A transformative movement is brewing that challenges us to rethink the foundations of our economy and question the status quo — and Community Change is at the forefront of it. Reimagining what it means to live in an economy that works for all — where economic security and all that is tied to it are not a privilege, but a guarantee — is not just an abstract ideal.
Guaranteed income programs have already improved the lives of more than 50,000 people in states like Texas, New York, California, Louisiana, Alabama, New Mexico, Indiana, and Michigan.
There are more than 100 pilot programs nationwide and hundreds of people who have received no-strings-attached cash to help them pay for housing, groceries, other living expenses, transportation, child care… the list goes on.
So Community Change took the month of June to recognize, celebrate and build on the progress we’ve made in building a movement for a guaranteed income in this country. Guaranteed Income June, or ‘GI June’ as we’ve been calling it, has all of us buzzing and feeling inspired — especially after a 2-day gathering we hosted with the Economic Security Project and our partners from across the country.
What we’ve learned about the impact of cash programs is that they’re not just effective policies for economic relief; they’re a path to social and economic empowerment.
First our teams took a trip to Flint, Michigan to learn from the experience and work of professor and pediatrician Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha and the Rx Kids program — the first of its kind guaranteed income pilot that prescribes cash for pregnant people. Together, we marched in a baby parade and watched a dance performance at the site where an Rx Kids mural will be painted.
The next day, more than 300 people came together at Guaranteed Income Now in Detroit to celebrate our wins–like the Magnolia Mother’s Trust that provides $1,000/month to low-income Black moms and an equal deposit in a 529 savings account for their children in Jackson, Mississippi; the Chicago Future Fund that gives $500/month to 100 formerly incarcerated residents; and the Denver Basic Income Project that improved housing security for hundreds of homeless adults. We also made time to chart the path for transforming programs from pilots to permanent policy. The conference brought recipients of guaranteed income, policymakers, organizers, researchers, and elected officials under one roof.
Community Change Co-President Dorian Warren kicked off and emceed the day-long conference, as well as a breakout session titled “Pilots to Power” with Candice Vickers of Family Forward Oregon and Rachel Pyon of Equity And Transformation. Candice challenged us to think about the different guarantees that can be life-changing, like guaranteed child care, or guaranteed 12-week parental leave for all.
Participants heard from guaranteed income recipients like Teagan Medlin in Flint, who shared how cash programs have given them and their families freedom, choice, and the ability to move beyond survival mode.
“It’s given me a sense of calm,” she said. “I don’t have to worry about things as much. I feel a lot more at ease having the backup. The calm allows me to focus on what I want to do, and not just focus on what we have to do all the time.”
What’s special about this convening is that it brings directly impacted folks and organizers like Medlin into the same room as policymakers and elected officials, helping to form relationships for a co-governance model like the one we’ve seen work in Denver.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer sat with The 19th’s Emily Ramshaw for a fireside chat that highlighted the role of caregivers and the impact cash policies make. Rebecca Thompson of the Treasury Department spoke about the role Direct File is playing in restoring the public’s trust in government. And Brian McCabe of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that HUD programs can now apply to use federal funding as direct cash assistance for housing. Aisha Nyandoro of Springboard for Opportunities and Ben Chin of Maine People’s Alliance led conversations around caregivers and building state power.
We closed with a powerhouse panel moderated by Community Change Co-President Lorella Praeli with Marcela Diaz of Somos un Pueblo Unido in New Mexico and Hillary Jorgensen of the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition (CCDC). The women spoke about the challenges and the wins of organizing in their respective states — from growing membership to making tax credits available for undocumented immigrants.
They also explained how these bold economic solutions also provide a bridge to self-sufficiency. People can pay for transportation and housing, seek preventative care, or pay down debts. The point is — people know what they need to thrive. No-strings-attached cash empowers people to make the financial decisions that make the most sense for them.
We learned so much from everyone in the room — organizers, recipients, electeds, researchers — and we left Michigan feeling energized by the national Guaranteed Income movement Community Change helped build.
This movement will continue to be powered by the voices of those directly impacted, because as Candice said, “We’re not telling stories, we’re sharing facts about the life we live.”