Introduction
As we mark Labor Day and reflect on the inextricable link between economic freedom and people power, we are reminded that the struggles of today are not new, but rather a continuation of a long history of systemic injustices and imbalances. Over 150 years ago, Frederick Douglass reflected, “if there is no struggle, there is no progress.” In a world where authoritarianism is on the rise and the institutions that once protected the rights of the marginalized are being eroded, it’s easy to feel disoriented and uncertain about the future. Yet, at Community Change, we draw strength and wisdom from past struggles to establish a social safety net, protect voting rights, and more — and we are not afraid to confront the challenges that lie ahead. We are driven by a vision of a different future, one rooted in a multi-racial democracy where everyone belongs, and poverty is a relic of the past. We hope you’ll join us on this journey, and that you’ll find inspiration in the stories that follow in this brief end-of-summer issue of our newsletter.
Program Pulse
ChangeWire Fellows Make Sense of the Current Moment
In a time of information (and disinformation) overload, our ChangeWire Fellows—writers, creators, and artists who tell their own stories and those of their communities as they deal with economic and racial justice issues—are providing grounding in history to make sense of the current moment. In The Voting Rights Act Anniversary Should be a Wake-Up Call, Not a Commemoration, ChangeWire Fellow Terrance Sullivan talks about why the right is so hellbent on stripping voting rights away, and how we can take action to protect and expand the provisions of the Voting Rights Act. And in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: How It Started and Where It’s Going, ChangeWire Safety Net Fellow Bobbi Dempsey explores the origins of TANF and its time limits and work requirements, as well as concerns about changes to the program. Dempsey posits that something similar to guaranteed income may be the future for assisting families in need. To hear more from our fellows, visit changewire.org.
The Future of Medicaid
Now that the Big Ugly Bill is law, our Medicaid program will change for the worse over the next few years. Our graphic series on Instagram breaks down the timeline of cuts and details all of the consequences we can expect. Community Change is focusing now on delaying and disrupting implementation of the cuts in the near term while ultimately creating the conditions for its repeal in the long run. In the meantime, we will continue to create content that cuts through the fog, shines a light on what is happening, and equips people to take a stand for their families and communities.
Before You Go
- Hear Community Change Chief of Programs Afua Atta-Mensah discuss what an inclusive democracy looks like and how we can get there with Andre White, host of the podcast Redacted History.
- Check out the highlights reel from our canvassing effort on Chicago’s South and West sides alongside partners Equity and Transformation (EAT) and the Worker Center for Racial Justice (WCRJ) Our goal: connect with 2,500 residents and build momentum to make guaranteed income a permanent program in Illinois.
- Omari Ho-Sang, founder of our Louisiana partner group ASAP Shreveport, is quoted in this KTALnews story on legislation limiting use of SNAP benefits. Shreveport has many food deserts, Ho-Sang says, and restrictions on benefits do not address that need.
