Equity & Opportunity – Page 10

Guaranteed Income Pilot for Single Parent Families

Problem:

American families are struggling to afford the basic necessities. The latest census data found over 11% of the population is at or below the federal poverty line. Advocates argue that the census data does not capture the whole picture and that over 40% of US workers hold low-wage jobs (often multiple) and struggle to afford their monthly expenses. In Shreveport, Mayor Adrian Perkins says an estimated 25 percent of his constituents live in poverty. The existing social social safety net programs can include eligibility requirements that can be prohibitive for some individuals and families to access.

Solution:

Mayor Perkins joined Mayors for Guaranteed Income, an coalition of mayors piloting programs to determine the impact of having a income floor. The mission is to supplement families on top of existing social safety net programs. Additionally the group is hoping UBI can serve as a tool to promote greater racial and gender equity.The Shiverport UBI program will select 110 families for its inaugural year, targeting single parents and guardians and providing an unconditional stiped of $660 a month. A guaranteed income would empower recipients to address their most urgent day-to-day needs and unpredictable expenses,” said Mayor Adrian Perkins. Mayor Perkins acknowledges the need in the city is greater than the scope of the project but hopes to demonstrate the positive impact of a UBI program and use the results to lead to more and larger programs. The City of Shreveport received $500,000 for the program from Mayors for a Guaranteed and worked with community organizations to design and implement the program.

Formal Declaration of Racism as a Public Health Crisis

Problem:

According to the Utah Department of Health, communities of color in the Salt Lake area experienced significant disparities across a range of health issues in comparison to their white counterparts – an issue that became more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has long existed. Data has indicated that communities of color consistently have lower average birth weights, higher infant mortality rates, lower numbers of cancer screenings despite increased likelihood of contracting certain cancers, and increased odds of infection and high case fatality rates from COVID-19.

These proven disparities in health amongst minority groups are strongly attributed to the structural disadvantages caused by institutional racism. Systemic racism has made it harder for communities of color to access resources such as housing assistance, quality education, effective healthcare, and employment opportunities in an equitable manner. Challenges in accessing these resources keeps communities of color more susceptible to exposure to environmental toxins, police violence, chronic homelessness, and other issues.

Solution:

The Joint Resolution signed by SLC City Council and Mayor Erin Mendenhall marks a paradigm shift when it comes to talking about and addressing issues of racism and prejudice in the United State. By acknowledging the detrimental ripple effects on physical and mental health that racism has in communities of color, Salt Lake City is one of several cities following the CDC’s lead and approaching racism as a public health crisis affecting all facets of daily life, not just an isolated social issue.

Following the Joint Resolution, Salt Lake City established the Mayor’s Office of Equity & Inclusion and the Racial Equity in Policing Commission, to holistically address racial inequities. While the Office of Equity & Inclusion is currently tasked with an equity study to develop strategies to address systemic inequities, the Commission is more narrowly focused on improving police training, policies and practices, and school safety. The mayor’s office and city council are taking a strong step towards righting past failures and have brought together a racially diverse group of individuals with strong ties to the Salt Lake community, to build a government that truly represents and reflects the diverse communities in Salt Lake.

Mayor’s Alliance to End Childhood Hunger

NewDEAL Leader Richmond, VA Mayor Levar Stoney is chairing the new Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger, launched this week, with more than 50 other mayors already signed on, including 14 other NewDEALers. The Alliance seeks individual and collective leadership from cities nationwide to take meaningful action against childhood hunger, including publicly speaking on hunger issues, expansion of SNAP and P-EBT opportunities, and providing better financial assistance for school meals. Read more about the Alliance, or check out their one-pager on actions mayors can take.

Public Banking Boosts Disadvantaged Businesses

In Philadelphia, NewDEAL Leader Councilmember Derek Green has been working for years on an innovative proposal to establish a city-run public bank in his city. In December, his proposal to establish the Philadelphia Public Finance Authority finally won committee approval and is set to be brought before the full Council early this year. If approved, the bank would elevate women and minority-owned businesses by making it easier for them to secure a loan and reducing racial disparities in business ownership. Read more about Councilmember Green’s proposal here, which took finalist honors in last year’s NewDEAL Ideas Challenge.

‘Foster Children’s Bill of Rights’ in Florida

This week, a Florida Senate subcommittee unanimously passed NewDEALer Senator Loranne Ausley’s bipartisan legislation to codify a bill of rights for children in the state’s foster care system. The legislation compiles the rights of children in the foster care system, ensuring priority is given to their physical, mental, and emotional health. “The purpose of this bill is to place all of the rights that are already in law into one place,” Senator Ausley said. Rebecca Baer, who spent two years in Florida’s foster care system, spoke in support of the bill and “said it felt like she lost about 90% of her rights the day she entered the system,” adding, “at the end of the day, I believe this bill will help youth not go through the same situations that I did.” Read more about the legislation here.

