services is nothing new for Kenyan communities. Whereas in the West, the shared economy structure arose largely from a desire for flexibility, in Kenya, much of it arose from need. Now platforms like Lynk and Little Cabs are helping connect Kenyan customers to a broad range of service providers.

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Can the private sector solve Metro Detroit's infrastructure woes?

Patrick Dunn

December 21, 2016 |

Metromode |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

Michigan's roads have been in disrepair for years. Now with increased private sector funding and partnerships between companies and the government, the state could start to see improvements in its infrastructure.

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Free Cash in Finland. Must be Jobless.

Peter S. Goodman

December 17, 2016 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Finland, Oulu

Monthly unemployment checks are dissuading individuals from finding work for fear that their work will pay less. Oulu, Finland is testing out 'basic income' where everyone receives a government cheque, to encourage people to work without fear of losing their monthly assistance.

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The Sea Creature That Saved a School (How Lobsters Are Keeping Students in School)

Tanya Paperny

December 11, 2016 |

The Atlantic |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Deer Isle, Maine

Deer Isle, Maine, struggled to keep students in school; many students felt that a diploma was unnecessary, since they could drop out and join the lobster fishing industry. But the local high school found a creative solution to keep students engaged and ensure more opportunities in what can be a volatile industry. They redesigned courses to suit the interests of students, moving to project-based learning that explores traditional academic topics through fishing and marine themes, such as studying geometry through boat building. The approach has helped increase graduation rates by more than 30 percent.

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To fight poverty in Africa, a new-old solution: cash handouts

Ryan Lenora Brown

December 11, 2016 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Lesotho, Maseru

The approach of giving cash straight to poor people - rather than funneling goods or services indirectly through the slow, diluted, and complex systems of charities or governments - is nothing new, but evidence of long-term success and sustainability are few. That's why many NGOs and governments are now coupling cash transfers with more comprehensive programs such as job training and financial counseling, as well as addressing some of the root causes that keep people poor, like lack of infrastructure and market access.

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Can Mezcal Survive Being Popular?

Alec Jacobson

December 07, 2016 |

Roads & Kingdoms |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Mexico, San Juan Del Rio, Queretaro

The production of mezcal keeps increasing, drawing the attention of big liquor brands who want to invest in the mezcal market. Entrepreneurs in Mexico, are teaming up with rural farmers, their collaboration could potentially push out big companies from taking over the market.

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South Carolina finds innovative way to help first-time moms

Kristen Jordan Shamus

November 30, 2016 |

Detroit Free Press |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Florence, South Carolina

Thanks to social impact bonds, the Nurse-Family Partnership in South Carolina pairs specially trained nurses with low-income pregnant women for regular home visits, giving the mothers coaching to break the poverty cycle. The state should realize a return on its investment long-term, with lower Medicaid costs, fewer preterm births, bigger gaps between childbirths and fewer emergency room visits.

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How other communities are addressing food insecurity

Vincent Jackson

November 27, 2016 |

The Press of Atlantic City |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Atlantic City, New Jersey

New Jersey looks for those solutions being implemented successfully in other regions around the country to fight hunger in food deserts and poor neighborhoods, assessing what can be replicated in their local communities to address these issues.

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