Artwork stating 'Education Destroys Barriers', 'We Demand Treatment', and 'I Need A Chance'

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  • On-the-ground pollution data spurred stricter zoning in Los Angeles

    In Boyle Heights, a working class neighborhood of Los Angeles, members of the community have taken to the streets armed with clipboards and pens to document environmental hazards, zoning violations, and and other things that endanger their fellow residents. They then took this on-the-ground information, which they called "ground truths," to local politicians to advocate for change.

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  • How Teenage Sisters Pushed Bali To Say 'Bye-Bye' To Plastic Bags

    The island nation of Indonesia is the world's second biggest polluter of marine plastics, which can be disastrous for its tourism industry, setting aside the obvious environmental hazards. But two sisters in Bali took on the problem head on in 2013 with Bye Bye Plastic Bags. After an online petition, the sisters launched massive beach cleanups, awareness campaigns, and community workshops. After enough momentum, the governor of Bali banned single-use plastic.

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  • How a Vermont social network became a model for online communities

    A Vermont-based online network, the Front Porch Forum, has spread around the state as a way for community members to share ideas, resources, and initiatives. Neighbors offer support in everything from rogue Roombas (yes, you read that correctly) to disaster relief efforts.

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  • How Chicago's ‘J-school of the Streets' Is Reinventing Local News

    Strengthening the link between local journalism and civic engagement lends a voice to communities long underrepresented. Chicago’s City Bureau brings the newsroom out to neighborhoods and communities. In an effort to augment a lack of diversity in US newsrooms and a lack of understanding surrounding local issues, City Bureau empowers locals to act as “documenters” collecting, analyzing, and reporting on public meetings and issues that matter to their communities. By making journalism accessible to locals, City Bureau aims to build trust and redefine the journalistic process.

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  • Revitalizing and Reconnecting Western New York's Regional Biking Network

    In western New York, local bike advocacy groups have found power in numbers, banding together to gradually convince their governments to expand cycling access and communities to change their attitudes toward cyclists. By organizing mass cycling rides, which were at times disruptive by design, and other advocacy efforts, GOBike Buffalo and connected groups have convinced government and foundations alike to launch a major bike network.

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  • How can cities engage their citizens? Museums can show the way

    Taking its cue from digital engagement strategies of cultural institutions across Sweden, the Danish city of Aarhus, Denmark is making the redevelopment of an area called South Harbour more equitable and inclusive. Using "lab sessions," or structured discussion groups with actionable topics, the local entrepreneur heading up the project tests the ideas that come from the sessions on a small scale.

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  • Toxic air is killing us. These five policies could save millions of lives

    As air pollution threatens health and lives around the world, several creative solutions have the power to transform this situation. By tracking air quality, improving public transit, and using creative architecture and road use, countries from Estonia to Mexico to Bangladesh are finding solutions that work.

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  • Part of an age-friendly city: advocacy training for elders - The Bay State Banner

    The Boston Senior Civic Academy teaches older adults how to stay informed about and involved in local politics, covering issues from financial insecurity to dementia-friendly city planning. The program, which serves elders across the city and is part of a world-wide push to create elder-friendly cities, invites older adults to take an active role in politics and advocacy, and gives them the tools to do so.

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  • Black Mothers Change the Narrative By Telling Their Stories

    Black women have historically been politically engaged, but their voices have still been ignored. A storytelling fellowship is giving these women the tools to share their experiences and start to control how their stories are being told.

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  • Action Civics in Schools

    A Massachusetts law requires the public school system to teach an experiential civics curriculum so that young people graduate with the basic skills and confidence to become informed and active citizens. The curriculum led to a student-organized "Civics Day" event at the Statehouse, where they were able to speak with political representatives and other officials. A handful of other states have similar laws, which advocates believe will lead to greater voter turnout when the youth become 18.

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