RESULTS Weekly Update September 12, 2023
Quote of the Week
“It is imperative that we get back to an expanded CTC, something that is especially needed locally.”
– RESULTS Cleveland volunteer Keith Task in an September 10 letter to the editor in the Tribune Chronicle
Table of Contents
- Build the Buy-in Media: New poverty data highlights the need for the CTC
- Keep going on tuberculosis advocacy!
- Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
- Announcements
- Upcoming Events
- Grassroots Resources
Build the Buy-in Media: New poverty data highlights need for the CTC
Earlier today, the U.S. Census released its annual poverty data for 2022. As expected, the news is sobering. After a significant reduction in poverty in 2021, the new data shows that poverty rose dramatically in 2022.
The key measure is the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), which takes into account the impact of the Child Tax Credit (CTC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), SNAP and other anti-poverty programs. In 2022, the SPM was 12.4 percent, an increase of 4.6 percent from 2021 and the first increase in overall poverty since 2010. More alarmingly, the SPM child poverty rate more than doubled, from 5.2 percent last year to 12.4 percent this year. The official poverty rate (OPM), which does not factor in most anti-poverty programs, remained essentially the same between 2021 and 2022.
So, why the dramatic poverty increase between 2021 and 2022? The expiration of pandemic-related aid, primarily the expiration of the 2021 CTC and EITC expansions. Because of the CTC and EITC, 9.6 million fewer people experienced poverty in 2021. In the 2022, that number dropped to 6.4 million. Had the CTC and EITC expansions been extended by Congress, child poverty would likely remain at the historic low reached in 2021. Read more about the new poverty data on the RESULTS blog.
This data shows what we already know. Congress must expand the CTC (and EITC) again. And your media can help. The release of the annual Census poverty data is one of the few times when the media talks about U.S. poverty at any length. As discussed on last weekend’s National Webinar, we’ve launched our new Build the Buy-in campaign. This campaign includes getting 250 media pieces by the end of the year, getting media pieces in all 50 states, and every RESULTS group and Free Agent getting published. Achieving these bold goals can help us secure an expansion of the CTC (and EITC) in tax legislation this year.
TAKE ACTION: Use the new 2022 Census poverty data as a hook to get letters to the editor about the refundable tax credits. Help “build the buy-in” with Congress to expand the CTC and EITC in tax legislation this year. Reference articles in your local paper about the data (if any) to start your letter to increase the chances of getting published. If you need a template for a letter, use our online tax credit media action to get started. Please make sure to call on your members of Congress by name to expand the CTC/EITC in any tax legislation this year. Once you get published, please let us know. You can track the progress on our goals in our new media tracker on the Build the Buy-in campaign page.
Keep going on tuberculosis advocacy!
Bravo! Bravo! You all helped achieve a marvelous feat with the Senate tuberculosis (TB) sign-on letter to the Biden Administration asking them to show bold leadership at the UN High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) on tuberculosis on September 22. Thanks in great part to you, we achieved 33 signers! Through your hard work, you created positive pressure in advance of this pivotal meeting coming up very soon.
Now we have the opportunity to reinforce this good work by gaining more co-sponsorships for the End Tuberculosis (TB) Now Act. A reminder: the End TB Now Act has successfully moved through committee in both chambers. The next step includes gaining more co-sponsorships and seeing that the bills have floor time for passage. Help reinforce your exceptional work on the Senate TB sign-on letter by adding new co-sponsors on the End TB Now Act. Make your requests today!
TAKE ACTION: Ask your representatives and senators to co-sponsor the End Tuberculosis Now Act (you can use our online alert). Why the End Tuberculosis Now Act? In addition to the Senate letter previously mentioned, this is also part of our strategy to garner strong U.S. leadership and buy-in in the run-up to the UN High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis this fall . . . and beyond.
Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
Invite staffers to International Literacy Day Hill briefing. Invite your House and Senate offices’ foreign policy staff members to RSVP for a Hill briefing and breakfast, co-hosted by RESULTS, on September 13, 8:30-10:00 am ET. This event will celebrate International Literacy Day and educate members of Congress about the READ Act reauthorization. Staffers and Members can RSVP online.
