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Ryan Coonerty, County Supervisor (Santa Cruz County, CA)

February 18, 2022/in Equity & Opportunity, Healthcare, Housing /by Jordan Smith

Novel Strategy to Address Mental Health and Homelessness

This week, Santa Cruz County, CA Supervisors, including NewDEAL Leader Ryan Coonerty, unanimously approved a new strategy for addressing mental illness among homeless individuals in the county. The “Mental Health Services Act Innovation Plan” aims to enroll approximately 600 people experiencing homelessness. The program will send field teams to meet participants where they are and provide clinical and case management services to both address mental health concerns and help transition participants into permanent housing. The program will help the County plot a permanent response that could serve as a model for other localities. Read more here.

https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png 0 0 Jordan Smith https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png Jordan Smith2022-02-18 16:18:562022-02-18 16:18:56Ryan Coonerty, County Supervisor (Santa Cruz County, CA)

Prioritizing Climate Equity

February 17, 2022/in Climate Change, Equity & Opportunity /by Kellee Wicker

Problem:

Climate change impacts are felt all over the country and especially in underserved communities. In Wisconsin, rising heat threatens rich agricultural land and Milwaukee and Madison grapple with pollution-exacerbated injustices. As communities seek out solutions, it is important that leaders engage within the communities and ensure their voices are incorporated into building a greener, more resilient, and equitable future.

Solution:

Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes is leading Wisconsin’s efforts to take big climate action through community engagement. As chair of the state’s new Task Force on Climate Change, Barnes brought together a diverse coalition of business, community, labor, youth, and Indigenous leaders to participate in the task force and the group scheduled listening sessions to gather ideas from constituents on how to best reach the ambitious climate goals to go 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. As COVID-19 tore across the country, the Task Force quickly pivoted to virtual meetings that convened a broad swath of residents, including Indigenous organizations working on climate adaptations, organizations developing green jobs in predominantly Black neighborhoods, and tribal nations working on food sovereignty. These conversations are creating space for dairy farmers, rural constituents, and low-income communities and communities of color to advocate for their needs as the state continues to build a robust, climate-friendly, worker-focused economy and ensure that no Wisconsin community is left behind in the transition to a clean economy.

https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png 0 0 Kellee Wicker https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png Kellee Wicker2022-02-17 16:20:252022-02-17 16:20:25Prioritizing Climate Equity

Police Reform for Mental Health and Misconduct

February 17, 2022/in Equity & Opportunity, Public Safety /by Kellee Wicker

Problem:

As police-led shootings and misuses of force have trending upward, communities of color are disproportionately impacted. Increases in police use of force can be traced to multiple causes, one likely source is the fact that officers have a job that is physically, mentally, and emotionally strenuous, yet they often lack the necessary support to care for their mental health. Consistent stress without appropriate treatment can lead to poor decision making. Another cause is the failure of police departments to provide the records of officers fired for misconduct to other departments, allowing them to be hired elsewhere.

Solution:

Pennsylvania Representative Jordan Harris joined colleagues to champion two police reform proposals to address these serious issues, which passed the PA House unanimously as part of a police reform package in June 2020 and signed into law in July 2020. The bills require officers to be evaluated for PTSD following a lethal use-of-force event, and create a database to track police misconduct to facilitate communication between departments and keep unethical officers from being rehired elsewhere.

https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png 0 0 Kellee Wicker https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png Kellee Wicker2022-02-17 16:18:382022-02-17 16:18:38Police Reform for Mental Health and Misconduct

Reducing Racially-Motivated Calls to Police

February 17, 2022/in Equity & Opportunity, Public Safety /by Kellee Wicker

Problem: 

False phone calls against people of color have been somewhat commonplace for years, but the prevalence of social media today has contributed to increasing awareness of the underlying racism that allows for many of these instances to go unaddressed by the law. Most recently, a specific case that has now inspired the public and lawmakers to address the issue was a white woman calling the police on a black man in Central Park – the caller, who was identified over social media within hours, was charged with a misdemeanor for filing a false report to the police, although the charge was ultimately dismissed. While the caller in this case publicly apologized, no definitive legislative action was taken to ensure that a similar event would not occur again. While social media has led to the identification of such callers and a trial in the court of public opinion, at the very least, little if any action is taken legally, indicating that the systemic and structural changes necessary to address the far-reaching impacts of racist behaviors are still lacking, and that institutional changes are needed.

