DC Guaranteed Income Coalition
*WHY WE CHANGED OUR NAME: INTRODUCING THE GUARANTEED * *INCOME COALITION! OUR MOVEMENT IS PUSHING FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE IN DC! *
At the October monthly meeting of the DC Universal Basic Income Coalition, participants rolled up their sleeves, thoughtfully discussed the group’s name and values, shared their reflections, and, by consensus, concluded that the time has arrived for our coalition to sharpen its name and to use language that captures our racial justice goals, our narrative-change efforts, and our movement. That name, to be reflected in future messaging, is “guaranteed income”. Read this piece about naming initiatives for income justice, the Stanford Basic Income Lab’s *Universal Basic Income: What’s in a Name?* <basicincome.stanford.edu/research/papers/universal-basic-income-whats-in-a-name/>
*WHY?*
Let’s review several steps toward this foreseeable change. In November of 2020 – a year ago this month – Coalition participants began to meet as the DC Universal Basic Income (UBI) Coalition. Since then, we explored in earnest solutions to the alarming racial income and wealth inequality that the Covid-19 pandemic exposed in Washington, DC. We heard from experts with lived experience and technical backgrounds alike. In addition to learning from presenters from DC, from the DMV region, and from around the country, we dreamed out loud about a stronger DC community, and we undertook outreach and advocacy to realize these bold visions for justice, including our September 2021 DC Basic Income March.
*WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING IN THIS DIRECTION!*
– Our nearly year-long campaign has been urging Mayor Bowser to Join Mayors for a Guaranteed Income. – From the inception of our coalition, we have been championing income justice in the racial economic and social justice model of pioneers like Dr. Martin Luther King and National Welfare Rights Organization activist Johnnie Tillmon. They fought on the economic justice front of the civil rights movement, supporting guaranteed income or guaranteed adequate income! – Our efforts around guaranteed income have been successful: They coalesced around and helped drive the DC City Council to pass in its FY 2022 local budget a $1.5 million guaranteed income fund for nonprofit cash pilot programs. This seeds an historic public funding effort for unconditional cash payments to marginalized DC residents and workers who do not qualify for existing safety net benefits.
*WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR FUTURE WORK?*
– Yes, our language and our name will be more targeted, but our messaging and our advocacy will remain vigorous, intersectional and grow stronger in unity with our array of existing and expanded partnerships. – Focussed planning and group discussions will strengthen our efforts. – Our monthly meetings will incorporate training on guaranteed income within a racial justice framework for those who are new to guaranteed income. Other training will be made available from Coalition partners. – There will be new ways for you to get more deeply involved. – We will forge ahead, empowered to make DC a city that is a model for guaranteed income!
*LET’S RECAP WHY GUARANTEED INCOME MATTERS! *
*What is guaranteed income? Why should we support it? Look through the lens of history!*
As a reminder, the above-mentioned fiscal year 2022 DC guaranteed income funding will provide a new publicly-funded, unconditional guaranteed income payment program to DC recipients, including low-income and no-income unemployed individuals who live in deep poverty. Gaining mayoral support for guaranteed income remains a priority! While universal basic income (UBI) would give everyone in a community identical cash payments, guaranteed income is a targeted measure that provides money on a monthly basis to lower income individuals, regardless of their age, health, or employment status sufficient to meet their basic needs. A guaranteed income payment has no conditions attached. In the District of Columbia guaranteed income will further racial economic justice, attacking the economic and wealth gap that stresses and strains the nation’s economic and moral promise of a participatory democracy.