Advocating for Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a priority for Mothers Outreach Network (MON) because we believe that guaranteed basic income can bring about economic justice for marginalized families in Washington, D.C. To this end, MON convenes the DC UBI Coalition, which has met via virtual gatherings every third Thursday since November 2020. The next DC UBI Coalition meeting will take place on March 18th at 5 pm. DC UBI Coalition meetings seek to educate, mobilize, and build support for our key campaign for guaranteed income pilots as a tool for racial equity.

These meetings aim to generate a robust conversation about UBI with DC residents, stakeholder organizational representatives and DC officials. Specifically, the meetings focus on efforts to jumpstart new UBI pilot programs in DC with the aim to establish a local and national UBI program. Participants discuss the goals of UBI, provide committee updates, and include special presentations. Past DC UBI Coalition meetings have featured speakers such as Reverend Wendy Hamilton, a local DC resident and national advocate and advisor to 2020 Democratic Presidential candidate Andrew Yang. Reverend Wendy presented on the moral argument for Universal Basic Income.

Additionally, the DC UBI Coalition’s efforts include organizing a campaign to influence Mayor Bowser and other city leaders to establish basic income pilot programs in DC. MON is sponsoring a DC UBI petition, which is part of an ongoing effort to urge Mayor Bowser to join Mayors for a Guaranteed Income. That group’s mission is to ensure that Americans have basic income to alleviate poverty.

Finally, the March meeting will focus on Mothers, Women, and Caregivers. We will discuss “The Moms Marshall Plan,” a national campaign that advocates for mothers to receive direct cash payments. Panelists will lead a conversation to inform our understanding of motherhood as unpaid labor. One speaker is Michelle Parrish, the founder of We the Motherhood, a mothers’ group that advocates for children with special needs.

We hope you join us for our next meeting!