Solution: 

AB-157 was introduced in response to the surge of false and discriminatory phone calls made on people of color, particularly African Americans.This bill will allow victims to sue the callers in civil court and collect damages. The bill was passed by the Nevada legislature and signed into law by Governor Sisolak as of May 2021, after being amended to include more specific language on what qualified as false calls. Discriminatory false callers that violated the bill would incur a $1,000 fine, as well as any other damages awarded by a jury. 

https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png 0 0 Kellee Wicker https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png Kellee Wicker2022-02-17 16:15:312022-02-17 16:15:31Reducing Racially-Motivated Calls to Police

#OaklandUndivided

February 17, 2022/in Broadband, Equity & Opportunity /by Kellee Wicker

Problem:

The lack of broadband access disproportionately impacts individuals and families of color and those whose incomes are below the federal poverty threshold. According to existing research, just 71% of Black and 65% of Hispanic adults have home broadband compared to 80% of white adults. The lack of internet access can negatively impact health outcomes, employment opportunities, and education attainment.

Solution:

Under the leadership of Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, #OaklandUndivided, the city’s initiative to connect every student, partnered with Education SuperHighway to successfully pilot a replicable model of providing free WiFi to disconnected students and tenants in five subsidized low-income apartment buildings. The initiative involves installing and maintaining a single WiFi network for the entire building, similarly to a hotel, at a low monthly cost for the landlord and no cost to the residents. Additionally, this effort led to the creation of broadband adoption centers to provide one-on-one support and enrollment assistance programs to help residents sign up for the apartment WiFi and other available resources. The program has successfully connected 96% of Black students and 97% of Latinx students in the Oakland Unified School District.

https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png 0 0 Kellee Wicker https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png Kellee Wicker2022-02-17 16:14:102022-02-17 16:14:10#OaklandUndivided

Georgia Resilience and Opportunity Fund

February 17, 2022/in Equity & Opportunity /by Kellee Wicker

Problem: 

One of the clearest examples of systemic and structural prejudices has been the issue of pay inequity across the United States – despite being acknowledged and more openly discussed in recent decades, the legislative approach on how to address the issue itself has varied. Studies have shown that black women in Georgia make 63 cents on the dollar in comparison to white men, and are twice as likely to be below the poverty line as their white counterparts. Overall, black and brown communities in Georgia, which also tend to be lower-income, have endured lasting impacts from the 2008 recession and experienced the slowest recovery, and the lack of effective equal pay initiatives has kept the minority population from their full potential of economic growth.  

Solution: 

The GRO Fund aims to address the pay inequities amongst black women in Georgia by providing a guaranteed income of $850/month to those who qualify at or below the federal poverty line. The program, one of several developed by a task force coalition of 28 community members, elected officials, and policy advocates, is one proposed strategy to focus on the root causes of racial disparities and economic instability among minority communities in Georgia. With roughly $13 million to distribute, the GRO Fund is one of the largest guaranteed income pilot programs in the United States. Proponents of the initiative hope to expand beyond the initial batch of qualified applicants as 2022 progresses and potentially serve as a successful example for other local governments to model their own programs off of. 

https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png 0 0 Kellee Wicker https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png Kellee Wicker2022-02-17 16:12:582022-02-17 16:12:58Georgia Resilience and Opportunity Fund

Guaranteed Income Pilot for Single Parent Families

February 17, 2022/in Equity & Opportunity /by Kellee Wicker

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.

https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png 0 0 Kellee Wicker https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png Kellee Wicker2022-02-17 16:11:472022-02-17 16:11:47Guaranteed Income Pilot for Single Parent Families

Formal Declaration of Racism as a Public Health Crisis

February 17, 2022/in Equity & Opportunity /by Kellee Wicker

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. 

https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png 0 0 Kellee Wicker https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png Kellee Wicker2022-02-17 16:10:442022-02-17 16:10:44Formal Declaration of Racism as a Public Health Crisis

Levar Stoney, Mayor (Richmond, VA)

January 14, 2022/in Equity & Opportunity, Grant program, Safety Net /by Jordan Smith

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.

https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png 0 0 Jordan Smith https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png Jordan Smith2022-01-14 16:31:012022-01-14 16:31:01Levar Stoney, Mayor (Richmond, VA)

Derek Green, Councilmember (Philadelphia, PA)

January 7, 2022/in Equity & Opportunity, Jobs and Entrepreneurship /by Jordan Smith

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.

https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png 0 0 Jordan Smith https://newdealleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-tnd-300x74.png Jordan Smith2022-01-07 16:52:182022-01-07 16:52:18Derek Green, Councilmember (Philadelphia, PA)
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