Sex ed that works, the best anti-poverty program, a car that runs on wind

What stories show problems being fixed, things being better? The Solutions Journalism Network gave us a few examples — from a nonprofit working to expand upon what sex education actually teaches to a Boston organization trying to increase the college graduation rate through online tools and mentoring.

1. Sex ed that turns boys into men

Medium, April 21
Leslie Garrett

Human rights, sexual violence, pornography, and homophobia? Not your average sex ed class. WiseGuyz, a Calgary-based nonprofit, is working to expand upon what sex education actually teaches. The results are promising enough for the program to have doubled the number of schools that offer it. Leslie Garrett explores what the program is doing differently and how WiseGuyz’ approach is scaling rapidly. [45:50 min]

2. This may be the most effective anti-poverty program in America

Huffington Post, April 20
Jonathan Cohn

Though it’s still a young program, early results from Child First, a part of the federally-funded Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, are extremely promising. Cohn pulls together a fantastic narrative exploring the program’s early successes, failures, and the science behind the initiative. [3,144 words/4:37 min]

3. Seven hopeful climate stories from around the globe

Center for Global Development, April 20
Jonah Busch

Forty-five years after the first celebration of Earth Day, there’s still plenty of environmental destruction. But successes have been plentiful as well, from Indonesia halving its rate of deforestation between 2012 and 2013, to Costa Rica getting 100 percent of its electricity the first 75 days of 2015 from renewable sources. Jonah Busch‘s aggregation links to some excellent solutions pieces. [1,015 words]

4. Is there such a thing as an affordable lawyer?

The Atlantic, May 30, 2014
Michael Zuckerman

This year, tens of millions of Americans will bypass accountants, instead filing their taxes using affordable computer software. So why, Zuckerman asks, isn’t there a “legal equivalent of TurboTax” in the US? Why has legal representation stayed out of reach for so many? And which websites are fighting the bar to make legal services more affordable, transparent and accessible? [4,490 words]

5. Transforming banking for the poor: Q&A with Jonathan Morduch

Wall Street Journal, March 31
Tom Wright

Whether you had to pay taxes this year or got a refund, chances are, there was some kind of electronic transfer involved. But Americans are in the minority: half of the world’s adults still lack access to basic banking services. Tom Wright interviews the managing director of Financial Access Initiative about the key components of successful banking programs in the developing world. [925 words]

6. Education lessons from Maine, New Hampshire

Vermont Public Radio (VPR), April 7
Jane Lindholm & Patti Daniels

“The education questions facing Vermont are similar to the issues that Maine and New Hampshire have grappled with.” How has Maine’s experiment with school district consolidation fared? Is NH’s school funding model working? In a great radio example of an “experiment in progress,” Jane Lindholm and Patti Daniels explore the educational reforms of these two nearby states, and consider the lessons learned for Vermont. [45:50 min]

7. Indian authorities are out in force to enforce the use of toilets

Global Post, March 31
Mandakini Gahlot

To celebrate WHO’s World Health Day (April 7th), we’re featuring this fantastic (albeit brief) overview of Modi’s “Clean India Campaign,” which pledges a toilet to every Indian household by 2019. How is the policy faring? What obstacles is it facing? Data-rich and response-oriented, Mandakini Gahlot looks at what’s working — and what’s still needed — in this ambitious campaign in public health. [820 words]

8. Bringing a charter-school approach to college

Boston Globe, March 26
Amy Crawford

What are the most common reasons college students drop out? Lack of money, lack of preparation, and, well, life getting in the way. Boston’s Match Beyond is trying to address this by combining the affordability and flexibility of online education with the mentoring approach of local charter schools. Amy Crawford on how Match Beyond is trying to increase the college graduation rate–and where it might be failing. [1,809 words]

9. When the grid says no to wind and solar power, this company’s technology helps it say ‘yes’ again

PRI’s The World, April 7
Peter Thomson

Too much renewable power? Doesn’t exactly sound like a problem the US will be facing anytime soon. But in Germany, where 10 percent of the power is solar- and wind-generated, the intermittent nature of solar & wind energy is flooding the grid and causing blackouts. Peter Thomson on how a battery-power plant is helping keep the grid stable–and the power on. [934 words]

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