In a year when policing controversies, mass shootings and debates over immigration have dominated the headlines and discourse, there’s a group of inspirational pioneers at work. Not all of these individuals, policy makers and entrepreneurs are household names, but they all are improving this country by developing new ways to solve America’s biggest challenges. Here, NationSwell’s favorite solutions of the year.
THE GUTSY DAD THAT STARTED A BUSINESS TO HELP HIS SON FIND PURPOSE
Eighty percent of the workers at Rising Tide Car Wash, located in Parkland, Fla., are on the autism spectrum. Started by the father-and-son team of John and Tom D’Eri, Rising Tide gives their son and brother, Andrew, who was identified as an autistic individual at the age of three, and its other employees the chance to lead a fulfilling life. John and Tom determined that the car wash industry is a good match for those with autism since they’re more likely to be engaged by detailed, repetitive processes than those not on the spectrum. [ph]
THE ALLSTARS THAT ARE TACKLING SOME OF AMERICA’S GREATEST CHALLENGES
The six NationSwell AllStars — Karen Washington, Eli Williamson, Rinku Sen, Seth Flaxman, DeVone Boggan and Amy Kaherl — are encouraging advancements in education and environmental sustainability, making government work better for its citizens, engaging people in national service, advancing the American dream and supporting our veterans. Click here to read and see how their individual projects are moving America forward. [ph]
THE INDIANA COUNTY THAT HAS DONE THE MOST TO REDUCE INCOME INEQUALITY IN AMERICA
The Midwest exurb of Boone County, Ind., has reduced the ratio of the top 20th percentile’s earnings compared to the bottom 80th percentile by 23 percent — the largest decline for any American county with more than 50,000 residents and an achievement stumped county officials. NationSwell pieced together the story of how a land battle and a statewide tax revolt altered the course of Boone County. Find out exactly how it happened here. [ph]
THE TESLA CO-FOUNDER THAT’S ELECTRIFYING GARBAGE TRUCKS
Ian Wright’s new venture, Wrightspeed, is far less glamorous than his previous venture creating luxury electric sedans. But Wrightspeed, which is installing range-extended electric powertrains (the generators that electric vehicles run on) in medium- and heavy-duty trucks for companies like the Ratto Group, Sonoma and Marin counties’ waste hauler, and shipping giant FedEx, could have a greater impact on the environment than electrifying personal vehicles. Click here to learn how. [ph]
THE ORGANIZATION THAT IS TURNING A NOTORIOUS PROJECT INTO AN URBAN VILLAGE
Los Angeles’s large, 700-unit public housing development Jordan Downs consists of 103 identical buildings. Entryways to the two-story beige structures are darkened with black soot and grime, and the doors and windows are crossed with bars. Soon, the dilapidated complex will be revitalized by Joseph Paul, Jr., and his outreach team from SHIELDS for Families, which provides counseling, education and vocational training services. Read more about the plan, which calls for recreational parks and retail on site and would double the amount of available housing with 700 more units tiered at affordable and market rates. [ph]
THE HARDWORKING GROUP THAT’S RESTORING THE SHORELINE OF AMERICA’S LAST FRONTIER
Chris Pallister and his small, devoted crew are leading the largest ongoing marine cleanup effort on the planet. Since 2002, Pallister’s organization, Gulf of Alaska Keeper, has been actively cleaning beaches in Prince William Sound and the Northern Gulf Coast. The nonprofit’s five boats, seasonal crew of 12 and dozens of regular volunteers has removed an estimated 2.5 million pounds of marine debris (mostly plastic items washed ashore from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch) from more than 1,500 miles of coastline. [ph]
THE STATE THAT’S ENDING HOMELESSNESS WITH ONE SIMPLE IDEA
Utah set the ambitious goal to end homelessness in 2015. As the state’s decade-long “Housing First” program, an initiative to place the homeless into supportive housing without any prerequisites, wraps up this year, it’s already reduced chronic homelessness (those with deeper disabling conditions, like substance abuse or schizophrenia, who had been on the streets for a year or longer or four times within three years) by 72 percent and is on track to end it altogether by early next year. Read more about the initiative here. [ph]
