JUST IDEAS
Stronger Together: Weaving History, Leadership, and Vision for Change
A year ago, I stepped into my role as Executive Director of the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality. As I reflect on the past year, I find myself returning to the image of braiding sweetgrass—an Indigenous tradition that symbolizes interconnectedness, care, and reciprocity. Braiding requires three strands: the past, the present, and the future. Over the past year in my work at GCPI, we have woven these strands together to strengthen our work, our relationships, and our impact.
Black Leaders in the Anti-Poverty Movement
For generations, Black leaders have played a pivotal role in advancing economic justice. Their work—often met with resistance—has laid the groundwork for many of the anti-poverty programs that millions rely on today. This blog highlights key Black anti-poverty leader who have fought to address systemic poverty through labor organizing, reproductive justice, and direct action.
The Trump Administration’s Federal Funding Freeze Signals a Broader Attack on Economic Security
In its first week, the Trump administration executed a chaotic and aggressive policy blitz, issuing more than 300 executive actions. These actions signal a stark shift in federal priorities—one that threatens to erode the economic security of millions of Americans. The message is loud and clear: The war against poverty is over, and Americans struggling to get by are on their own.
States with Abortion Bans Have the Stingiest TANF Cash Benefits
overturned nearly three years ago, ending the federal constitutional right to abortion. The consequences of lost access to this essential care have been devastating. States with abortion restrictions tend to have the stingiest public benefits supports for growing families. This map shows that 10 of the 12 states with the stingiest TANF cash benefits also have the harshest abortion restrictions.
Martin Luther King’s Call for Subsidized Jobs: The Black Jobs Deficit, 2024
“Instead of training for uncertain jobs, the policy of the government should be to subsidize American business to employ individuals whose education is limited…. employers could be granted reduced taxes if they employed difficult-to-place workers.” –Martin Luther...
Parent PLUS: Where Higher Ed Financing Is Falling Short
Parent PLUS, the only federal financial aid option designed for parents in the United States, can open doors to higher education. But for parents with low incomes and parents of color, Parent PLUS imposes serious risks—including crushing, unrepayable debt that can put rent, groceries, and retirement in jeopardy. This blog post outlines four policy recommendations to protect Parent PLUS borrowers, prioritize racial equity, and mitigate harm. Policymakers must act to make sure college is a pathway to opportunity—not an intergenerational financial nightmare.
House Bipartisan Paid Family Leave Working Group’s Proposal an Important Step for Advancing Paid Leave
Led by Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Congresswoman Stephanie Bice (R-OK), the House Bipartisan Paid Family Leave Working Group’s I-PLAN proposal is a promising step. The proposal recognizes the importance of investing in state paid leave programs. Strengthening these programs is a crucial step toward building systems that provide meaningful support for working people and their families.
Sixty Years Later: Empowering Women to Finish the Fight Against Poverty
Sixty years ago, our nation started something bold, but it remains unfinished. We should recommit to the bold vision of the war on poverty by learning from our successes and mistakes. Women should be the center of a new national poverty agenda. When policies support women, they support everyone, and together, we can build a country where every individual has the freedom to reach their full potential—and flourish.
Supreme Court Decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson Punishes People for Experiencing Poverty
The Supreme Court decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson effectively criminalizes homelessness. This decision is a cruel, counterproductive move that punishes people for experiencing poverty.
The Census Bureau Must Improve Coverage of Historically Undercounted Communities in Administrative Data Linkage Projects
Administrative data can supplement census data and improve the accuracy and quality of the census. However, poorly designed administrative data projects may inadvertently exacerbate existing disparities that stem from census undercounts, including among people of color and immigrants. This blog argues that administrative data linkage cannot advance equity without improved representation of historically undercounted communities in both census data and administrative data.