Economic Security Project

With so many young people feeling left behind, #guaranteedincome pilots like Louisville’s YALift! directly invest in them. The results of this year-long pilot found that participants, ages 18-24, were less likely to be evicted, more likely to afford an emergency expense, and half used the $ for education and training opportunities. This is how we make government work for young people. ✨ Read article here: https://lnkd.in/gHXktpd8

Powerful and timely piece from Oxfam America’s Nabil Ahmed. The 1% aren’t just getting richer—they’re consolidating power at such a massive scale across industries, the media, and politics that it threatens our democracy. “Today’s very richest Americans have not only amassed such startling levels of wealth but also power…that to call them billionaires feels insufficient. It turns out they’ve bought a couch, if not a seat, in the Oval Office.”

Crammed seats, sky-high fees, and a toddler’s stroller stuck on the tarmac—sound like your Thanksgiving flight? ✈️ 🦃 Americans want a better flying experience, and Ganesh Sitaraman and Anirudh Jonnavithula’s new blueprint from the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator provides some solutions: bigger seats, stroller and infant support, wheelchair protections, and more. Read the blueprint here: https://lnkd.in/gXcve6g8 Read polling results here: https://lnkd.in/gacG94rY

Big news: We’ve joined Bluesky and Threads! Follow us for fresh takes, bold ideas, and updates on building an economy that works for everyone. Let’s connect!

Exciting news from LA! The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD ) just announced a new #GuaranteedIncome pilot for students. BOOST (Building Outstanding Opportunities for Students to Thrive) will provide $1,000 a month for a year to 250 students, easing the burden of choosing between finishing their degrees and covering essentials like rent and groceries. 🎓

LISTEN: ESP President Natalie Foster joined Nick Hanauer’s Pitchfork Economics podcast to discuss how bold pandemic policies like cash for families via the expanded #ChildTaxCredit, free vaccines, and housing solutions laid the foundation for a #GuaranteeEconomy. Catch the episode: https://lnkd.in/g6girEPK

I recently read two books that are fueling my work and broadening my perspective on the transformative potential of our partnerships. “The Guarantee: Inside the Fight for America’s Next Economy” by Natalie Foster challenges us to envision what it would take for the wealthiest country in the world to guarantee basic needs—housing, healthcare, dignified work, and care for elders and children—for every American. Though I’ve worked alongside leaders tackling these issues for decades, this book brings fresh insights about “The Guarantee” and the visionary “architects” working to make it a reality. “From Generosity to Justice” by Darren Walker is a powerful call to action that urges us to move beyond charity and address root causes. It challenges us to value both expertise and lived experiences and reminds us that our collective liberation is interconnected. As Walker puts it, “Charity is like a Band-Aid…Justice is about helping people thrive.” Both books offer transformative ideas that resonate deeply as we continue our work with partners at The Stott Group to drive systemic change and propel us toward a more equitable future. #Leadership #SocialImpact #SystemicChange #Justice

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TODAY: ESP President Natalie Foster joins the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs for a panel discussion on how the #GuaranteeEconomy can uplift communities in New Jersey and nationwide by ensuring essentials like income and child care for all. Details here:

Today, the country takes a step backward in our fight to build an inclusive multiracial democracy. Reconfiguring who the economy works for and who is at the seat of power is not a single election project, it’s a generational ambition with popular support. Donald Trump fueled his campaign with fear, hate, violence and othering. He exploited the very real economic anxieties many Americans feel, and he directed that fear towards refugees, immigrants, transgender individuals, and other marginalized communities. Many of our allies and communities are scared, facing degradation of their livelihoods, challenges to their dignity, and threats to their safety and security. On this challenging day for our country and our democracy, we are resolved to fight for a moral economy–one that puts every American’s inherent dignity first.