Presented by Maine Equal Justice
People in poverty say, and a growing body of research affirms, that cash is the most direct and effective way to provide financial stability to those who most need it.
Guaranteed income, or basic income, is an idea that goes right to the heart of what we do. It could transform how families with low incomes meet their basic needs and access pathways out of poverty. It also has the potential to truly advance economic security and opportunity for every Mainer by helping to address economic inequities caused by systemic racism and sexism.
We all deserve to be the authors of our own lives. Our destiny should not be determined by our race, gender, or class. Instead of dictating how, where and on what terms individuals can build their lives, unrestricted income offers dignity, self-determination, and trust. But our culture and society don’t embrace these ideas easily.
So how do we pass policies that will get more cash to families? This is an idea that has been proven over and over to improve health, education, and opportunity. At Maine Equal Justice, our income solutions team (including policy, legal, organizing and communications staff) wrestles with this work every day, working alongside directly impacted Mainers to improve the programs we have (like TANF) and build better programs for the future.
Join us for a conversation about this work! MEJ team members will lead a discussion and Q&A about getting more cash to families through legislation and organizing for change and legal aid.
For more information and to register, visit the event page.