2021 Ideas Challenge Finalists

The NewDEAL is pleased to announce the finalists from this year’s Ideas Challenge, our biennial policy competition highlighting innovative policy solutions from NewDEAL Leaders across the nation. Their ideas would reimagine the social safety net, create good jobs, expand education opportunities, build more sustainable communities, and strengthen our democracy. This year’s Challenge came at an especially important time to identify best practices, as Leaders grapple with the work of rebuilding and recovery in the wake of the pandemic, and have a unique opportunity to act with federal funds from the American Rescue Plan. Winners in each of five categories will be announced next week during our 11th Annual Leaders Conference, on Thursday, November 18, and be featured in Governing Magazine. Join us on social media to celebrate these extraordinary ideas, and click here to read details on the finalists in all five categories!

Reducing Recidivism with Employment

This week, NewDEAL Leader Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist joined leaders from government, business, and law enforcement to announce a new proposal for a “Job Court” pilot program. The program is a creative solution to decrease recidivism rates by making employment opportunities available for defendants accused of low-level, nonviolent crimes. The $5.5 million investment would give 450 eligible defendants good paying jobs and transferable career skills that will help them find jobs after their sentence. To read more about how this proposal could reduce recidivism and give Michiganders a second chance while also helping businesses staff up, read the article here.

Supporting Children with Disabilities with ARP Funding

NewDEAL Leader Nevada Treasurer Zach Conine joined his state’s governor to launch Transforming Opportunities for Toddlers and Students (TOTS), a grant program to support children with disabilities using $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding. Grants are provided through ABLE accounts, tax-free savings accounts that are used to pay for housing, education, transportation, and services related to their disability without losing eligibility for public benefits programs. Treasurer Conine oversees the ABLE program, and has been a champion of expanding the accounts as “pathways out of poverty for 1,000 Nevada families.” Read more about this first-in-the-nation grant program.

Digital Connectivity for All

Problem

While in the past lack of access to broadband internet may have merely been an inconvenience, it is now a public emergency. Since the onset of the pandemic, Marylanders have had no choice but to rely on access to the internet in order to access critical services, like healthcare, education, public benefits, and work/ business.

In 2017, the Governor sought to address the issue of connectivity through the creation of the Rural Broadband Office by Executive Order. This office has done important work, but there is so much more to be done. The problem in Maryland is greater than a lack of rural access. Our most populous cities experience similar gaps in access, affordability, adoption, and digital literacy. On several metrics, such as broadband upload/download speeds, the situation is worse in our urban areas. (Ex: 41% of Baltimore city residents do not subscribe to the internet and 31% do not own a desktop or laptop).

Solution

The creation of the Office of Statewide Broadband (OSB) to expand on the work of the Office of Rural Broadband. It’s purpose is to address the causes of inequitable access – which range from lack of infrastructure to cost – and ensure that every Marylander can be connected to high-quality, high-speed, affordable, internet by 2026.

This office will also be charged with forming partnerships with local jurisdictions, state agencies, our library system, and the private sector to expand digital literacy and broadband across the state. The OSB will ensure that the state has a coordinated response to RFPs issued by the FCC or Federal Government for resources/ grants. OSB will also develop definitions and standards for broadband internet; addressing fair and equal pricing standards; auditing availability, reliability, and affordability of broadband; and collecting and analyzing pertinent data on geographic, economic, and demographic factors.

Brighter Futures Early Learning Scholarships

Problem

Early Learning is arguably more important than college, yet most new parents are not prepared for the exorbitant cost of quality child care for their young children. The cost of child care also limits parent choice as higher quality programs are out of reach for many. This means those families must choose from lower quality programs that may not be preparing their children for educational success. State and federal governments already support robust scholarships and financial aid programs for post-secondary education. What if these same options were available for quality early learning? The difference that a quality early learning experience has on a child’s overall and long-term educational, social and physical wellbeing is a proven and undisputed fact. Children who access these educational programs return this investment through higher learning achievement, higher employment levels and less economic burden as they become adults.

Solution

An early learning scholarship program that sets aside quality child care slots for children who need it the most: Parents that have hit a “fiscal cliff”, making just enough money to knock them out of most existing child care subsidy programs; Foster parents who currently must pay out of pocket expenses for child care; Teen moms working to earn a high school diploma; and Parents experiencing homelessness. These “scholarships” should be focused on making sure every child has access to a quality early learning experience so that they can be ready for kindergarten and achieve success in school. This program would leverage existing systems and expand support for families, which will give them the ability to make the best educational choices for their children at the most critical age, regardless of their income.

Guaranteed Income Pilot for Single Parent Families

Problem:

Solution:

Formal Declaration of Racism as a Public Health Crisis

Problem:

Solution:

Mayor’s Alliance to End Childhood Hunger

Public Banking Boosts Disadvantaged Businesses

‘Foster Children’s Bill of Rights’ in Florida

2021 Ideas Challenge Finalists

Reducing Recidivism with Employment

Supporting Children with Disabilities with ARP Funding

Digital Connectivity for All

Problem

Solution

Brighter Futures Early Learning Scholarships

Problem

Solution

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