Urban Institute

26 Localities Working to Increase #Mobility from #Poverty and Racial Equity for Residents through Urban Institute’s Upward Mobility Initiative The Urban Institute announced this week that 26 localities across the United States have joined its Mobility Action Learning Network to receive coaching and tools for community stakeholders to develop and advance policies and programs that increase upward mobility and racial equity. “We are looking forward to collaborating with these localities as they work to create the conditions that lift residents out of poverty and on to a pathway that advances their economic success, power and autonomy, and sense of being valued in their #community,” said Kimberly Burrowes, a senior training and technical assistance manager at Urban, who will be working directly with the communities. Learn more about the Mobility Action Learning Network and the 26 localities that make up the network. https://urbn.is/3VH7AmJ

When families experiencing poverty have support to help them meet their basic needs—such as food to eat and a safe place to live—it can translate into a significantly healthier, more successful future for their #children. Urban Institute’s Heather Hahn, a leading expert on policies affecting the #wellbeing of families and children, offers insights on people’s experiences with safety net programs, as well as the complexities and challenges of these public support systems. Listen to the episode https://urbn.is/3vCbaDY. Subscribe to Evidence in Action and share with your network of #changemakers.

“The American Dream says. ‘If you work hard and are morally upstanding you will be rewarded’…and it leads us to be reluctant to financially reward people who might be undeserving. This very old concept shows up very concretely in our policies today,” says Heather Hahn, associate vice president of Urban’s Center on Labor, Human Services, and Population. Listen to this discussion on the social safety net and the barriers that those who are most in need face in accessing programs and basic support. 

In the US, $227 billion in public assistance support isn’t reaching people who are eligible to receive it. If they had that support, it would mean lifting nearly 15 million people, including 5 million #children, out of #poverty. Those findings are from a recent Urban analysis of seven major safety net programs. And it’s one of the many insights Heather Hahn offers about the history, complexities, and challenges of public assistance efforts in the US. In her conversation with us, Hahn unpacks how England’s Elizabethan-era laws show up in US safety net policies, the barriers people face in accessing programs, and why not everyone struggling to meet their basic needs are eligible to receive support. Hahn is the associate vice president of Urban’s Center on Labor, Human Services, and Population and a leading expert on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and other policies that affect the #wellbeing of children and families. Listen today to Hahn’s conversation with cohost and Urban president Sarah Rosen Wartell https://urbn.is/3vCbaDY. Subscribe to Evidence in Action and share with your network of changemakers.

In January 2022, a partnership of Washington, DC, community support organizations and universities came together to create the Advancing Early #Education Collaborative (AEEC), with the aims of enhancing #earlyeducation career pathways for Black and Latina women in Wards 7 and 8 and improving the overall quality of early education in the city. A new #research brief from Urban covers the AEEC’s efforts and achievements during its second year. Key achievements over year 2 include: ➡️ reaching a cumulative total of 222 participants (across year 1 and year 2) ➡️ 33 AEEC students completing degrees from Trinity Washington University ➡️ and 3 AEEC students completing their Child Development Associate coursework at American University. Read the full brief and learn more about what Urban is doing to support early educators in Washington, DC. https://urbn.is/49fFhPq

How do financial attitudes and preferences vary among Latine #consumers? New analysis from the Urban Institute’s Financial Well-Being Data Hub finds that even though the Latine #community is the fastest growing segment of the US economy, many Latine individuals still face unique cultural, language, and structural barriers to accessing #financial services and products. The report explores how financial attitudes and preferences vary between sub-segments of Latine consumers, depending on their backgrounds, as they navigate through several unique barriers. Read the full report and explore key findings and recommendations for policymakers and public and private financial entities to address the challenges facing the Latine community. https://urbn.is/3TZT08I

Join us for a virtual workshop series that kicks off on April 4th @ 1 p.m. EDT - "Introducing Local Leaders to the Upward Mobility Framework." Register today for a series of workshops designed to equip local leaders, advocates, researchers, and policymakers with knowledge and tools to drive upward mobility and racial #equity in communities. Attendees will gain an understanding of the core principles of the Upward Mobility Framework and learn practical insights for implementing strategies that make a powerful #impact at the local level. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to leverage the Upward Mobility Framework in your community. https://urbn.is/4ah1w94 #LiveatUrban

In a new op-ed, Urban experts Susan Popkin, Amanda Hermans, MPP, and Sarah Morriss suggest steps the Census Bureau could take to fix how it defines and measures people with #disabilities. The Census conducts the American Community Survey (ACS) every year to capture up-to-date information on people’s experiences on everything from #employment rates to #housing costs. And every year, our experts say the ACS minimizes the lives and needs of Americans with disabilities. Research also shows that the ACS underestimates the number of people with disabilities. The bureau recently offered a plan to redefine disability with a new set of questions, and then paused its plan last month after the disability and research community shared concerns that the bureau's proposed approach would exacerbate its underestimate of the disabled population. Read more about the proposed changes and our top recommendations for the Census Bureau. https://urbn.is/3vyZ5PZ

#Changemakers eager to solve persistent problems in our society routinely rely on the Urban Institute as a trusted source, convener, advisor, innovator – and partner for change. We delivered research in 2023 that laid a foundation for meaningful change. From providing solutions to help educators navigate a post-affirmative action world, to delivering data and evidence on everything from baby bonds programs, prison environments, and maternal #healthcare, our work made a difference in people’s lives and communities. Learn how in our 2023 Impact Report. https://urbn.is/4cv8it5.

Mark your calendar for a two-day virtual event - 4/4 @ 8:45 a.m. & 4/5 at 9 a.m. EDT - and join the Urban Institute and the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs for the Punishment Beyond Mass Incarceration Symposium. The symposium will feature expert researchers, emerging scholars, and diverse voices from various fields to explore the latest ideas in moving beyond incarceration and showcase many thought-provoking presentations and discussions, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of topics such as: ✅ the history and impact of mass incarceration on communities ✅ theoretical and practical aspects of prison abolition ✅ community engaged methods to reduce dependency on prisons ✅ strategies for creating alternative opportunities Whether you are an academic, researcher, or justice policy advocate, this symposium is a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge #research and contribute to shaping a future where #justice serves all members of our society. Register today. https://urbn.is/3PEu83I #LiveatUrban