As we recognize National Poverty in America Awareness Month this January, the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs renews its commitment to reducing racial income disparities in Washington, D.C. In 2023, the poverty rate amongst Black D.C. residents was 26.1%, compared to 4.2% amongst White residents [1]. The median income for Black, Hispanic, and Asian households in D.C. remained statistically unchanged, while the median income for White households increased 12% to an amount nearly 3 times that of Black households [1]. In 2024, 10.8% of Black residents faced unemployment, in contrast to 2.4% of White residents [1]. At WLC, our Workers’ Rights practice represents low-income clients of color who are denied job opportunities, fair wages, or safe workplaces because of their race, criminal record, immigration status, or gender. Our team believes that fair employment opportunities are critical for uplifting communities in poverty, and are dedicated to furthering this mission in 2025. [1] https://lnkd.in/euRHfnpd
Dee Um’s Post
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Graduate Student | Leadership Development | Community Outreach | Student Services | DEI | Affordable Housing
I've been reflecting a lot on our current economic landscape. For decades, the fight against racial inequality has been a central issue, but it's increasingly clear that this struggle is deeply tied to power and money. As the cost of living—from groceries to housing—has soared nearly fourfold, the crisis affects everyone. The challenges faced by the poor and unhoused transcend racial boundaries. The COVID-19 pandemic has starkly exposed the flaws in our governmental systems, revealing that they often serve only the wealthy. The need for comprehensive DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives is more urgent than ever. These initiatives have the potential to restore equity and create a society where everyone has a fair chance to thrive. It's time to move beyond superficial solutions and tackle the root causes of inequality. Looking back at how we've arrived at this point, 'The Color of Law' offers critical insights. The book details how racially discriminatory policies—such as redlining, racially restrictive covenants, and exclusionary zoning—were deliberately designed to disenfranchise BIPOC communities. These systemic practices created racial wealth gaps and segregated neighborhoods, effects that have rippled through generations. Today, the consequences of these policies affect everyone because poverty does not discriminate. We must recognize and address these historical injustices to build a more equitable future for all. #DEI #EconomicJustice #EquityForAll #SystemicChange #AffordableHousing #SocialJustice
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Decades have passed, yet the racial wealth gap has barely budged. NCRC’s findings highlight a need for urgent and comprehensive strategies to address the barriers preventing communities of color from thriving. Help us turn research into action. #EconomicJustice #RacialWealthGap #justeconomy
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Juneteenth marks a pivotal moment in the fight against racial oppression. However, the historical legacy of slavery and subsequent systemic discrimination has left a lasting impact on economic inequality in the U.S. Addressing these disparities requires a multifaceted approach that includes acknowledging historical injustices and implementing policies that promote economic equity. #Juneteenth #FreedomDay #Reparations #EconomicJustice https://lnkd.in/gJS7u5sa
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As you support Red Dress campaigns, be sure it is more than a surface observation, make it matter to you everyday. Keep listening, and learning. “Reclaiming Power and Place: The National Inquiry’s Final Report reveals that persistent and deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuses are the root cause behind Canada’s staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people. The two volume report calls for transformative legal and social changes to resolve the crisis that has devastated Indigenous communities across the country. The Final Report is comprised of the truths of more than 2,380 family members, survivors of violence, experts and Knowledge Keepers shared over two years of cross-country public hearings and evidence gathering. It delivers 231 individual Calls for Justice directed at governments, institutions, social service providers, industries and all Canadians. As documented in the Final Report, testimony from family members and survivors of violence spoke about a surrounding context marked by multigenerational and intergenerational trauma and marginalization in the form of poverty, insecure housing or homelessness and barriers to education, employment, health care and cultural support. Experts and Knowledge Keepers spoke to specific colonial and patriarchal policies that displaced women from their traditional roles in communities and governance and diminished their status in society, leaving them vulnerable to violence.” https://lnkd.in/esyA4rcS
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The voices we need in academia. An analysis of disability rights and programme structures needs a public policy frameworks approach which incubates policy theories on equity and provides a solid direction to actual on-ground implementation strategies. It is time we come down from our ivory towers and hear the voices within the concerned socialkreis. #disabilityrights #rights #publicpolicy #governance #law #people #India
Student at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai for MA in Public Policy Research Associate at National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Disabled People
The intersectionality of poverty and disability highlights the compounded challenges faced by individuals who experience both. Poverty often limits access to essential resources such as healthcare, education, and employment opportunities, which are crucial for improving quality of life. Simultaneously, disabilities can create additional barriers to accessing these resources, exacerbating the cycle of poverty. Here is a piece I wrote on the given context. Please give it a read! https://lnkd.in/d-ntfpqz
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Join us for the first in a series of webinars: "𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀", delivered by Crisis, the Race Equality Foundation, and Heriot-Watt University. This follows the new Crisis' report "𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨? 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦?" 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘙𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, which centres it's research on human stories and lived experiences. The webinar series will bring people together to share and discuss: • insights and research findings that build on the evidence base around a racialised housing system in the UK • practical solutions to dismantle barriers to effective services for people of colour • identified policy solutions to address existing systemic racism within the housing and homelessness system. Join the discussion⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eVaJ8iEF
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Despite decades of effort, the racial wealth gap in the U.S. remains virtually unchanged since the 1990s. The data is clear: we need new, bold strategies to dismantle systemic barriers to wealth-building in communities of color. NCRC is committed to finding and advocating for those solutions. Join us in building a #justeconomy for all. #RacialWealthGap #EconomicJustice #EquityMatters
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The racial wealth gap in America hasn’t significantly narrowed in 30 years, a stark reminder of entrenched inequality. NCRC’s latest research urges us to think beyond traditional solutions and commit to impactful change. Join us in advocating for a future where everyone has the chance to build wealth. #WealthGap #EconomicJustice #justeconomy #EquityForAll
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The racial wealth gap is a significant issue affecting the entire nation. "This is an American issue, not just a black or brown issue." By 2050, America will be a minority-majority country, yet wealth remains concentrated among a small group. CDFIs are essential in addressing this gap, providing opportunities for economic growth in underserved communities. Learn more about the impact of CDFIs helping underserved communities generate wealth at - https://lnkd.in/epSWnRKW #wealthgap #financialliteracy #wealthinequality #economicdevelopment #communitydevelopment
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