Celebrate back to school by passing the READ Act. As millions of kids head back to school, it is imperative that the right of education be shared with all children. Read our new RESULTS blog post on why Congress needs to prioritize global education in 2023. Then urge your members of Congress to co-sponsor the READ Act (H.R.681, S.41) and pass it this year.
Persistence pays off. If you weren’t able to secure congressional meetings during the August recess, there’s no reason for despair. Respectful persistence is the key ingredient, and you can find some inspiration to keep striving for a great relationship with your members of Congress in our latest blogpost. Keep pushing for those meetings and don’t hesitate to ask RESULTS staff for help.
Media hooks for the week. Use the hook ideas below to submit a letter to the editor this week. If you need a template, use our online media actions to edit and submit your letter today.
- U.S. Poverty: Use the new Census poverty data as a hook for letters calling on Congress to expand the CTC and EITC (see more above).
- Global Poverty: What is your education story? How has the opportunity to get a quality basic education changed your life? This is a personal, perfect hook that you can use to write about gaining co-sponsorships for the READ Act (H.R.681, S.41).
Announcements
Join October 14 special National Webinar. This October National Webinar will be a special webinar on a special day. On October 14 from Noon ET to 3:00 pm ET, we’ll use this webinar to take a deeper look at how “work requirements” in U.S. poverty programs have been weaponized as tools of oppression. The agenda includes a panel discussion from experts on this issue and a grassroots-led advocacy training on how to talk about it (with a short break in-between). You’ll gain a foundational understanding of how pervasive work and income requirements are harmful and learn effective ways to oppose these harmful policies through your advocacy. Register today!
Listen to September webinar. If you missed the September National Webinar, you can access the video recording and slides from our website. Tune in to hear excellent policy updates from RESULTS staff, hear about our new Build the Buy-in campaign and our exciting new media push, and listen to inspiring stories from RESULTS volunteers Stella Linn and Buke Dube.
Join Diversity & Inclusion 101 session this month. On September 29 at 12:00 pm ET, Dr. Christina Gunther, Ed.D. will offer an important way to engage with our values. During this session, we’ll define critical terms, identify why inclusion is important, define implicit bias, describe how biases are developed and what influences them, identify implicit personal biases, and identify the value of disrupting those biases. We’re urging all Group Leaders – current and future – to particularly prioritize taking this training. Register here for this 90-minute learning opportunity.
Read about recent Texas-Oklahoma Regional Conference. Following up from Buke Dube’s grassroots share on the September National webinar, read our new RESULTS blog post about the success of the recent Texas-Oklahoma Regional Conference.
Virtual Group Leader training open for registration. Are you a current (or even aspiring) RESULTS Group Leader? You are welcome to this four-part learning series to be held on four successive weeks starting October 18. Based on a series of trainings held 2015-2018, these interactive sessions will get you in touch with fellow Group Leaders, offer encouraging information about leadership itself, give you practical tools for leading your RESULTS group, and provide some fun along the way. Each session will last two hours. We hope you can attend all four sessions, and you’ll get a reminder for each session. Register today! Questions? Contact Lisa Marchal.
Are you nervous about doing a Friends and Family Fundraiser? Throughout September, we’re sharing advice from RESULTS volunteers who have learned how to be successful. Learn more.
Celebrate new volunteers who took action! Jumping into RESULTS advocacy for the first time is a huge milestone, so we want to celebrate the people who joined us in action this year. Please fill out this short form to share your experience supporting a new advocate to take action. We will send this person a congratulatory e-card and a gift as a token of our appreciation! Reach out to Alicia Stromberg with any questions.
Apply for the RESULTS Fellowship. This recent blog highlights the power of young leaders in our movement and in the world. If you know someone aged 20-35 who wants to harness their political power, sharpen skills, and take action on important issues, invite them to apply for the RESULTS Fellowship. RESULTS Fellows advocate at the intersections of poverty and anti-oppression and learn how to work with the media, their communities, and policymakers to create change. The application is open through October 31. For more information, register for our September 13 Fellowship information session or e-mail us at [email protected].
