Advocacy Day Recap!

On September 19th, the DC Guaranteed Income Coalition hosted Advocacy Day inside the John Wilson Building. Moms and worker-leaders rallied with organizational stakeholders to center guaranteed income among a range of other human needs. We thanked Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker for his leadership on the newly enacted and historic District Child Tax Credit Amendment Act and recognized At-large Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie for pioneering guaranteed income programming in the District of Columbia with the public fund that supports the Strong Families, Strong Futures maternal health guaranteed income program.

In conversations with DC Council staff, advocates shared their stories, demanding expanded guaranteed income policies, better housing, and an end to public benefits cliffs, which can cause loss of some or all of benefits when participants receive additional cash through guaranteed income pilots. Represented at Advocacy Day were Let’s Go DMV, Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, LIFT DC, Mother’s Outreach Network, Bread for the City, The Social Justice School, and others. Pilot participants including mothers, hospitality workers, and youth from The Social Justice School spoke with DC Council staff, explaining how regular, unconditional cash payments empowered them in numerous ways such as raising their credit scores and allowing them to buy clothes for their children.

We are grateful for and inspired by the testimonies of our guaranteed income community members and partners who are fighting for permanent guaranteed income for Washington DC residents and workers. 

Scroll below to enjoy the gallery of speakers that lifted their voices during our Basic Income Week of Action, Advocacy Day event. The event was covered in the Washington Informer.

Want to get involved? Register for our upcoming volunteer information session on October 3rd to learn how.

In Solidarity

Melody

Melody Webb 
Founder and Executive Director
Mother’s Outreach Network / DC Guaranteed Income Coalition