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Fix It and They Will Come

Laurie Mazur

December 01, 2019 |

The Progressive |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Orange, New Jersey

Around the United States, small-town institutions are shuttering and communal ties are weakening, all less than positive signs for the fate of democracy. But in Orange, New Jersey, Mindy Fullilove and other congregants at the First Unitarian Universalist Church used a crowdfunding platform called ioby and asset-based community development to keep the doors of their church open and their community flourishing.

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The least sexy, most important resilience strategy

Laurie Mazur

October 21, 2019 |

American City & County |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Norfolk, Virginia

Unprecedented challenges are frequently popping up with the onset of climate change, so governments too have to adjust their processes and strategies. Some new procurement tools used by several different cities include requests for ideas, competitions, and performance contracts. This article looks at two places using these new and publicly accessible procurement tools—Prince Georges County, MD, and Norfolk, VA—to see how it impacts their success.

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Fill, Build and Flood: Dangerous Development in Flood-Prone Areas

Laurie Mazur

October 08, 2019 |

U.S. News & World Report |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Charlotte, North Carolina

To combat excessive flooding in low-plain areas, cities like Charlotte are passing critical legislation that regulates fill-and-build development, a type of construction that leads to more intense flooding in vulnerable neighborhoods. Charlotte bases flood control plans off future conditions rather than current or past flooding areas, and the city charges a fee for homeowners that, in turn, provides dedicated funding for stormwater management

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Heat is deadly—even in Montana. But the city of Missoula is doing something about it.

Laurie Mazur

August 29, 2019 |

The Daily Climate |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Missoula, Montana

Adapting to climate change takes planning and partnerships. In Missoula, Montana, partnerships with nonprofits like Thriving Earth Exchange (TEX) and Climate Smart Missoula reinforce the city’s climate planning. TEX connects cities and urban planners with professors, experts, and other nonprofits that can assist in tackling climate change issues. By layering socioeconomic data over a heat map of the city, TEX scientists could reveal populations at highest risk of extreme temperature impacts. The team then shared data with health officials, policy makers, and the community.

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Across the U.S., flood survivors are growing in number — and they aren't just seeking restitution, but answers

Laurie Mazur

April 23, 2019 |

Ensia |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, De Soto, Missouri

Connecting residents affected by flooding to networks of expertise turns victims into activists. In De Soto, Missouri, the Citizen’s Committee for Flood Relief found support from Higher Ground, a nonprofit organization that connects flood survivors to scientists and other experts. The organizations that cooperate with Higher Ground work to find solutions to repeated flooding—whether political or ecological—and also call for equitable distribution of disaster recovery resources.

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Environmental impact bonds can help cities invest in green infrastructure

Laurie Mazur

May 25, 2018 |

Ensia |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

Environmental impact bonds (EIBs) are a relatively new form of financing that combine private investment with government funding in a “pay for success” model. They are different than municipal bonds in that they are intended as a more experimental approach: for instance, Washington, D.C. started using EIBs to test green infrastructure and evaluate the results. Though all current EIBs are too early-stage to show formal evaluations, they are helping promote sustainability initiatives in D.C., Baltimore, and Atlanta.

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Why Environmental Impact Bonds Are Catching On

Laurie Mazur

May 25, 2018 |

Governing |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Environmental impact bonds allow cities, sometimes even community members, to share the risk and rewards with investors that are backing innovative possible solutions to big problems. This plan allows for large-scale green infrastructure to be piloted in areas across the U.S. where it is most needed.

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Urban Parks and the 10-Minute Challenge

Laurie Mazur

October 31, 2017 |

Governing |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

On average, one in three Americans don't live within ten minutes of a park. That percentage is even lower for low-income people and people of color. Because parks often can lead to better health for both individuals and communities, the Trust for Public Land, the National Recreation and Park Association, the Urban Land Institute, and the JPB Foundation have joined forced to implement a national advocacy campaign to bring attention and action to this issue.

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Milwaukee is Showing How Urban Gardening Can Heal a City

Laurie Mazur

October 04, 2017 |

Civil Eats |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Urban gardening initiatives strengthen health and community in Milwaukee. The Victory Garden Initiative offers affordable options for residents to begin gardening—as well as information resources and community events.

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This Is How We Can Tackle Climate Change, Even With a Denier in Chief

Laurie Mazur

December 12, 2016 |

The Nation (New York) |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

With little action happening to reverse or prepare for climate change at the federal level, local communities have taken initiative on their own. From voters in Flagstaff passing a $10 million bond to bolster forest management to the city of Tulsa buying over 1,000 flood-prone properties, across the United States people are taking non- or bi-partisan steps to increase their towns’ resilience. Core to each initiative is not a parachute, one-size-fits-all approach, rather, it’s taking a hyper-local approach, centering community strength, and moving disadvantaged populations to the forefront.

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