Brooklyn’s progressive policing model, student-run refugee law clinics, the solutions whisperer

| Posted on January 18, 2021 |

Photo: Jason McCann/Unsplash (CCO)

In today’s edition of Squirrel News, we’re talking about a progressive policing model in Brooklyn, the introduction of over 30 drop-in law clinics for refugees in Germany, and solutions-oriented workshops creating tangible fixes to real-world problems.

Brooklyn’s policing experiment could be a scalable model for the future

For five days, police in Brownsville’s 73rd precinct withdrew from their regular posts, with violence interrupters and crisis management groups stepping in.

Source: The City

Germany is hosting student-run law clinics for refugees

Over 30 drop-in law clinics have sprung up across Germany to help refugees apply for asylum.

Source: The Guardian

The solutions whisperer is inspiring people to solve the planet’s problems themselves

Dhruv Boruah runs workshops dedicated to devising real-world solutions, supporting the inventors by bringing their creations to market.

Source: BBC News

One, two, tree: how AI helped find millions of trees in the Sahara

Efforts to map the Earth’s trees are growing – and could change our understanding of the planet’s health.

Source: The Guardian

Smartwatches might help to detect COVID-19 cases before symptoms appear

By continuously measuring the skin temperature and heart rate of wearers, infections can be spotted well before an individual is diagnosed.

Source: CBS News

The Charles Schwab brokerage firm is to end all political donations

The decision comes as swathes of companies rethink their involvement with political donations as a result of the siege at the US Capitol, and goes beyond the steps to be expected of similar firms.

Source: The New York Times

A NY nonprofit is training human trafficking survivors for culinary careers

The kitchen at Emma’s Torch pays refugees and asylum seekers to learn valuable new skills, resulting in a big first step towards financial security for those with limited English skills.

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

More and more US states are legalising the salvaging of roadkill for food purposes

The no-waste, no-cost solution is helping feed families affected by the pandemic whilst ensuring the animal is not just sent to landfill.

Source: Reasons To Be Cheerful

A Colombian community is ditching traditional models to build a collective future

The San José de Aparadó farmers declared themselves a peaceful community in 1997, regaining their territory by embracing cacao cultivation.

Source: Yes! Magazine

Dog and goat serving as mayors raise funds to renovate playground

The peculiar idea of pet mayor elections raised much-needed funds and helped get local kids involved in the project.

Source: AP News