THE RESIDENT THAT’S REBUILDING NEW ORLEANS’S MOST DEVASTATED WARD
New Orleans native Burnell Cotlon wants to feed his 3,000 neighbors. So he’s turned a two-story building that was destroyed by catastrophic flooding during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 (along with most of the Lower 9th Ward community) into a shopping plaza. Already, he’s opened a barbershop, a convenience store, and a full-service grocery store in a neighborhood that has been identified as a food desert. [ph]
THE MAN THAT’S GIVING CAREERS TO UNEMPLOYED MILITARY VETERANS
“They had our backs, let’s keep the shirts on theirs” is more than just a motto for Mark Doyle. It’s the business model on which he built Rags of Honor, his silk-screen printing company based in Chicago that provides employment and other services to veterans. In the three years since its inception, Rags of Honor has grown from four employees to 22, all but one of whom are veterans at high risk of homelessness. [ph]
THE PRESIDENT THAT’S PRESERVING OUR ENVIRONMENT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
After promising to slow the rise of the oceans and to heal our planet during his 2008 campaign, President Barack Obama has faltered on environmental legislation during his first term, preferring to expend his political capital on the Affordable Care Act. But the 44th president’s use of regulatory authority and his agreement with China likely ensure his place in the pantheon of modern environmental champions. Here’s why. [ph]
Tag: alaska
This Hardworking Group Is Restoring the Shoreline of America’s Last Frontier
About 30 years ago, then-construction worker Chris Pallister discovered that some of the most remote shorelines in America were also the most polluted. The cause? Currents off the infamous North Pacific Gyre — the site of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch — propel a disproportionate amount of detrius towards Alaska’s coasts.
To cleanup the Last Frontier, Pallister founded Gulf of Alaska Keeper, an organization that’s been actively cleaning beaches in Prince William Sound and the Northern Gulf Coast since 2002. The nonprofit’s five boats, seasonal crew of 12 and dozens of regular volunteers has removed an estimated 2.5 million pounds of marine debris (mostly plastic items) from more than 1,500 miles of coastline. Pallister knows that there needs to be an immense effort to stop this pollution at the source, but in the meantime, he says, “somebody has to keep this stuff cleaned up.”
See the largest ongoing marine debris cleanup by watching the video above.
A Wind Turbine That’s Bringing Clean Energy to New Heights
Wind turbines are found on land and sea, but now there’s a new type on the horizon that can tap energy thousands of feet in the air.
As the video below explains, the helium-filled Buoyant Airborne Turbine (BAT) is capable of producing twice the amount of energy of an ordinary turbine because it feeds off the stronger, faster and more consistent winds of higher altitudes. Cables tethered to the machine then send the generated wind energy back to a base station.
Created by MIT startup Altaeros Energies, the tube-shaped BAT can be inflated, set up within a day and transported anywhere by a truck, which significantly reduces the installation costs of a typical tower-mounted wind turbines. This is in sharp contrast to other land-based turbines, which require giant support platforms and lots of material, and offshore ones that need a platform strong enough to withstand punishing ocean waves, which is tremendously expensive to anchor to the seafloor.
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Another potential of the BAT is that it can cheaply and efficiently power remote and off-grid communities (as well as areas struck by disaster). As Popular Science reports, one such off-grid locale has already been piqued by this new technology.
Thanks to a $740,000 grant from the Alaska Energy Authority, Altaeros will be testing out the first commercial BAT near the city of Fairbanks starting next year. The 30-kilowatt system is poised to provide power and even WiFi to a dozen families living off the power grid. If the 18-month trial is a success, it could reduce the area’s diesel consumption by 11,000 gallons annually.
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DON’T MISS: 5 Inspiring Green Initiatives Moving America Towards a Bright Future
A Devastating Wildfire Couldn’t Put Out This Community’s Generosity
A raging wildfire might be attacking Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, but it’s not dampening the spirits of the community.
The Anchorage Press reports that the 900 people who were forced to evacuate their homes from the Funny River inferno all found places to stay at their neighbors, churches, and local businesses. Incredibly, when the American Red Cross set up temporary shelter at a Soldotna elementary school, the organization found every single one of their cots empty because evacuees found more comfortable places to stay.
Hooligans Lodge took in an astounding 130 people and 30 pets from the evacuation — all for free. Lodge owner Molly Blakeley-Poland even turned away paying customers.
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“We have 14 rooms available at Hooligans right now for free to help [the] evacuated,” she wrote on Facebook. “You can also use my parking lot for trailers, motorhomes, etc. We have snacks and coffee free in the lobby. We are ready to help.”
“This community’s been amazing,” Blakeley-Poland said. “We’ve had several people just show up and say, ‘How can I help,’ and it’s beautiful.”
Locals certainly did their part to help. According to Inquisitr, the lodge received so many food donations from the community that the staff packed it all up in three cars and drove it directly to the firefighters battling the blaze. Amazingly, when Blakeley-Poland posted on social media that her lodge was running low on toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, and toilet paper, the following morning caring neighbors went above and beyond, donating everything that was asked for and more.
According to a Alaska public radio broadcast, local restaurants also gave away discounted and free food to evacuees and firefighters.
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Hooligan’s adjoining restaurant, The Pour House, offered free snacks, coffee, and even a shower for evacuees that needed one. They wrote on their Facebook page, “If you want to just sit and talk to other residents affected by the fire then come do that. We are here to help as much as we can. Bless all of you!!”
Terry Bookley, Captain of Central Emergency Services, told his community in a radio message, “I sit here struggling to find the right words to express how thankful I am for the overwhelming level of support that this community has provided to me, my crew, and the crews that I work with.”
He added, “I don’t think you can realize just how uplifting it is to all of us when we get a thumbs up or when you stop us to say thank you. I want you to know we are truly honored to serve you.”
The Alaska fire, which started on May 19, is said to now be 58 percent contained, and most of the evacuees have returned home. While everyone hopes that fire doesn’t ignite again, the community is ready to house their own if it does come blazing back.
These Blind Vets Train to Climb North America’s Highest Mountain
Scaling mountains can invigorate the spirit. But is the same true if you can’t see the view from the peaks you’re climbing?
Two inspiring climbers training to summit Alaska’s Denali are demonstrating that sight is not a barrier when it comes to mountain climbing.
During their service with the Army in Iraq, Scott Smiley lost his vision to a car bomb and a grenade blinded Marty Bailey. In March, the two met with climbing guide Eric Alexander in Summit County, Colorado, where they climbed Quandary and Lincoln peaks to train at high altitude and mentally prepare for their planned May ascent of Denali, North America’s highest peak. If they succeed, they will become the first blind people to conquer its challenging West Rib.
Alexander is a capable guide for the vets: He’s summited mountains across the world, and guided his friend Erik Weihenmayer toward becoming the first blind person to summit Mt. Everest in 2001.
Smiley, who continued his military service after his injury as a teacher at West Point and Gonzaga, told Melanie Wong of Vail Daily that he can still perceive the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. “I still think it’s one of the most beautiful things,” he said. “The air is fresh, pure and clean. I live in Spokane, Washington, and you don’t get those senses hitting you all the time. There’s the beauty of seeing things, but those pictures go to my mind and it puts a smile on my face.”
It will take practice and courage for the vets to learn how to find steady footing with their ice-climbing crampons and to keep their ice axes and ropes from tangling as they climb. Bailey and Smiley are chronicling their journey and accepting donations to help with training costs on their website Blind Strength. “This climb is drawing awareness,” Smiley said. “It’s about doing things that I enjoy and being an example on others not to give up on life and push through hard times.”
