Overlaying a Racial Wealth Equity Lens on Policy and Programs - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Overlaying a Racial Wealth Equity Lens on Policy and Programs

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Agenda • Hear from A&O Network leaders and CFED experts about addressing racial wealth inequities in policy and program development (~20 min) • Discussion and sharing from the Field (~30 min) • Resources

Racial Equity Framework What we believe: 1. Poverty is a systemic issue, not an individual one. 2. Poverty is created by oppressions such as racism and sexism, but maintained and codified by public policies. 3. People affected most by poverty know what they need, but often lack (or are prevented from accessing) the tools needed to successfully move out of poverty. 4. The people most impacted by poverty should lead our public policy campaigns. 5. Policy campaigns should do more than just win policies; they should build leaders and serve as rallying cries for a broader social justice movement.

Setting Our Policy Agenda Ensure accountability: • Board represents community (50% POC, 50% low-income, 50% outside of Seattle). • Board is final say on policy priorities. Listen to your community: • Statewide Listening Sessions every 2 years. • Board members facilitate; staff compiles themes to present to board

During the Campaign Racial Equity Framing: • Not enough to say “POC disproportionately impacted;” people use their own assumptions and biases to fill in the ‘why.’ • Every policy brief or fact sheet includes racial equity analysis with background of why this issue addresses institutional racism (ex: in payday lending work, we show history of bank red-lining in communities of color).

During the Campaign People most impacted by the work should lead the campaign: • People testify and share stories with legislators and the media, using their own words. • Staff provide training on testimony and what to expect at Capitol. • Staff preference personal expertise over academic expertise in testimony opportunities. • Testimony should include analysis of why issue is broader than individual – leadership development opportunity as well as narrative change opportunity.

TARGETED UNIVERSALISM: ALIGNING PUBLIC INVESTMENTS AND EQUITY TO REDUCE INEQUITIES • Policies that simply increase resources broadly are not enough to promote equity or reduce the racial wealth divide. • When designing new policies, we have to recognize that groups are situated differently. • Universal policies that emphasize benefits based on existing needs and barriers is an important way to reduce inequities, particularly the racial wealth gap. @CFED /CFEDNews cfed.org/blog/inclusiveeconomy

THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP AUDIT TM • Developed by the Institute for Assets and Social Policy at Brandies University and Demos. • Through analysis of several similar iterations of a policy, application of the Racial Wealth Audit can help to improve policy design by better informing decision-makers about how changes and modifications in policy design may improve or hinder progress towards reducing racial wealth disparities. • Racial Wealth Audit illustrates how similar policy proposals with differing design features, such as eligibility thresholds or program benefit levels, may have dissimilar outcomes in regards to impacts on racial wealth disparities. @CFED /CFEDNews cfed.org/blog/inclusiveeconomy

TARGETED UNIVERSALISM: ALIGNING PUBLIC INVESTMENTS AND EQUITY TO REDUCE INEQUITIES After Eliminating After Eliminating Student After Eliminating Student Before Reducing Student Student Debt, All Debt for Those Making Debt for Those Making Debt Income Levels $50,000 and Below $25,000 and Below Wealth Gap Between Young Black and White Families $32,201 $35,200 $30,000 $31,090 Change in the Racial Wealth Gap N/A $2,999 -$2,201 -$1,111 Percent Change 9% -7% -4% Source: IASP, Demos, Less Debt, More Equity: Lowering Student Debt While Closing the Black-White Wealth Gap, 2016; Calculations for Households Age 25-40, Analysis of 2013 Survey of Consumer Finances Data. @CFED /CFEDNews cfed.org/blog/inclusiveeconomy

TARGETED UNIVERSALISM: ALIGNING PUBLIC INVESTMENTS AND EQUITY TO REDUCE INEQUITIES @CFED /CFEDNews cfed.org/blog/inclusiveeconomy

DESIGNING POLICIES TO CLOSE THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP: THE RACIAL WEALTH AUDIT @CFED /CFEDNews cfed.org/blog/inclusiveeconomy

Neighborhood Partnerships Use of Targeted Universalism • Focus on achieving equitable outcomes Set universal goals while • acknowledging structural barriers faced by some communities • Create structures which support success for those facing the most significant barriers • Engage community in designing and advocating for policy

Neighborhood Partnerships Use of Targeted Universalism – CSA effort • Focus on achieving equitable outcomes – what will work for communities with low incomes, high barriers? • Set universal goals while acknowledging structural barriers faced by some communities – all kids grow up aspiring to do something beyond high school

Neighborhood Partnerships Use of Targeted Universalism – CSA effort • Create structures which support success for those facing the most significant barriers – for CSAs, maximize choice and trust, not a one- option program Engage community in designing and • advocating for policy – focus groups, steering committee, experts and partners as advisors

Discussion — how to participate in the discussion Use “hands - up” function to speak or type your comment here.

Discussion • What are some strategies or best practices you have used or seen in your community that puts a racial wealth equity lens on policy and programmatic work?  What impact has this had on your community?  Or what challenges or problems have such a framework addressed? • What opportunities, post-election, do you see for a racial wealth equity commitment?  What are some ways in which you will be thinking about incorporating racial wealth equity into your own communities? • What are some ways in which racial equity work can provide a counter-narrative to the dominant messages / framing currently out there?

Resources • CFED’s web site for more resources o Website: www.cfed.org • RACE – The Power of an Illusion, a PBS series on the common assumptions about race and their consequences o Website: http://www.pbs.org/race/000_General/000_00-Home.htm • Annie E. Casey work on how to advance race equity and talk about race in your organization or community o Website: http://www.aecf.org/resources/race-equity-and-inclusion-action-guide/ o Race Equity and Inclusion Action Guide: 7 Steps to Advance and Embed Race Equity and Inclusion Within Your Organization o It’s Time to Talk: How to Start Conversations About Racial Inequities o Guidelines for Authentic Conversations About Race o Three Tools for Getting Started with the Race Matters Toolkit • Brandeis’ Racial Wealth Audit tool, contact Laura Sullivan at lauras@brandeis.edu