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

Equity, Health, Resilience, and Jobs: Lessons from the Just Growth Circle

Nathanial Smith Tina Anderson Smith Elizabeth Sawin

August 22, 2019 |

Nonprofit Quarterly |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Atlanta, Georgia

A collaboration between an Atlanta-based nonprofit and an international climate organization sparked the Just Growth Circle, an initiative that brings topics like racial equity, economic justice, and climate change to the forefront of urban planning in Atlanta. The organization puts responsibility into the hands of residents and has updated city plans to center around building community trust and long-lasting relationships between locals and city officials.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How a 276-person town in Kansas is turning an empty school into a business incubator

April McCullum

August 21, 2019 |

Burlington Free Press |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Hanston, Kansas

When the city of Hanston, Kansas had to shut down the local middle/high school, residents refused to let the school sit vacant; instead, the building now houses a town-owned business incubator called Elk Plaza. Uses of the transformed building include the town's only commercial kitchen and movie theatre, a flexible event space, and office space for local entrepreneurs.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Cotton For Livelihood In Bidibidi

Christine Kabazira

August 02, 2019 |

Things That Work Uganda |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Uganda, Bidibidi

Refugees in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement need a new source of income after relocating, so a program with NGO Mercy Corps has now given a number of farmers seeds for a cash crop: cotton. Farmers received a special modified version of the seeds, allowing them to harvest much earlier, and they sell the cotton to Gulu Agricultural Development Company. One man in particular, Ismail Matata, urges his neighbors to grow it and says that he had recently earned 700,000 UGX (about $189 USD) from his harvest.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Chicago remade its 127-year-old rapid transit system. Are there lessons for Metro?

Lori Aratani

August 02, 2019 |

The Washington Post |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Officials who want to improve Washington D.C.'s unreliable metro system look to the Chicago Transportation Authority to find examples of success in rebuilding a subway system. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel prioritized upgrading tracks and stations and has seen a large increase in daily riders and overall satisfaction with the system since the renewal took place. Now, Washington officials invite advice and collaboration in their quest to revamp the region's metro system.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Will Banning Single-Family Zoning Make for More Affordable Homes?

Deonna Anderson

July 31, 2019 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis serves as a model for other cities as it addresses the affordable housing crisis by de-incentivizing the development of single-family houses. By changing zoning laws to benefit the construction of duplexes and triplexes, the city makes room for more low-income families to afford to live in city limits.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Back to the future with transit-oriented development

Tom Condon

July 29, 2019 |

The Connecticut Mirror |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Britain, Connecticut

Connecticut cities like New Britain are taking a comprehensive approach to urban planning, incorporating public transportation and economic equity structures into redevelopment plans. By investing in "transit-oriented development," or TOD, along housing development coordinators, cities drive economic development while reducing the state's carbon footprint.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Three Big Lessons From One Small Town

James Fallows

July 18, 2019 |

The Atlantic |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Danville, Virginia

The town of Danville, Virginia survived the downfall of the mill industry by using creative financing and investing in solid economic infrastructure that will remain sustainable into the future. The town has invested in broadband and used funds from a tobacco settlement to re-install city money into local institutions.

Read More
Go to Original Story
A Diverse Network of ‘Place Leaders' Activates Public Spaces in Boston

Sandra Larson

July 17, 2019 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

In Boston, many groups are working to public spaces, large and small, as they face upheaval and change in the face of rapid development. In one example, the Asian Community Development Corporation creates projects for new residents get involved in community, and the nearby Roxbury Cultural District sources local artists for public art projects.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Can Employee Ownership Preserve Legacy Businesses in Communities of Color?

Sandra Larson

July 15, 2019 |

Next City |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

As gentrification has flourished and Baby Boomers age out of the workforce, “legacy businesses” struggle to find a way to maintain a presence in communities of color. In response, a multi-city fellowship called Shared Equity in Economic Development (SEED) was developed to educate business owners on transferring ownership to the employees to ensure its future. Four cities—Philadelphia, Atlanta, Durham, and Miami— paired three city employees with one community member to work together over a two year period to leave the city with “clear plans, clear roles and good foundations for future business conversions."

Read More
Go to Original Story
How Minneapolis Freed Itself From the Stranglehold of Single-Family Homes

Jeremy White

July 11, 2019 |

Politico |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota

The city council of Minneapolis has successfully reached out to its constituents and responded to their concerns regarding the housing crisis by enacting the Minneapolis 2040 plan which outlines 100 sustainable solutions to mitigate the threat of urban density. Several progressive city council members have worked toward the goal of providing more affordable housing by creating coalitions and proactively gathering citizen input. Subsequently, affordable housing was the main issue in the latest city elections. The plan rewrites the residential zoning laws to allow multi-family homes in any part of the city.

Read More
Go to Original Story