Identifying Local Opportunities

Opportunity 1:

Title of the article: Florida uninsured rate increases, tops national average

Link to the article: https://www.gainesville.com/news/20180913/florida-uninsured-rate-increases-tops-national-average

Description of the story: This article primarily focuses on the rates of uninsured people both in Alachua County and Florida as a whole. The state-wide rates have risen since last year, with Florida having the fifth-most uninsured citizens in the country. Rates of uninsured in Alachua County have, however, remained relatively the same, though certain age groups have experienced increases or decreases.

Description of the problem: The problem described in this story is lack of health insurance among Floridians.

Who has the problem: Those who have this problem tend to be low-income citizens, typically those with jobs that do not provide health insurance, with most of the uninsured being under forty-five years of age.

Opportunity 2:

Title of the article: National group pushes to protect heat-exposed workers

Link to the article: https://www.gainesville.com/news/20180902/national-group-pushes-to-protect-heat-exposed-workers

Description of the story: This article describes an effort by the non-profit Public Citizen, along with other consumer and worker protection groups, to get the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to create a set of concrete rules that businesses must follow regarding employees who are exposed to excessive heat and sun through their work.

Description of the problem: The problem described in this story is the lack of concrete rules and regulations in place to protect workers who are frequently exposed to excessive amounts of heat and sun, often with little or no opportunity to get out of the sun, or financial reasons to continue working despite the dangers of exposure.

Who has the problem: This problem primarily affects workers who spend extended periods of time in the sun through their work, such as agricultural laborers and construction workers. Workers who do not speak English are particularly at risk, because the financial burden of not working may force them to carry on despite the risks, or they may fear retaliation from their bosses.

Opportunity 3:

Title of the article: Alligator attacks on the rise

Link to the article: https://www.gainesville.com/news/20180902/alligator-attacks-on-rise

Description of the story: This story describes the rising number of alligator attacks in Florida. These attacks, which have increased as alligator populations have recovered since their time on the endangered species list, have in some cases even resulted in deaths. To prevent these attacks, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission frequently issues special permits to hunt what they refer to as "nuisance alligators", animals which are over four feet long and reported near humans.

Description of the problem: The problem described in this story is that there are an increasing number of alligator attacks in Florida, with some even causing deaths.

Who has the problem: This problem primarily affects those spending their time near bodies of water in which alligators dwell, such as lakes and ponds. People walking dogs near these waters are particularly at risk, as well as small children and others who could be seen as potential prey by the alligators.

Opportunity 4:

Title of the article: Hunger in Alachua County is real, but groups work to help

Link to the article: https://www.gainesville.com/news/20180912/hunger-in-alachua-county-is-real-but-groups-work-to-help

Description of the story: This story describes the issue of food insecurity in Alachua County, and what is being done to combat this issue by local organizations. Food insecurity is a major problem for many in the area, particularly for children. The problem of food security comes not from there being a lack of food, but because food insecure families often do not have access to food. The local organization Bread of the Mighty is seeking to change this by working with local donors and distributors to get food to people in need.

Description of the problem: The problem described in this article is that of food insecurity and hunger among citizens of Alachua County and its neighbors.

Who has the problem: This problem typically affects low-income families, who lack the means to purchase food. Children are particularly susceptible to issues of hunger and food insecurity as well.

Opportunity 5:

Title of the article: Plenty of rain, plenty of mosquitoes, and more related illness

Link to the article: https://www.gainesville.com/sports/20180911/plenty-of-rain-plenty-of-mosquitoes-and-more-related-illness

Description of the story: This story describes the issue of mosquitoes and mosquito-born illnesses in Florida. Given the large amounts of rain that the state has experienced since last winter, illnesses spread by mosquitoes are on the rise in sentinel animals as well as in humans. These diseases include West Nile Virus, which can be treated but not cured in humans, and in rare cases can be lethal. Various precautions are noted as well, mostly concerning camping and outdoor activities, where exposure to mosquitoes is highest.

Description of the problem: The problem described in this article is that of rising mosquito populations and increased cases of mosquito-born illnesses in Florida.

Who has the problem: This problem is most prevalent in people spending extended periods of time outside, particularly at times when mosquitoes are more active such as dusk. Campers are the most often affected by these illnesses, often due to inadequate preparations with precautionary measures such as insect repellant and long clothing.