Share Your Story. When we share our “why” for ending poverty and our experiences taking advocacy action, we build the momentum of our movement. Use our new online form to share why you take action to dismantle poverty and oppression, as well as what that action looks like. For example, write a brief account of what it felt like to draft a letter to the editor about tuberculosis or create a short video describing work to create affordable housing in your community or say how the Child Tax Credit changed your life. You can also decide how we share your story (including not at all). Thank you for sharing your story. Our experiences are our strength!
Interested in being a Regional Coordinator? The Regional Coordinator (RC) is a key player in the RESULTS community. RCs are the brilliant network of people who provide training, cheerleading, and support for our network of groups. RCs work directly with RESULTS staff members, receive leadership coaching, coaching on powerful speaking, legislative updates and attend a yearly retreat for skills development. Ideal candidates for this volunteer role have experience in a RESULTS Group Leader role, but we welcome all inquiries. Want to learn more about this unique volunteer opportunity? Contact Lisa Marchal. Let’s chat!
Upcoming Events
Congressional schedule: The House and Senate are in session this week.
Typically, registration ends one hour prior to the start of all webinars and trainings.
Wednesday, September 13: RESULTS Fellowship information session, 5:00 pm ET. Register today.
Thursday, September 14: New Advocate Orientation, 12:30 pm ET. Learn more and register today.
Thursday, September 14: Event Planning and Outreach Office Hour, 2:00 pm ET. Learn more about this opportunity and just drop in!
Thursday, September 14: Global Allies Program with Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, 8:30 pm ET. Learn more.
Tuesday, September 19: U.S. Poverty Free Agents, 1:00 pm and 8:00 pm ET (note the new evening time). Contact Jos Linn for more information.
Tuesday, September 19: Together Women Rise/RESULTS Advocacy Chapter, 8:30 pm ET. Learn more.
Wednesday, September 20: Action Network Managers webinar, 12:30 pm and 8:00 pm ET. (Choose your time.) Join the 12:30 pm ET session at https://results.zoom.us/j/93288388695. Join the 8:00 pm ET session at https://results.zoom.us/j/91531456676.Please note that the 8:00 pm ET session will be a media training. No registration required.
Wednesday, September 20: Media Office Hour, 2:00 pm ET. Join via Zoom at https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 936 6800 5494. No registration required.
Thursday, September 21: U.S. Poverty Policy Forum, 8:00 pm ET. Focus: Overview of 2022 U.S. Census poverty data. Guest: Meredith Dodson, Coalition on Human Needs. Register today.
Thursday, September 21: Global Poverty Policy Forum, 9:00 pm ET. Register today. Focus: News on the ground on the eve of the UN High-Level Meeting on tuberculosis.
Monday, September 25: Global Poverty Free Agents, 7:00 pm ET. Contact Lisa Marchal for more information.
Wednesday, September 27: New Advocate Orientation, 8:30 pm ET. Learn more and register today.
Friday, September 29: Diversity and Inclusion 101, 12:00 pm ET. Read more and register about this important 90-minute webinar.
Tuesday, October 10: Experts on Poverty Information Session, 8:00 pm ET. Learn more and register.
Saturday, October 14: Special National Webinar, 12:00-3:00 pm ET. Register today.
Grassroots Resources
Learn about the RESULTS Experts on Poverty.
Find actions and volunteer resources on our Volunteers Hub, including our anti-oppression resources. To join the RESULTS listserv for more RESULTS conversation, send an email to [email protected].
Remember to please report your recent advocacy successes in lobby meetings, media, and outreach activities. Also, use our Volunteer Information Form to add or edit volunteer info and to sign up for updates and alerts.
If you have a story about advocacy you feel could inspire others, use our new online form to tell us your story.
If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for the RESULTS/REF Board, please e-mail [email protected]. View Board minutes and Annual Reports.
RESULTS Staff directory and job postings.