The current attacks on low income people, trans people, immigrants, Black folks, and other groups being othered require our movements to prioritize measures to defend their dignity and safety. Focusing on defense is necessary but not sufficient because the conditions even before this round of attacks were already dire, and going back to ‘normal’ will fail to undo the foundation from which authoritarianism has risen. So there is a need to continue to uplift and insist on real solutions that fit into a proactive and equitable policy agenda for belonging and wellbeing for all people.

The Othering and Belonging Institute is hosting a podcast series with leading advocates from across the country to uplift and insist on bold policy solutions that would move the country towards belonging and wellbeing for all people. The othering of people who have already been marginalized is a false solution claiming to respond to real problems. This podcast and event series will go beyond defending against current attacks and lift up a progressive and equitable policy agenda. By creating space to share and amplify active campaigns, the podcast aims to make visionary policy voices widely accessible and connect across a wide range of advocates, policy makers, and other agents of change across the state and the country.

Speakers

• Christina Livingston, ACCE
• Gordon Mar, NUHW
• Ivan Luevanos-Elms, Local Progress
• Irene Kao, Courage California
• Jane Kim, Working Families Party
• Lucas Grindley, Next City
• Rithika Ramamurthy, Climate & Community Institute
• Saqib Bhatti, Action Center on Race & Economy
• Sara Hudson, Nonprofit Quarterly
• Tony Samara, Right to the City
• Zach Lou, California Green New Deal Coalition

Hosts

• Richard Aviles, Othering & Belonging Institute
• Eli Moore, Othering & Belonging Institute

Series Co-Sponsors

• Action Center on Race & Economy
• Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment
• CA Green New Deal Coalition
• California Budget and Policy Center
• Climate & Community Institute
• Common Cause
• Courage California
• Local Progress
• National Union of Healthcare Workers
• Next City
• Nonprofit Quarterly
• Right to the City Alliance
• Working Families Party

In Georgia, an accelerated baby bonds program has launched where young adults receive an investable lump sum (“Baby Bond”), a $500/month guaranteed income, and financial advising services. Our guest is Amit Khanduri, Director of Programs at the Georgia Resilience & Opportunity Fund, where he leads efforts to narrow wealth inequality in Georgia — including through GRO’s Baby Bonds program.

Over 13 million Americans have zero or negative wealth, and vast racial inequities in wealth persist. Baby Bonds are a way to ensure every young adult has some wealth to invest in their future. Baby bonds are publicly funded trust accounts established at birth for children, particularly those from low-wealth families. Upon reaching adulthood, beneficiaries can use the funds for purposes such as education, homeownership, or entrepreneurship.

Connecticut was the first state to create a Baby Bonds wealth building initiative. In this episode, we hear from David Radcliffe, who was the policy director for the Office of Connecticut State Treasurer, where he championed implementation of the first-in-the-country “Baby Bonds” program. David grew up in a small factory town in the Appalachian foothills of western Pennsylvania. David is now the State and Local Policy Director with the New School’s Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy.