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

US immigration arrests rise — and neighbors sign up to witness ICE operations

Monica Campbell

October 02, 2017 |

Public Radio International (PRI) |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, San Jose, California

Volunteers, hotlines, community supporting families, these are the basic principles of rapid response networks. A rapid response network is a community led, volunteer response to immigration crackdowns that is being replicated in cities around the country. When people are getting detained, the rapid response networks are activated, volunteers receive a text that a neary neighbor is getting deported and they rush to the house. They take notes, and record with their cellphones. “I feel hopeful that there’s something I can do rather than sitting worried and angry, and I feel like I can be part of something that

Read More
Go to Original Story
Uber, but for Grandma

Kate Francis

September 27, 2017 |

Politico |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

The way cities are built in the United States makes getting around without driving a car difficult. This means that, for an increasingly aging population, mobility can be a significant issue, leading to challenges such as missed medical appointments and loneliness that can actually decrease lifespan. But in the age of the sharing economy, ride services such as Lyft and Uber reach out to the demographic that arguably needs them most, partnering with medical centers and hospice providers to get smartphone technology - or more "old school" alternatives such as hotlines - into the hands of senior citizens.

Read More
Go to Original Story
What Harvey and Irma Taught Us About Using Social Media in Emergency Response

A. Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez

September 15, 2017 |

Pacific Standard |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

Hurricanes Irma and Harvey showed the power of social media to share real-time alerts and information as well as get resources to people more quickly when official channels like crisis hotlines are clogged. Officials originally discouraged the use of social media fearing panic and misinformation, but those attitudes changed as they saw the immediate impact it had on getting people help. More local and national organizations shifted to using social platforms to guide their emergency response efforts.

Read More
Go to Original Story
In flood-prone South Asia, early warning systems buy precious time

Irwin Loy

September 05, 2017 |

The New Humanitarian (formerly IRIN) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Nepal

South Asia is prone to flooding during monsoon season, this can lead to deaths and building damage. SMS warning systems have recently been implemented in order to warn residents when they are in danger, the system has a lot of room to grow but it has proven to be helpful in reducing deaths.

Read More
Go to Original Story
No Room on a Bike Rack? Not a Problem for These Smart Bikes

Winnie Hu

August 28, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York

Bike share programs have helped decrease pollution and traffic in urban areas. However dockless city bike programs are now threatening bike docking stations because they are cheaper and more accessible. Dockless bike programs rely on apps for users to find the nearest available bikes. This new technology and dockless system of bike-share still need to prove that they are a better alternative.

Read More
Go to Original Story
This Police Department Is A Smash Hit On Social Media

Chhavi Sachdev

August 25, 2017 |

NPR |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Bengaluru

Bangalore's police department had an image problem and their successes weren't reaching the public. Crowd Kart Media took over their social media making memes, popular shows, and humor in order to help the department's image, which sparked a huge rise in their facebook and twitter followings.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Fiji's Climate Champion Speaks Up for Women in the Wake of Cyclones

Sonia Narang

August 08, 2017 |

News Deeply |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Fiji, Burenitu, Viti Levu

After a huge cyclone devastated a remote Fijian village, Eta Tuvuki worked to open communication channels between women and public officials. Her efforts are not only making women's voices heard, but they allow for the dispersal of critical information during disasters.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Keeping Technology Affordable - Kwasi Twum-Ampofo leads the way

Hadiza Nuhhu-Billa Quansah

July 17, 2017 |

Graphic Online |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Ghana, Accra

Frustrated with poor network service and high costs, many Ghanians have had to tote multiple cheap mobile phones around to conduct business and communications normally. One entrepreneur, Kwasi Twum-Ampofo, decided to develop his own improved brand of smartphone, which is usable both domestically and abroad. Not only does Twum-Ampofo’s smartphone boast superior network access, but also—according to most Ghanians— comes at an affordable price.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Creating a Better Community Through Text Messages

Krutika Pathi

June 14, 2017 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

For urban residents, participation in city-planning often means navigating complex administrative bureaucracy and struggling through a lack of transparency, but in New York City, efforts are being made to engage citizens in the renewal (and preservation) of Brownsville, Brooklyn. The city’s Housing Department has worked with the online platform coUrbanize to facilitate community-sourced ideas for the future via text. These residents’ responses are then inputted into a publicly-accessible map, which the city has pledged to incorporate into its planning.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The Future of CRM and Customer Service: Look to Boston

Tod Newcombe

June 01, 2017 |

Government Technology |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

To better serve the Boston community, the city launched a mobile app to address gaps in traditional 311 hotline calls. Now, "nearly 60 percent of service requests come via digital channels" and city officials are better able to "track the city’s performance against a benchmark service-level agreement."

Read More
Go to Original Story