Next City - Forefront https://nextcity.org/features The latest features from Next City. en Thu, 09 Jan 2025 16:48:57 +0000 Next City’s 2024 Gift Guide for City Lovers https://nextcity.org/features/next-citys-2024-gift-guide-for-city-lovers nac_forefront_22991 Our annual recommendations for gifts that will spark action and support the hearts, hands and minds pushing our cities forward.]]> Mon, 18 Nov 2024 16:23:00 +0000 Aysha Khan Inside New Jersey’s Fight Against Anti-Abortion Centers https://nextcity.org/features/inside-new-jerseys-fight-against-anti-abortion-centers nac_forefront_22945

New Jersey has almost twice as many anti-abortion centers as it does actual abortion clinics. Often backed by religious ministries, they resemble health clinics and target low-income people, immigrants and communities of color.

]]> Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Kimberly Izar The Decades-Long Fight To Protect Kettleman City https://nextcity.org/features/the-decades-long-fight-to-protect-kettleman-city nac_forefront_22935 A massive landfill has been polluting California’s Central Valley for decades. With little government support, Latino residents are fighting an uphill battle to stop a permit renewal.]]> Mon, 28 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Christopher Harress An Abolitionist Approach to Debt https://nextcity.org/features/an-abolitionist-approach-to-debt nac_forefront_22906 What if human dignity became our north star for policymaking around household debt? A new book explores the possibility.]]> Fri, 18 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Chrystin Ondersma In Philly, These Former Drug Dealers Are Helping Address Open-Air Sales https://nextcity.org/features/philly-former-drug-dealers-are-helping-address-kensington-open-air-sales nac_forefront_22856 Leaders of Kensington's Ride Free say city leaders are overlooking this population while creating new law enforcement strategies.]]> Tue, 24 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Sammy Caiola Where Fire Back Means Land Back https://nextcity.org/features/where-fire-back-means-land-back nac_forefront_22852 After a 19th-century treaty left them landless, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians is reclaiming their ancestral lands — and their traditional wildfire management practices.]]> Mon, 23 Sep 2024 05:41:00 +0000 Ashli Blow $1,000 a Month Changed These Artists’ Lives https://nextcity.org/features/1000-a-month-guaranteed-income-changed-these-artists-lives-crny nac_forefront_22835 Op-ed: The results are in for one of America’s biggest guaranteed income programs, which supported 2,400 artists across New York state.]]> Wed, 18 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Maura Cuffie-Peterson A Community Health Model Is Helping Latinx Immigrants Understand Their Reproductive Rights https://nextcity.org/features/community-health-model-promotoras-latinx-immigrants-abortion-reproductive nac_forefront_22838 Most Latinx immigrants in New Jersey said they didn’t know abortion was legal there. Meet the group helping the state understand why.]]> Tue, 17 Sep 2024 13:00:00 +0000 Kimberly Izar The Urban Gardens Where Gender and Climate Justice Grow https://nextcity.org/features/quito-ecuador-urban-gardens-where-gender-and-climate-justice-grow nac_forefront_22819 In Ecuador, urban farms have long been a way to create sustainable access to food. But they’re also helping women flourish as gardeners and entrepreneurs.]]> Wed, 11 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Peter Yeung Philly Chinatown Residents Don’t Trust the Arena Development Process https://nextcity.org/features/philly-chinatown-residents-dont-trust-the-arena-development-process nac_forefront_22817

At a crucial political moment, thousands marched in the pouring rain in opposition to the proposed Sixers arena in the heart of downtown Philadelphia.

]]> Tue, 10 Sep 2024 13:12:00 +0000 Oscar Perry Abello Inside Detroit’s War on Abandoned Cars https://nextcity.org/features/inside-detroits-war-on-abandoned-cars nac_forefront_22792 Detroit has targeted 8,000 abandoned vehicles as part of a major a blight crackdown. Not all residents know the rules.]]> Wed, 28 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Kayleigh Lickliter A Pioneering Program Paying NYC’s Low-Income Youth to Learn to Swim https://nextcity.org/features/nycha-swim-corps-paying-nyc-low-income-youth-to-learn-to-swim nac_forefront_22768 The NYCHA Swim Corps program brings swimming lessons to youth in New York's public housing developments. It’s harder than it sounds.]]> Tue, 20 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Angelica Ang Modular Construction Is on the Rise. Can It Build High-Quality Affordable Housing? https://nextcity.org/features/modular-construction-on-the-rise-build-high-quality-affordable-housing nac_forefront_22760 The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority built dozens of affordable units through modular construction. Is this a sign of things to come?]]> Thu, 15 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Leo Miranda A Breath of Fresh Air in San Diego Port Communities’ Long Fight Against Industrial Pollution https://nextcity.org/features/san-diego-port-communities-long-fight-industrial-pollution-emissions-impact nac_forefront_22755 San Diego’s Port has doubled its commitment to offset the impacts of industrial pollution in neighboring Barrio Logan and National City. Is it enough?]]> Tue, 13 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Roberto Camacho New Jersey’s Legislature Stalled Reparations Inquiry For Years. Local Advocates Picked Up the Slack. https://nextcity.org/features/new-jersey-newark-reparations-commission nac_forefront_22749

In 2025, a committee of advocates will propose how New Jersey can implement reparations for Black people. Here is what we know so far.

]]> Mon, 12 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Kimberly Izar Social Housing Isn’t Just a Vienna Thing. It’s Core to New York’s Past – and Could Be Its Future. https://nextcity.org/features/social-housing-vienna-new-york-history-shda nac_forefront_22736 The policy wonk who helped pen the state housing authority bill says it's time to revive New York’s history of social housing.]]> Thu, 01 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Leo Miranda The Plan to Bring Social Housing (Back) to New York https://nextcity.org/features/the-plan-to-bring-social-housing-back-to-new-york nac_forefront_22723 Housing, tenant rights and labor justice advocates helped shape the proposed state housing authority. It will need their support to pass.]]> Thu, 25 Jul 2024 11:46:00 +0000 Leo Miranda How Vietnamese Refugees Are Helping a New Wave of Afghans Resettle https://nextcity.org/features/north-carolina-montagnard-vietnam-war-refugees-afghan-evacuation-resettle nac_forefront_22657 North Carolina is home to the world's largest population of Vietnamese Montagnards. And as Afghan refugees find their footing in Greensboro, they have wisdom to share.]]> Fri, 19 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Marielle Argueza Urban Farms Are a Lifeline For Food-Insecure Residents. Will New Jersey Finally Take Them Seriously? https://nextcity.org/features/urban-farm-newark-new-jersey-food-security nac_forefront_22650 No water. Pricey permits. Urban farms in Essex County, New Jersey are calling on local governments and the state to make long-term investments in combating food insecurity.]]> Mon, 15 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Kimberly Izar This City Covered Up a Contaminated Park For Decades. Now What? https://nextcity.org/features/greensboro-north-carolina-brownfield-bingham-park-brownfield-remediation nac_forefront_22643 In Greensboro, North Carolina, city leaders will soon vote of the future of Bingham Park – a decision which could impact Black and low-income residents for generations to come.]]> Thu, 11 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Marielle Argueza