Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 2468 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

Cities are finally treating water as a resource, not a nuisance

Erica Gies

September 05, 2015 |

Vox |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

Cities across the world, suffering from increased threats of floods and droughts due to climate change, are finding new ways to manage water, such as reclaiming natural waterways and increasing on spot water absorption.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Parklets Are Great, But Big Parks Pack a Big Punch

Cassie Owens

September 01, 2015 |

Next City |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Exeter

Larger green spaces may be critical to a city, as they can support more complete ecosystems. In contrast to smaller "parklets," large parks paired with high-density neighborhoods allow for healthier cities.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How Seattle Made Dark Alleys Safer—By Throwing Parties In Them

Araz Hachadourian

August 26, 2015 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Alleys in Seattle were once places of illicit, illegal, and unsanitary activity. The International Sustainability Institute in Seattle began organizing music and art events to bring in people, which, in turn, cleaned-up the crime and garbage. As an urban development strategy, adjacent vacant storefronts re-opened for business and beautification could be seen in new gardens.

Read More
Go to Original Story
[Re]moving urban highways

Irina Zhorov

August 20, 2015 |

WHYY |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

As city leaders reconsider their urban spaces—and particularly, urban waterfronts—through the lens of a post-industrial economy and renewed urbanism, moving urban highways has become more of a priority. Urban planners have shut many of them down and built in their stead parks.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Climate change crusade goes local

Doug Struck

August 09, 2015 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Miami Beach, Florida

Around the globe, countries have taken actions that have helped reduce carbon emissions and increase the use of renewable energy. Although the state of Florida feels the effects of climate change, its state representatives have not produced policy addressing it. Local policy makers and organizers have made the biggest difference in the state.

Read More
Go to Original Story
What Do the Poor Need? Try Asking Them

David L. Kirp

August 08, 2015 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

Neighborhood Centers, a Houston anti-poverty program has a simple philosophy: “The people are the asset, the source of potential solutions, not the problem.” The non-profit has scaled nationally, employing its bottom-up approach to disburse funds in poor communities.

Read More
Go to Original Story
A Library of Good Ideas

Deborah Fallows

August 02, 2015 |

The Atlantic |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Bend, Oregon

Staff members at a library branch in central Oregon take steps toward community engagement and participation by crossing the barrier from employee to neighbor. By building personal relationships with other community members, offering "maker" spaces and other public engagement opportunities, and listening to the desires of the community they are serving, the 6-branch Deschutes Libraries make a name for themselves.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Low-Cost Schools Are Being Built Out Of Sand In Jordan Refugee Camps

Joseph Erbentraut

July 31, 2015 |

The Huffington Post |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Jordan, Za'atari

The living conditions in refugee camps in the Middle East are very poor. Architects are piloting the Re:Build construction system that utilizes materials in the natural environment to construct homes, schools, and clinics. The system engages refugees in the process of building so that they can take ownership of their success and develop skills to integrate in returning to their home country.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Curing Violence Like an Infectious Disease

Amy Costello

July 30, 2015 |

Tiny Spark |

Podcast |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Neighborhoods in Chicago suffer from gang violence and gun-related deaths. A church leader and a physician trained in infectious diseases created Cure Violence, a program that sends teams of local residents to meet with gang leaders as a means of producing positive behavioral change by re-setting social norms. Their approach has reduced violence between 40% and 70%.

Read More
Go to Original Story
A Superficial Solution for Crime That Actually Works

Kate Wheeling

July 20, 2015 |

Pacific Standard |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In 2011, Philadelphia began requiring owners of vacant properties to install working doors and windows on all streets that are at least 80% occupied. A study of the impact of the Doors and Windows Ordinance has found a decrease in crime in neighborhoods where the "appearance of disorder" was changed, providing an example for other cities looking for low-cost ways to decrease crime rates.

Read More
Go to Original Story