Catalysts

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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Teen helps 52-year-old pursue high school diploma

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.

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All Episodes (49)

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Finding peace after gang violence with restorative justice

This ex-gang member sat down with his victim. What happened next changed his life.

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Applying Silicon Valley thinking to the fight against poverty

“Change happens from the bottom up.”

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This beauty shop hires survivors of sex trafficking, prostitution, and addiction

From sexual exploitation and addiction to leading independent lives, see how Thistle Farms is empowering women survivors.

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Reinventing your career in just 4 months

“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.”

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How people are going from prison to $100k jobs in 45 days

Of the 77 million people in the US who have been incarcerated, well over half — 63% — are unemployed the first year out.

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8 complete strangers tell their life stories. What happens next is magic

One surprising way to boost empathy lies in telling other people’s stories from a first-person perspective.

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Inside the boxing gym that trains kids for life, not to fight

Their schools were underfunded and understaffed. This Detroit community fought back with an unconventional approach.

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Helping Boston’s most notorious gang leaders find a new path

This Boston organization, run by ex gang members, has reduced crime by 75%.

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Ex-Google employees are working on America’s prison system

The parole system is filling our prisons - with little attention. Now, data engineers, law enforcement and parolees alike are trying to improve the system.

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The college where students roam the world to learn

4 years, 7 cities, 0 tests. A college to prepare students for the real world.

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Transforming teacher’s lesson plans

Teachers and students are burnt out from today’s education system. Here’s how to get the spark back.

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A new youth empowerment model: 10 year volunteer families

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.

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This restaurant only hires recovering drug users

After addiction killed 13 of their employees, this restaurant devoted itself to helping people in recovery.

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Can creativity solve our mental health crisis?

This nonprofit prescribes art and creativity for better mental health.

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Teen helps 52-year-old pursue high school diploma

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.

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Why do good teachers quit?

The best teachers are leaving education at a frightening pace. Can an alternative approach to education help keep them around?

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This school without grades or homework has a 98% college acceptance rate

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.

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How to get your kid the best teachers from anywhere in the world

This Grammy winner has written songs for Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, and Whitney Houston. Now, he wants to teach your kids online, thanks to Outschool.

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Beyond the classroom: Outschool gives kids the chance to follow their dreams

Watch 13-year-old Isaac’s dreams come true with a heartwarming surprise from the Stand Together community and a Dallas Cowboys legend.

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Hacking the child brain: The 5 step process to unlock every kid’s potential

The biggest myth in education is that some kids are destined for greatness and others aren’t.

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Is our K-12 education system limiting human potential?

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.

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Research grants, the silicon valley way

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.

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How to keep kids out of the foster care system

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?

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The missing data in criminal justice reform

This Y Combinator startup is building new, criminal justice technology solutions to sustainably reduce our prison populations.

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How to get a job when you’re living in poverty

In this unique job training program for those experiencing poverty, coaches focus on teaching the “harder skills” - love, forgiveness, and connection.

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From homeless to homeowner with a $6K fixer-upper

Acts Housing is empowering low-income families by offering resources for every step of the process, from financial counselors to home renovation support.

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Online eye exams will change the way we buy glasses

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?

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Business boot camp for low-income entrepreneurs

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.

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Staying sober in quarantine

Isolation can be especially difficult for recovering addicts, so this sober active community is hosting virtual fitness classes for free.

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Learning to code in prison

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.

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Open source textbooks save students $1 billion

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.

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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.

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How urban farming saved a Dallas community

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.

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Turning a construction site into a classroom

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.

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Earning college degrees in prison

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.

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Rethinking addiction recovery with fitness

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.

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The mental health movement for Chicago’s inner city youth

A remarkable transformation is taking place in several inner-city Chicago schools, and it's resulting in fewer gangs, drugs, and homicides. Could this new model of group therapy be the cause, and is it scalable?

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Women supporting women to overcome the trauma of abuse

When domestic violence survivors share their stories, they feel empowered and find their voice. At Leap to Success, women have the opportunity to do both, forming a clear path to healing from the trauma of abuse.

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Investing in families to escape poverty

The greatest investment of all may be in people’s strengths and initiative. This nonprofit is doing just that, and it’s working.

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Can former Bloods and Crips unite to break the cycle of violence?

For the children of Dallas, these ex gang leaders may be their only chance.

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A school made for homeless children

When a child faces chaos at home, it's impossible to learn. This school is doing whatever it takes to help homeless students and their families create better lives.

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The lost art of apprenticeship

After his dad died, he struggled in high school and ended up getting a DUI. Stuck in dead-end jobs, he responded to a nonprofit’s post for free skilled labor training - and his whole life changed.

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Racing out of homelessness

This running club that meets at 5:45am is helping the homeless transform their lives.

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Stopping gang violence with love

This nonprofit is doing the impossible - finding the 10% of gang members responsible for 90% of the crime, and leading them to successful, positive lives.

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A home helping teen moms break the cycle of generational poverty

Hope House in Denver is changing lives for generations to come.

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Could this be the future of foster care?

Take a look inside a town built for foster families

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A game-changer for chronic homelessness

He turned a food truck for the homeless into a thriving 51-acre community.

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Can the apartment industry help solve homelessness?

Meet the innovative group connecting people with housing — and a job that can pay for it.

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Introducing Catalysts

It’s time to change how we make change. Join us as we meet inspiring social entrepreneurs who are exploring bold new solutions to big social problems.