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These ChatBots Help Zimbabweans Find Fuel During a Shortage

Christine Ro

November 07, 2018 |

New York Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Zimbabwe

Hashtags and chat apps can notify users when items of vital necessity become available during times of severe shortage. Despite the Zimbabwean government’s pushback against social media, Zimbabweans are turning to platforms like Twitter and WhatsApp to share information about gas availability amid a severe nationwide shortage. Automated chat bots and hashtags used on Facebook and Twitter deliver real-time information to people across the country about fuel deliveries and queue lengths, helping to circumvent group size restriction in chat apps.

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Undocumented Black Migrants Build an Informal Organizing Network

Carla Pineda

November 06, 2018 |

Law at the Margins |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

Grassroots organizers use mobile technology to spread information and resources to underserved immigrant communities. Groups like the Haitian Bridge Alliance and UndocuBlack mobilize legal and social resources for immigrants who belong to groups often characterized as “invisible” in the public discourse, because they represent such a small percentage of the migrant population. Mobile tech enables these nonprofits to publicize individual cases and quickly connect immigrants to appropriate social networks.

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The Pirate Cell Towers of Rural Mexico

Martha Pskowski

November 01, 2018 |

New York Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Mexico, Talea de Castro, Oaxaca

Indigenous communities in rural Mexico have typically faced challenges accessing internet and cell phone service. This is changing thanks to TIC, a nonprofit cell service provider. Lower costs, local community management, and open source technology keep the service affordable. After overcoming several legal battles, the nonprofit cell model is spreading to other areas in Mexico, Brazil, and more.

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Borderwise

Meerabelle Jesuthasan

October 30, 2018 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Borderwise is an online interface that makes it easier to apply for a green card or naturalization in the United States. Since Borderwise was created in 2016, more than 80.000 immigration forms have been prepared using the interface. In addition to streamlining immigration paperwork, the startup also offers low or no-cost legal aid to applicants.

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In Chula Vista, Calif., Drones Now Respond to 911 Calls

Gustavo Solis

October 29, 2018 |

San Diego Union-Tribune |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Chula Vista

Police in Chula Vista, Calif., are using drones to respond to some emergency calls as part of a pilot program between the Federal Aviation Administration, Chula Vista and the city of San Diego. It’s an idea from Ensenada, Mexico, where use of drones prompted a 10 percent drop in crime, and on its first day in Chula Vista drones responded to 30 emergency calls that led to three arrests. The FAA is working with police to rewrite regulations as the program evolves to adapt to police needs.

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Soft skills, tech jobs: What Philly can learn from Albuquerque's anti-poverty push

Roberto Torres

October 26, 2018 |

Technical.ly Philly |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Albuquerque, New Mexico

As Philadelphia struggles to make a dent on its high poverty rate, it can look to solutions in Albuquerque, New Mexico. One key is putting many support providers under one roof: the New Mexico Workforce Connection is a one-stop shop for New Mexico residents looking for jobs. A key benefit is the soft skills assessment that proves credibility when people lack a college degree. Also, tech and coding programs are starting as early as middle school throughout the state. Though New Mexico’s solutions are still working to be more inclusive and accessible, they are on the right track, and others are noticing.

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The city that gives you free beer for cycling

Amelia Martyn-Hemphill Nicola Kelly

October 23, 2018 |

BBC |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: Italy, Bologna

A fun app called “Bella Mossa” has incentivized people to ditch their cars in Bologna. The anti-pollution effort gives users credits for biking, walking, and using public transport. Users can then swap their credits for rewards from local shopkeepers, such as free beer and ice cream.

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Houston Looks for a Smarter, More Equitable Path to Hurricane Recovery

Linda Poon

October 22, 2018 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

The city of Houston is changing its approach to measuring the full scope of damage from Hurricane Harvey so it can get help where it is most needed and improve future flood mitigation. Using data from numerous sources, Civis Analytics found unmet housing needs were far greater than initially recorded and low-income areas were hit disproportionately harder, even though recovery funding often goes to areas with higher housing values. Now city officials are working to implement solutions based on the data in order to allocate limited funds where they will be most effective.

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Digital Platform Uses Peer Pressure To Motivate Young Adults To Vote In Election

Sylvie Sturm

October 21, 2018 |

Bay City News Foundation |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

VoteCrew is a digital messaging platform that brings together friends and acquaintances into online teams who pledge to vote and then are held accountable by their peers. The platform was created to increase voter turnout in people 35 and under by using peer pressure. The platform has 2,256 members in 308 teams across the country on about 30 college campuses. Preliminary results show its members voted at a higher rate than the demographic group more broadly, although it is too early to accurately evaluate its impact.

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The California Indigenous Peoples Using Fire for Agroforestry

Jane Braxton Little

October 16, 2018 |

Pacific Standard |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, California

The Karuk and Yoruk tribes use prescribed burning to keep land healthy and encourage the growth of traditional foods and medicines. New resources and partnerships are helping to bring back small-scale fires and revive important cultural practices.

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