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How some cities ‘flattened the curve' during the 1918 flu pandemic

Nina Strochlic

March 27, 2020 |

National Geographic |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States

What can the 1918 Spanish Flu teach us about how we can effectively respond to the 2020 coronavirus? Researchers are comparing the death rates during the Spanish Flu in different U.S. cities to see which governments' methods were most effective at flattening the curve.

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Talking to your neighbours is mandatory if you live here

Maddy Savage

February 21, 2020 |

BBC |

Video |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: Sweden, Helsingborg

To combat loneliness, a flat in Helsingborg rents only to retirees and people under 25, and their contract requires that they spend at least 2 hours a week socializing together. The building, a former retirement home run by a housing company and funded by the city council, has many common areas to socialize including spaces to cook, workout, do arts and crafts, and play games. Most of the over 70 residents are happy to socialize and some have formed strong bonds, although there have been a few small conflicts. The managers hope to open more housing using this model in Sweden and internationally.

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Crazy Mascots Flooded Japan. Can This Grouchy Boar Survive?

Ben Dooley

February 16, 2020 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Japan

Kumamon, a black bear with rosy cheeks, is a mascot for a Japanese town who helped sell millions in merchandise, drive up tourism, and increase tax revenue because citizens can direct some of their income taxes to the locality of their choice. As a result, hundreds of towns rushed to create mascots to cash in on the approach to enticing visitors and investment. Towns spent a lot of money on these oftentimes whacky characters, however there has been no evidence that the vast majority of characters deliver any economic benefits, and therefore most are quietly being discontinued.

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Seattle nonprofits and Zillow launch affordable housing search tool

Julia Falcon

February 14, 2020 |

HousingWire |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

The City of Seattle partnered with Zillow to create a searchable database of affordable vacant rental units. Case managers are using the tool to get homeless residents into housing.

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How South Africa Ended Its Secret Births

Rashiq Fataar

February 07, 2020 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: South Africa

By expanding access, using financial incentives, and increasing transparency, the South African government increased universal birth registration rates from under one-quarter of the population to 95 percent of the population over 30 years. Long associated with restricting access during Apartheid, registration rates now help residents gain access to more resources and opportunities and help the government maintain more accurate demographic data.

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How Fines and Fees Reform Became a Priority for Cities Across the Country

Emma Coleman

February 06, 2020 |

Route Fifty |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Durham, North Carolina

From North Carolina to California, states and cities are taking a new approach to fines and fees – people are having their charges dismissed, warrants for minor offenses cleared, and many municipalities are actually saving money by spending less on collections. With a system that was built because it provided cities and states with revenue, there has been a realization that it disproportionately targets communities of color and often keeps people stuck in cycles of debt. With this national awakening, resources and networks are being created so other places can implement the same change.

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Books behind bars: Pilot Pell Grant program helps inmates look toward the future

Kelan Lyons

January 24, 2020 |

The Connecticut Mirror |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Suffield, Connecticut

At Connecticut’s MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution, people experiencing incarceration have the opportunity to participate in postsecondary classes, even completing a certificate or degree. They’re able to do this because of the Second Chance Pell pilot program, started in 2015, which offers financial aid for inmates to access education. With bipartisan support, there’s hope that the pilot program will grow, as current research shows how the programming reduces recidivism and saves tax dollars.

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Why Kansas City's Free Transit Experiment Matters

Laura Bliss

December 13, 2019 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri is the first major U.S. city to offer free bus rides city-wide, hoping to expand access and boost the local economy. The city emulates free public transportation plans around the world, which have seen success - and struggles - with increasing equity and economic stimulation through no-cost transportation plans.

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Why One City is Prioritizing Financial Empowerment

Emma Coleman

December 06, 2019 |

Route Fifty |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, St. Paul, Minnesota

To tackle the inequality and lack of opportunity facing many of its historically marginalized communities, St. Paul, Minnesota, recently opened an Office of Financial Empowerment. The office will create a city-wide strategy to address ways to improve the financial health of citizens, including an assessment of the ways that government fines and fees might actually work against residents. The city expects successes similar to an effort to eliminate all library fees, which helped increase traffic to low-income libraries and allowed those with previously suspended library cards to check out books again.

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Tulsa Officials Used Data to Help Solve the City's Problems 

Kristi Eaton

December 02, 2019 |

AARP Magazine |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Tulsa, Oklahoma

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a group of city employees use data to drive decisions in city government ranging from the use of tennis courts to which job applicants will be awarded positions. In one project, the group analyzed 911 call center volume data and optimized the number of employees needed for different times of the day. Their adjustments helped the 911 call center to answer 90 percent of calls in less than 10 seconds.

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