What Next? The Quest to Protect Journalists and Human Rights Defenders in a Digital World

Around the world, governments and non-state actors are using sophisticated techniques to monitor, threaten, and harass human rights defenders (HRDs) and journalists. The growing use of digital technology has empowered activists to rally citizens around common causes and hold governments accountable, but it has also opened new doors for surveillance and harassment of activists and citizens' activities online. On November 14 -- 15, 2013, Freedom House, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), held a global conference in Mexico City entitled "What Next? The Quest to Protect Journalists and Human Rights Defenders in a Digital World," which brought together over 60 policymakers, donors, and activists to explore the full range of emerging threats and best strategies to overcome them; take an honest look at what is and is not working; and chart a path forward for more proactive and realistic solutions to build the resilience, sustainability, and relevance of HRDs and their movements. The conference sought to answer "what's next?" by identifying opportunities that can be exploited to build up frontline defenders and their ability to uphold human rights principles fearlessly and strategically at home and abroad

Opportunity in Hard Times: Building Out-of-School Time Learning Systems That Last

Highlights lessons and strategies on how cities can build and sustain high-quality OST programming, such as forging closer ties to schools, using new data systems to inform budget choices, and making the recession an opportunity to introduce bold changes

Speaking for Themselves: Advocates' Perspectives on Evaluation

"Speaking for Themselves: Advocates' Perspectives on Evaluation" will give you a better understanding of advocates' views on evaluation, the advocacy strategies and capacities they find effective, and current evaluation practices. Based on Innovation's Network's research, the report includes recommendations for advocates, funders, and evaluators. Both the research and publication were made possible by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and The Atlantic Philanthropies

Beyond Basic Needs: Social Support and Structure for Successful Offender Reentry

Barriers to successful reentry have long been identified as impeding an offender’s ability to successfully reenter society upon release from incarceration. As a result, research has long examined what shared obstacles the majority of offenders often face upon reentering society. Much of the research identifies factors such as poor education, obtaining/maintaining employment, stable housing, and transportation as common barriers to successful reentry. By using in-depth interviews with ex-offenders deemed as successful that were conducted by two respective non-profit agencies, the present study explores what significant requirements, if any, successful offenders perceive to need and/or have experienced as lacking while attempting to successfully reenter society. Findings from this study highlight that many of the research- identified needs are not major barriers because they are often provided for by various non-profit agencies. Furthermore, successful ex-offenders overwhelmingly identify poor social support as a major barrier that oftentimes remains neglected in government and non-profit organizational programming

Game Based Learning for Safety and Security Education

Safety and security education are important part of technology related education, because of recent number of increase in safety and security related incidents. Game based learning is an emerging and rapidly advancing forms of computer-assisted instruction. Game based learning for safety and security education enables students to learn concepts and skills without the risk of physical injury and security breach. In this paper, a pedestal grinder safety game and physical security game have been developed using industrial standard modeling and game development software. The average score of the knowledge test of grinder safety game was 82%, which is higher than traditional lecture only instruction method. In addition, the survey of physical security game shows 84% average satisfaction ratio from high school students who played the game during the summer camp. The results of these studies indicated that game based learning method can enhance students' learning without potential harm to the students

Ideabook: Libraries for Families

The IDEABOOK is a research-based framework to guide and broaden family engagement in libraries.The framework helps libraries move beyond thinking of family engagement as random, individual activities or programs, but rather as a system where library leadership, activities, and resources that are linked to goals. The framework represents a theory of change that begins with a set of elements—leadership, engagement, and support services—that build a pathway for meaningful family engagement beginning in the early childhood years and extending through young adulthood.This IDEABOOK was developed for anyone who works in a library setting—from library directors and children's and youth librarians, to volunteers and support staff—and shares many innovative ways that libraries support and guide families in children's learning and development

Making It Work: Linking Youth Reproductive Health and Livelihoods

Assesses the challenges and effectiveness of programs that integrate adolescent reproductive health with options that improve economic capabilities, assets, and activities. Highlights innovative approaches, and defines gaps in existing interventions

Impacts of Post-Incarceration Programming for Women\u27s Lives and Local Communities

Previous research on reentry programming has focused mostly on male inmates and less attention is given to female inmates. In Arkansas, where female reentry rates have recently increased, research is needed to add to the conversation surrounding effective programming for previously justice-involved women, its impact on their lives and behaviors, and how this can influence the likelihood of recidivism. This qualitative study also aims to discover whether reentry programming can have a positive impact on the local community. Residents and staff at a local Northwest Arkansas transitional housing facility for previously justice-involved women were interviewed to analyze the effects of the programming on women’s behaviors and lives. In this research, I found the themes of structured living, emotional education, and intentional support networks to be of the most importance. These all had been a major impact on women’s behavioral strategies and barriers to successful reentry. It was also found that utilization of community resources and giving back to the community increased opportunities for community outreach and education on previously incarcerated women and community relations and connections with the women

North Lawndale Employment Network Program Methodologies

With nearly 42,000 people released from Illinois State prisons every year, the need for re-entry services and policy reforms continues. Also, the hiring environment changed dramatically after 9/11, when most employers began conducting background checks for current employees and new hires for positions that never before required a "clean" record.This manual is intended for several audiences:New NLEN staff members who need to better understand the philosophies, culture, and services of NLEN Practitioners in similar neighborhoods who can learn from NLEN's approach to serving low-income and formerly incarcerated individuals to better serve their own clientsFunders and policymakers who are interested in a detailed explanation of the challenges faced by this population and NLEN's methodology for how best to address those challenges