Las zonas rurales de Carolina del Norte llevan mucho tiempo lidiando con un acceso limitado a los servicios, desde la atención médica hasta el acceso a Internet. Un singular grupo sin fines de lucro se enfrenta a estos y otros retos con los jóvenes a la cabeza.

Denominada "A Better Chance, A Better Community," la organización del condado de Halifax se hace llamar "ABC-2".

Según Makayla Johnson, de ABC-2, una de las iniciativas se está enfocando en la equidad recreativa, porque disponer de oportunidades lúdicas es clave para mejorar la salud.

"Para que una comunidad este sana y feliz, tiene que tener acceso a cosas para hacer, y la recreación no está solo en los parques," dice Makayla. "Es asegurarse de que las áreas sean transitables a pie y en bicicleta; es que nuestros adultos mayores y nuestros hijos tengan cosas que hacer. Se trata de crear oportunidades."

Johnson afirma que también están ayudando con recursos para combatir la inseguridad alimentaria, que es un gran problema en las zonas rurales de Carolina del Norte. ABC-2 desarrolló un programa de cajas de productos locales, que ofrece alimentos frescos a los miembros de la comunidad. El grupo forma parte del programa piloto de Oportunidades Saludables con el estado. Una de las campañas de ABC-2, School Meals for All, aboga por el desayuno y el almuerzo gratuitos en las escuelas.

En la actualidad, muchas zonas rurales están utilizando fondos de la Ley del Plan de Rescate Estadounidense para ayudar a desarrollar el servicio de banda ancha. El Departamento de Información y Tecnología de Carolina del Norte calcula que más de un millón de hogares del estado carecen aún de acceso a Internet.

Johnson dice que se están asegurando de que sus comunidades formen parte de esta conversación. Afirma que ABC-2 se centra en cómo fomentar la inclusión digital después de la pandemia.

"Tenemos un Grupo de Trabajo sobre Inclusión Digital, que también vincula el trabajo que estamos haciendo en la conversación sobre inclusión digital, porque muchos condados del estado también de nuestra zona tienen problemas con la falta de banda ancha," explica Johnson. "Y ese es uno de los principales objetivos de la financiación ARPA."

Ella dice que el grupo también participa en eventos como "Fiesta en las urnas", involucrando a más jóvenes en el proceso político ayudándolos a registrarse para votar. El objetivo es animarlos a aprender más y a tomar decisiones informadas que repercutan en su propia salud y bienestar.


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One in three Americans indicates they're living paycheck-to-paycheck, and that includes many artists. A Minnesota organization is expanding its guaranteed-income program for these individuals, so they can carry on with their creative contributions.

This fall, Springboard for the Arts announced it was tacking on more years and recipients to its pilot initiative, launched early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ricardo Beaird, community development director for Springboard for the Arts, said the changes mean that over the next five years, a total of 100 participants will receive monthly payments of $500, no strings attached. He said they're building a case for systemic change in how artists are supported.

"Artists are vital to the cultural and economic fabric of our communities. They help us imagine new futures. They help us rethink public spaces and they create connections that make our lives richer and more meaningful," Beaird explained.

But he added that artists tend to operate in a "gig economy" and often fall through the cracks because financial stability is out of reach. Based on initial program data, 36% of recipients used the income for essential purchases and services. This effort is part of a patchwork of similar programs surfacing around the U.S. for low-income populations, including one led by the city of St. Paul.

Springboard's guaranteed-income program, funded by private foundations, helps artists in St. Paul and rural Otter Tail County. Beaird said they're also trying to be more dynamic with their assistance by offering things such as personal finance guidance, and added that can help artists overcome the short-term thinking they're often locked in.

"I'm a theater artist, so the way that I thought about my year was in these six-week bursts, and it didn't really give me the opportunity to think about, 'What does my next year look like, or my next two years, or five years look like?" he continued.

Another benefit is helping emerging artists be more financially resilient when dealing with unexpected expenses, such as a hospital bill or car repair.


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Some federal incentives to bring internet access to Indian Country neglected to require tribal participation, according to a new report.

The Federal Communications Commission's 2020 Rural Digital Opportunity Fund awarded more than $9 billion to cable and satellite operators, phone companies and others to deploy broadband in areas lacking it. The report from the Institute for Local Self Reliance showed the program included no requirement for tribal consent or engagement before companies placed bids.

Jessica Auer, tribal broadband policy analyst at the Institute for Local Self Reliance and the report's author, said it left some tribes, especially those with their own broadband projects, in what she called a "bureaucratic boondoggle," leading to "tension and confusion."

"They're required to spend resources and staff time trying to contest these awards, confronted by outside providers who feel that they have a mandate and a right to build on sovereign tribal lands," Auer explained.

Auer argued not including tribal nations at the table is, in many cases, considered a violation of tribal sovereignty. According to a 2022 study, households in tribal areas are about 24% less likely to have access to broadband internet than others.

In some cases, tribes are able to build the projects themselves. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe was awarded a $40-million grant to connect more than 1,500 tribal households with fiber internet access and an LTE wireless network.

Auer noted it is preferable to a company building infrastructure in unfamiliar terrain, which can be detrimental.

"I just can't think that it necessarily makes them the most long-term effective and sustainable answer, when they have so little knowledge and familiarity with local realities," Auer added.


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Iowa has enlisted the help of businesses across the state to take on human trafficking.

Tomorrow marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, and the state is calling on residents and employees alike to be aware of the signs that someone could be a victim.

The widepread use of social media has made it harder to corral sex traffickers in recent years.

Secretary of State Paul Pate launched the Iowa Business Against Trafficking Initiative in 2022, to ask 300,000 employees of 800 Iowa businesses to be the eyes and ears if they sense a person is being trafficked.

"Well, we're not asking anyone to be a hero here," said Pate. "What we're asking them to be is good neighbors. It's like a neighborhood watch program. You watch for suspicious or unusual behavior, activities that are going on, and let law enforcement know - because they can't be everywhere all the time."

Pate has enlisted the help of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security this year - which has started an initiative to remind people that if they suspect they spot human trafficking, they should say something to local authorities.

Tom Ruck is the senior engagement manager for the Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign against human trafficking, and has been in Iowa to boost Pate's efforts at confronting it.

He said it's important not to try to physically step in and rescue a person who appears to be a trafficking victim, even if that's the natural inclination of someone who wants to help.

"But we could put you at harm for doing something," said Ruck. "The trafficker may try to hurt you - and definitely the person being trafficked could be put in harm's way, down the road. So we say, 'Call your local authorities.'"

He added that traffickers often prey on young people who report feeling isolated, depressed, or estranged from their parents - and the criminals work those angles to make contact with prospective victims.




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