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A Crisis Line That Calms With Texting and Data

David Bornstein

December 12, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Anxiety, suicidal ideation, and depression are all alarmingly prevalent amongst Americans. Crisis Text Line lets you text immediately with a crisis counsellor when you need someone to talk to. The organization is growing and 86% of users report that the conversations are helpful.

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Saving Lives Via Text Message

Anya Kamenetz

November 26, 2017 |

NPR |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Preventing suicide and helping people when they feel most alone are big goals but they are exactly what 'Crisis Text Line' aims to do. This hotline allows individuals to text trained counselors when they are at their most vulnerable, the counselors can talk to them and reach First Responders if the situation warrants it.

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This gender-sensitive data tool could revolutionise the fight against poverty

Odette Chalaby

November 08, 2017 |

Apolitical |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Australia

Currently poverty is assessed on a household basis, however individuals within the same house can experience poverty differently. The Individual Deprivation Measure will be the first gender-sensitive tool that will be able to help better inform policy and understandings of poverty.

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At Philly reentry 'hackathon,' using tech to drive down recidivism

Danielle Fox

October 23, 2017 |

WHYY |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A hackathon in Philadelphia brought together a diverse group of people, including formerly incarcerated individuals, to discuss the complex issue of reentry and come up with tech-based ways to help. The collaboration resulted in four promising projects, with several created to be accessible through text messaging, rather than apps, as many formerly incarcerated individuals lack access to smartphones and wifi.

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The chatbots taking over government: what jobs can they do?

Anoush Darabi

October 17, 2017 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, North Charleston, South Carolina

Chatbots don’t sleep. They can respond to citizen inquiries 24 hours a day. From North Charleston to Singapore, automated conversation platforms are improving the connection between governments and the people they serve by providing an easy channel for information exchange and public consultation.

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The Compass, Making it Work: Navigating Kenya's Streets with Technology

Angela Saini

October 15, 2017 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Kenya, Nairobi

Entrepreneurs and startups in Kenya and India are finding success creating products that meet the needs of poorer citizens in those countries. This episode includes a story about a mobile phone app that tackles the difficulty of finding locations in Nairobi using GPS coordinates and a photo, a startup near Bengaluru, India that uses human ATMs to help rural residents access cash via mobile phones, and a Kenyan company building devices that create free public wifi.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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