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How Oakland Got Real About Equitable Urban Planning

Rikha Sharma Rani

October 08, 2020 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

Oakland is making an effort to make city planning more equitable to include the needs of communities of color. "Esential Places" is the second iteration of a program that started off as "Slow Streets" and was criticized by local residents for catering to "white and moneyed interests." The initial attempt was informed by survey respondents who were overwhelmingly white and rich. Meetings with community members in distressed neighborhoods resulted in different traffic challenges and pedestrian needs. The shift in policy planning has led to safer intersections with no collisions at previously dangerous sites.

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The Non-Partisan “Pro-Voice” Abortion Space

Rikha Sharma Rani

September 15, 2020 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

An organization founded in Oakland, CA is bringing non-partisan abortion counseling to those who feel isolated by platforms that are designated as either pro-life or pro-choice. The goal of the organization, which is staffed with trained volunteers from across the country, is to help "people process their experiences around abortion without any preconceived notions about what that should look like."

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Washington D.C. Works to Fill a Gap in Treatment for Justice-Involved Individuals

Rikha Sharma Rani

May 14, 2020 |

Next City |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

Washington, D.C. is piloting an approach called Thinking for a Change to help break the cycle of recidivism. The approach itself has been around since 1997, and it brings together individuals involved in the justice system for facilitated small-group sessions on conflict resolution, social skills, and problem-solving. While still in the early phases in D.C, the approach has had demonstrable effects in other places, and early adopters in D.C. are pushing for more.

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Homes to Heal Trafficked Children

Rikha Sharma Rani

June 19, 2019 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Miami, Florida

Miami is home to a special type of child welfare program called CHANCE (Citrus Helping Adolescents Negatively Impacted by Commercial Exploitation) that is designed specifically for youth in foster care that have been trafficked. CHANCE has an intensive curriculum that educates foster parents and clinicians about child sex trafficking and child trauma, and families are only allowed to take in one child at a time so that they are prepared for the child's unique health needs. Studies done on the program have found that the youth have significant improvement in many emotional and mental categories.

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A different kind of court: How a Miami judge pioneered a new way of handling minor human trafficking cases

Rikha Sharma Rani

March 07, 2019 |

The Montgomery Advertiser |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Miami, Florida

Human trafficking has become an increasingly prevalent problem, especially in states such as Florida that host a large tourist population. To better serve the victims, Miami-Dade County has created a trauma-focused court that directs adolescents to support services rather than prostitution charges.

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For Those Experiencing Homelessness, ‘The Bin' Honors Their Belongings

Rikha Sharma Rani

December 21, 2018 |

Next City |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

In Los Angeles, The Bin gives homeless people a chance to store their valuables. “If I didn’t have this bin, I’d have to get rid of most of my stuff. These bins are really great to have.” Across the nation, other cities are unfolding efforts to help the homeless population.

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New Zealand Tries a Different Kind of Private Prison

Rikha Sharma Rani

August 31, 2017 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: New Zealand, Auckland

The privatized prison system is largely skewed against inmates, as most are funded based on the number of individuals incarcerated, creating a disincentive to invest in the rehabilitation and comprehensive treatment of inmates. But the Wiri prison in Auckland is piloting a new approach that focuses on the greater good: the government pays the prison for positive results based on recidivism rates and improved outcomes for inmates, especially the Maori minority.

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Building Trust Cuts Violence. Cash Also Helps.

Rikha Sharma Rani

February 21, 2017 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Richmond, California

Richmond, California has one of the nation’s highest gun violence rates, so Operation Peacemaker Fellowship tracks and identifies individuals at risk of committing violent acts or becoming a victim of violence. The Fellowship reaches out to each at-risk person with employment training, mentorship, and sends out teams to de-escalate conflicts within targeted communities. These “change agents” spend time with youth and get to know their families, so they can better understand how to help and offer a cash incentives to the targeted individuals who are part of the program.

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Stopping Absenteeism at the Age of 5

Rikha Sharma Rani

October 16, 2015 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Britain, Connecticut

Missing days at school, even when excusable, starts children on a pattern of falling behind. A new U.S. department of education initiative has districts tracking all absences, even in kindergarten, to identify and help kids with chronic absenteeism sooner.

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