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How to Fix Alaska’s Culture of Sexual Violence
Alaska is America’s “Last Frontier,” one of the most breathtakingly beautiful states. But it also has a dark side: the highest rates of rape and sexual violence in the country. According to 2012 FBI crime data, an estimated 80 rapes are reported in Alaska for every 100,000 people. That’s nearly three times the national average. To determine why these violent acts are occurring so often — and more importantly what can be done to stop them — CNN columnist John D. Sutter spent two weeks in the state for his investigative report, “The Rapist Next Door”, interviewing perpetrators, victims and politicians, as part of the Change the List project.
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Sutter tells the story of Sheldon, a man who raped and molested his stepdaughter, Alice, but still lives in a shack directly next door to the family home. (Names have been changed to protect the subjects’ identities.) This may seem counterintuitive, but the proximity is part of a new treatment program centered on offenders. In this program, Sheldon has a “safety net” of five community members, including his wife, Ruth, who make sure that he cannot hide from what he did, but more importantly, won’t be able to harm someone again. According to the program’s director, of 90 sex offenders who have entered the treatment — to be fair, a small sample — the recidivism rate is about 2 percent. To put that in perspective, 5.3% of 9,691 sex offenders nationwide re-offended within three years.
DON’T MISS:Amazing Sculptures Out of Alaska
Ruth thinks that Sheldon can change, and Alaska can, too, with more programs that attempt to rehabilitate and support offenders. But the transformation won’t be easy. Sutter hypothesizes that the rape rate is so high because the crimes are tolerated, especially in some remote areas, where law enforcement is scarce and alcohol abuse is common. So, these are some logical reasons, but how can the culture be changed? Sutter writes: “Policy shifts are important, to be sure. The state should broaden the power of tribal courts; expand law-enforcement in rural Alaska; increase the number of women’s shelters, so fewer victims will have to hop a plane to find safety; and expand sex-offender treatment programs like the one in which Sheldon participates.”
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But you can help, too. CNN has a comprehensive (and vetted) list of five simple ways to make a difference. To get started, here is the condensed version:
- Donate to worthy organizations, such as: Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse; Aiding Women in Abuse and Rape Emergencies; Standing Together Against Rape; and Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network
- Petition to expand law enforcement to villages.
- Tell your story (or encourage others to do so).
- Host a “Choose Respect” rally.
- Demand rape kits are counted and tested.
And to better understand the realities of Alaska’s rape problem, don’t forget to read Sutter’s extensive report on CNN.
In Alaska, a Plan to Help Patients Brave the Winter and Get Medical Attention
Throughout the winter, plenty of people in the country face some troubles when challenging weather makes it tough to get to medical appointments. Sometimes it’s just a matter of braving the cold to make it to a checkup, other times it’s getting through heavy snow in an emergency or for crucial treatments. Alaskans, naturally, face some of the greatest challenges, given the state’s cold climate and expansive land area. Accessing care in Alaska isn’t just a problem of weather; key centers like the Anchorage Native Medical Center simply don’t have enough space to evaluate and treat the patients who travel there. Patients end up reserving about 100 nearby hotel rooms every night. The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium is stepping in to help by planning a new 170-room housing facility. The building will be connected to the medical center, and as Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium CEO Roald Helgesen explains, improving access means improving the quality of care.
Must See: Amazing Sculptures Out of Alaska
Some of our country’s most beautiful places are also most vulnerable to pollution and environmental damage. That’s why this art project in Alaska is so cool. Kachemak Bay community members are turning ocean trash into eye-catching sculptures. The idea is to raise awareness about better ocean stewardship by without turning people off. You won’t believe the amazing sculptures that local residents have created with the Marine Debris Art Workshop, like a supersized Lion’s Mane jellyfish. Could something like this work where you live?
Source: Earth 911