How can we make progress on a problem as huge and seemingly intractable as poverty? How can we not? There is no silver bullet to eradicating poverty, but all across the country, a diverse array of social entrepreneurs are doing their part to take on this monumental challenge, building amazing organizations that are having a real impact in their communities. Catalysts, a Freethink original series presented by Stand Together, will take viewers to the frontlines of the fight against poverty to understand the challenges we face and meet the people behind some of the most innovative solutions to this complicated issue.
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3D printed homes for the homeless
This 51-acre neighborhood for the homeless will be the first of its kind in the U.S. to have 3D printed homes.
All Episodes (49)
This ex-gang member sat down with his victim. What happened next changed his life.
From sexual exploitation and addiction to leading independent lives, see how Thistle Farms is empowering women survivors.
“How do you help give people a very understandable way to take 1, 2, 3, steps to be the change that they want to be in their own lives.”
Of the 77 million people in the US who have been incarcerated, well over half — 63% — are unemployed the first year out.
One surprising way to boost empathy lies in telling other people’s stories from a first-person perspective.
Their schools were underfunded and understaffed. This Detroit community fought back with an unconventional approach.
This Boston organization, run by ex gang members, has reduced crime by 75%.
The parole system is filling our prisons - with little attention. Now, data engineers, law enforcement and parolees alike are trying to improve the system.
4 years, 7 cities, 0 tests. A college to prepare students for the real world.
Teachers and students are burnt out from today’s education system. Here’s how to get the spark back.
He lost his grandparents and was about to fail out of high school. Two strangers stepped in to help. He turned his whole life around, and changed theirs, too.
After addiction killed 13 of their employees, this restaurant devoted itself to helping people in recovery.
This nonprofit prescribes art and creativity for better mental health.
30 years after dropping out of school, this factory worker is trying to get his high school diploma—with the help of a teen tutor on the internet.
The best teachers are leaving education at a frightening pace. Can an alternative approach to education help keep them around?
No homework. Grades you can change. This school is challenging everything about our approach to education - and it’s working with a 98% college acceptance rate.
This Grammy winner has written songs for Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, and Whitney Houston. Now, he wants to teach your kids online, thanks to Outschool.
Watch 13-year-old Isaac’s dreams come true with a heartwarming surprise from the Stand Together community and a Dallas Cowboys legend.
The biggest myth in education is that some kids are destined for greatness and others aren’t.
Our K-12 education system is centered around the assumption that every student learns and masters material the exact same way. The problem is: they don’t.
What if there was a way to fast-forward innovation? An economist and tech billionaire recently joined forces to make research grants available within 14 days.
The foster care system has become a catch-all for all forms of family crises, but what if there was a resource parents could access for support before government intervention even became necessary?
This Y Combinator startup is building new, criminal justice technology solutions to sustainably reduce our prison populations.
In this unique job training program for those experiencing poverty, coaches focus on teaching the “harder skills” - love, forgiveness, and connection.
Acts Housing is empowering low-income families by offering resources for every step of the process, from financial counselors to home renovation support.
The FDA recently lifted restrictions against an online eye exam provider to help optometrists reach their patients during the pandemic. Will vision care go virtual for good?
By developing the skills of entrepreneurs in low-income communities, this nonprofit is empowering people to generate sustainable income and become a force for economic growth in their neighborhoods.
Isolation can be especially difficult for recovering addicts, so this sober active community is hosting virtual fitness classes for free.
This progressive organization is on a mission to break the cycle of recidivism, using coding. Incarcerated individuals can now spend their sentences acquiring marketable skills.
Many college students’ ability to realize their full potential is hampered by insurmountable expenses, so OpenStax is turning the tide by providing access to free textbooks.
This 51-acre neighborhood for the homeless will be the first of its kind in the U.S. to have 3D printed homes.
In the impoverished community of Bonton, it takes a three-hour bus ride just to reach the nearest grocery store. But the neighborhood is now home to one of the largest urban farms in the US - offering jobs, nutrition programs, and more.
unCommon Construction offers a unique alternative to your typical internship for high school students. Their program turns build sites into real-world classrooms where interns learn the soft skills they’ll need to succeed in the workforce.
In the midst of his prison sentence for murder, Sean Pica helped found Hudson Link - an organization dedicated to reducing recidivism and improving lives through higher education.
As drug overdose deaths climb higher, this gym is challenging the thinking behind traditional models for addiction recovery services with free memberships open to anyone sober for at least 48 hours.
