Photo: Washington Post

When we talk about gun violence, we usually talk in terms of fatalities. But shooting deaths, and even shooting injuries, don’t tell the whole picture when it comes to assessing gun violence in a community. That’s because whether a gunshot results in injury or death is largely random; most gunshots, fortunately, don’t hit a person. But that doesn’t diminish the effect that those missed shots have in their communities. By using ShotSpotter, cities are beginning to reassess how they talk about gun violence by counting shots instead of just deaths. (via Washington Post)

Photo: Huffington Post

We all know that men tend to design things without thinking about women’s needs. But you might not think about how that bias infiltrates urban planning. Women tend to have higher poverty rates and different housing needs. They also tend to have additional household responsibilities than men do. All of these factors can make things like their transportation needs vastly different. Women have different experiences when it comes to personal safety as well. Urban planning organizations, and even city governments, are starting to change the way they do things in order to better accommodate half of their citizens. (via Huffinton Post)

Photo: Mashable

“For homeless populations, improving eyesight is rarely a priority, mainly due to cost. More pressing necessities — like a place to stay, food and personal hygiene — often push frames and lenses to the backburner. But the right to sight is essential for those with unstable housing and income, especially youth trying to pull themselves out of hardship. Homelessness is an epidemic within the LGBTQ community, with an estimated 40% of homeless youth identifying as part of the queer community.” That’s why ChildSight, a program of Helen Keller International, is finding ways to get free glasses to LGBTQ youth. (via Mashable)