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Gun Control Is An Uphill Battle, But Here's One Of The Rare Success Stories

Melissa Jeltsen

May 13, 2016 |

The Huffington Post |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Connecticut

Women are especially vulnerable to gun violence from domestic partners. New state and federal laws are being proposed and passed which require abusers to give up their firearm after a temporary restraining order is filed, others are trying to prevent anyone with an abusive history from being able to obtain a gun.

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Come for the pizza, stay for the power: why Boston let teenagers set its budget

Sandra Larson

March 31, 2016 |

The Guardian |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

Boston’s Youth Lead the Change engages young people in municipal decision-making by putting them in charge of determining how one million dollars is spent every year. Participants learn how city government works, submit project ideas, and vote on which proposals to fund. It’s not a simulation. The money is real.

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Uganda's Corruption Comes Home to Roost

Sruthi Gottipati

March 22, 2016 |

Bright Magazine |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Uganda, Mityana

In Uganda, a country with high levels of corruption and political patronage, citizen-led grassroots efforts to root out graft and enforce accountability have sprung up across the country. “Village budget clubs,” trained by the Forum for Women in Democracy, learn about Uganda’s constitution, government budgeting and planning, and what is required of public officials. Club members then attend meetings, follow up with public officials, and fill out scorecards that rank lawmaker performance.

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Jennifer Pahlka helps improve how government works

John Wildermuth

March 11, 2016 |

SFGate |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

Jennifer Pahlka founded Code for America, an organization that provides human-centered design tech solutions to government services. Now they have a growing list of requests from cities all over the US, a network of 44,000 volunteers nationwide who create "civic-hacking" solutions, and an over $10 million yearly budget.

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Bengaluru is being swept by citizen-led plastic bans

Shree D N

February 16, 2016 |

Citizen Matters |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India, Bengaluru, Karnataka

While laws and regulations banning the use of plastic bags and wrappers lag in the government, neighborhoods within the city of Bengaluru (Bangalore) have taken it upon themselves to remove wasteful plastic from their communities and their environment. From organizing marches and demonstrations, to creating clever alternatives - such as renting reusable bags from stores and wrapping goods in newspaper - numerous zones within the city are going plastic waste-free on their own initiative, and inspiring their neighbors to do the same.

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Can a Game Help Build Affordable Housing?

Alec Appelbaum

February 09, 2016 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Pleasantville, New York

To break through gridlock on fair housing, city planners, citizens, and government officials in wealthy Westchester County, New York, try a new tactic: Using a simulation game to try out different development scenarios. The result has been increased civic participation and efficiency.

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Reaching for rehabilitation, not retribution

Suzette Hackney

December 27, 2015 |

IndyStar (The Indianapolis Star) |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Indianapolis, Indiana

A nonprofit in Indianapolis diverts kids from the juvenile justice system by using a teen court where first-time offenders admit their guilt to a jury made up of fellow students rather than going through suspension or expulsion. Jurors usually give verdicts that include community service, apologies, restitution, counseling and tutoring, and possibly serving on a jury. About 1,000 students participate each year and the county prosecutor named the nonprofit Crime Fighter of the Year for its work.

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How a regulation turned Bologna's civic pride into action

Simone D'Antonio

December 23, 2015 |

Citiscope |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Italy, Bologna

Bologna is demonstrating the utility of allowing citizens to help with projects in cash-strapped cities. A new policy makes it easier for citizens to head city projects and to participate in guiding the future of the municipality.

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Historic probe of Chicago police expected to be long and costly

Katherine Skiba

December 12, 2015 |

Chicago Tribune |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

In Chicago, a white police officer shot Laquan McDonald, a young black man, 16 times, for refusing to stop. The city created a task force in the midst of an already existing investigation by the Department of Justice into the Chicago Police Department’s use of force. "The No. 1 good thing about these federal interventions is they force local municipalities to face the issue of police misconduct head-on.”

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As 50 States Prepare to Reimagine Education Policy, Four Are Able to Offer Guidance

Sam Chaltain

December 09, 2015 |

Education Week |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New Hampshire

The Innovation Lab Network (ILN) is a made up of a network of states that work collaboratively to transform their respective school systems. The ILN seeks to make meaningful systems-level changes in state education systems and they have shared their insights in four short films and manage a website with resources. The solutions emphasize local engagement and authority, extreme patience, and a framework that places the strengths and passions of young people at the center.

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