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Social Change's Age of Enlightenment

David Bornstein

October 17, 2012 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

We’re getting smarter about the way we’re addressing social problems. Patterns in the most effective solutions are emerging, such as making evidence-based decisions, accepting that humans act irrationally, and bringing people back together to build comprehensive solutions.

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The ‘Avon Ladies' of Africa

Tina Rosenberg

October 10, 2012 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Uganda

A successful program in Uganda trains village women to sell medicines, fortified foods and other important goods using the Avon model, aiming to create a self-sustaining system for delivering essential health products.

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There IS a Bicycle Economy, Two Cities Find

A.K. Streeter

October 02, 2012 |

TreeHugger |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Conventional merchants are afraid to lose parking spaces to bike parking or bike lanes. New York and Portland are finding cyclists increase local economies, and spend more money too.

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The Promise of Social Impact Bonds

Tina Rosenberg

June 20, 2012 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom

When a government needs to invest in an expensive capital project — a new sewer system, bridge or highway — it issues bonds. The hot new idea in social programs – finance prevention programs to cut recidivism, reduce homelessness or keep kids in school by selling bonds, to be paid only if the program is a success.

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The Multiplier Effect: Driving Haiti's recovery by spending aid dollars locally

Jacob Kushner

May 11, 2012 |

Public Radio International (PRI) |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Haiti

Building Markets, an NGO, has connected Haitian businesses with foreign NGOs who can funnel humanitarian aid through the local suppliers and manufacturers in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake of 2010. Typically, the majority of contracts are granted to international contractors which are easier for foreign NGOs to vet but when contracts are granted to local vendors, the "multiplier effect" allows more money to flow through the local economy and employ Haitians. A directory built by Building Markets allows foreign investors to easily find trustworthy local businesses.

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Shopping for a Better World

Sarika Bansal

May 09, 2012 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

The philanthropic practice of buy-one-give-one can be ineffective if communities are given ill-fitting donations or if the donations supplant local markets. The company Warby Parker ensures lasting change by financing the means of local production of a pair of glasses for every pair bought.

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Conquering Food Deserts With Green Carts

David Bornstein

April 18, 2012 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Programs to get fresh produce carts to areas with no access to healthy food work best when government and determined entrepreneurs team up. Success from this model is evident in New York City, where the city has incentivized the selling of fruits and vegetables by street vendors in areas that are in the most need of the produce.

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Can Coffee Kick-Start an Economy?

Daniel Bergner

April 06, 2012 |

The New York Times |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Uganda, Kasese, Western Region

African coffee growers sell their raw beans cheaply to traders, earning very little for their work. The creator of Good African Coffee in Uganda was able to sell the first African roasted coffee internationally by selling consumers the story of the coffee.

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From Young Adult Book Fans to Wizards of Change

Courtney E. Martin

March 21, 2012 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

Global social and economic problems are difficult to change. However, fan-activism fuels the interests of fans of popular young adult fiction. Books such as Harry Potter and the Hunger Games have inspired activist groups that raise awareness of global hunger, reading, and relief supplies to impoverished nations, among others. Being a fan has served as a bridge to become politically active and solve the world’s problems.

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Prizes With an Eye Toward the Future

Tina Rosenberg

February 29, 2012 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

Agencies across the corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors are recruiting ideas from the public by offering prizes for solving challenges. Prize incentives have spurred innovation for centuries, but fell out of favor as the preferred method in the 1800s. Now, prize-based incentives are back, in part because of a flood of new philanthropic money, and because prizes cast a wider net to a largely more educated and tech-savvy global population.

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