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 809 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

The town that gave the world Spam is proud to be ‘autism-friendly'

Amy Ellis Nutt

September 23, 2018 |

The Washington Post |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Austin, Minnesota

In order to reduce autism stigma, the city of Austin, Minn., became an autism-friendly town. A system was created to label businesses as autism-friendly, if they implement specific requirements that reduce autism triggers like lowering the lights and diminishing loud noises, among others. Employees must also go through educational training's. So far, 15 businesses are designated as autism-friendly. The move, was “a grass-roots effort to improve our community. “Having this autism-friendly movement — it’s incredible to have people who want to understand.”

Read More
Go to Original Story
Program helps Colorado teens coming out of foster care system

Erin McIntyre

September 22, 2018 |

The Denver Post |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Grand Junction, Colorado

In Grand Junction, Colorado, Foster Alumni Mentors is working to connect young adults in or leaving the foster care system with others who have gone through the same person, giving them a mentor to help them with applying and paying for college, finding jobs, and more. The program create 19 mentorship relationships during its first year of existence and the personal connections manifest in more ways than one.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How to get people to behave better? Use carrots, not sticks

Mattha Busby

September 21, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom

Incentivizing good behavior is a tried and true tactic often used in child development. However, as the need for better behavior around issues such as recycling and public discord rises, some are finding that going back to a system of incentivizing the preferred behavior is the most successful pathway to creating habits that are crucial for the betterment of society and the environment.

Read More
Go to Original Story
What does a more thoughtful disaster response look like?

Eillie Anzilotti

September 20, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, North Carolina

A new coalition of nonprofits is working to change the way corporations and philanthropists think about disaster assistance. Most efforts and money funnel to communities in the early days and weeks after a disaster, while very little goes toward long term recovery efforts. The coalition has created a framework to guide more effective assistance to minimize waste and get appropriate resources to communities when they need them.

Read More
Go to Original Story
This new coalition protects protesters' right to civil disobedience

Ben Paynter

September 19, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States

Protect the Protest is an initiative created by more than 20 of the world’s largest nonprofits to address SLAPP lawsuits. SLAPPs often target nonprofits and activists in order to derail them from protesting. “The goals are to communicate about common types of SLAPP suits and how to avoid or dismiss them, campaign together when such salvos are lobbed against both Protect the Protect members and smaller pods of activists or organizers that might not have the resources to defend themselves.”

Read More
Go to Original Story
Recycling can be a hard sell in rural Colorado. That hasn't discouraged a resourceful nonprofit effort in Swink.

Kevin Simpson

September 18, 2018 |

The Colorado Sun |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Swink, Colorado

Recycling doesn't come easy for small, rural towns where the cost to export recyclables often realistically outweighs the benefits of this sustainably practice. Clean Valley Recycling, a nonprofit launched by local community members in the tiny town on Swink, Colorado, has gone against all odds though and serves not just as a recycling resource for the town, but for the surrounding region as well.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Nosara Firefighters Manage to Respond to 260 Emergencies This Year With Their Cell Phones

Noelia Esquivel

September 18, 2018 |

La Voz de Guanacaste |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Costa Rica, Nosara

In Costa Rica, a group of volunteer firefighters use donated equipment, gear, and their own cell phones to fill in a big gap in emergency services. More residents are now accustomed to calling them directly for fires and other emergencies, and the community supports them financially. The firefighters are trying to integrate their work into the country's emergency alert system and to build their own fire station.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Where a Sore Throat Becomes a Death Sentence

Denise Grady

September 16, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Rwanda, Kigali

In poor countries, where strep throat is not diagnosed, a seemingly harmless bacteria eventually causes the immune system to attack the heart valves. In order to help, the humanitarian group Team Heart, sends 40 to 60 volunteers of cardiologists, heart surgeons, and nurses, to Rwanda every year. Together, they help around 16 people get a new heart valve, and a chance to live a longer life.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Meet the Delaware Teen Fighting for the Rights of Former Juvenile Offenders

Hallie Steiner

September 14, 2018 |

NationSwell |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Wilmington, Delaware

After her neighbor was incarcerated, a Delaware teenager and her brother began supporting youth coming out of detention with clothes, school supplies and other items. Their nonprofit grew and was so successful in raising money and awareness that the state legislature took over the re-entry fund just a year and a half after the organization's launch. The founder is now working on a pilot program to provide financial literacy training for formerly incarcerated youth.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The business of voluntourism: do western do-gooders actually do harm?

Tina Rosenberg

September 13, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Guatemala, Zacapa

Voluntourism, or the practice of western volunteers paying to do service in developing countries, seems like a moral, do-good activity. However, the practice has been proven to have consequences, including reducing the need for local labor and stunting development of children in orphanages. There has recently been progress in discouraging volunteers from working in orphanages - the volunteer efforts in institutions never benefit the children - but true progress might involve staying at home.

Read More
Go to Original Story