Dear John,
As we navigate the ever-shifting currents of change, progress, and impact, I'm thrilled to share remarkable updates from CLASP and our exceptional team members – from timely publication releases to influencing the narrative around poverty and providing essential research and policy analysis on an intersection of issues at the federal, state, and local levels. In this intricate tapestry of insights, advocacy, and celebration, we find ourselves weaving a powerful narrative of impact. Your commitment to #TeamCLASP and your unwavering support fuels our collective strides toward a brighter future. Together we're architects of change, united by a shared vision.
As always, thank you for being an essential part of #TeamCLASP and for standing with us. Yours in solidarity, |
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Farm Bill:
This legislation, which has an important impact on agriculture and nutrition programs like SNAP, is up for reauthorization. CLASP, together with the Community Partnership Group, has developed a framework for how policymakers can make much-needed nutrition benefits programs like SNAP most effective, sufficient, and equitable in the upcoming Farm Bill. CLASP continues to advance our work to educate the public about the significance of the Farm Bill for producers and consumers, especially children; families with low incomes; immigrants; youth and young adults; and communities of color.
Learn More |
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Immigration:
For over two decades, millions of immigrant families, children, youth, and individuals, especially those with low incomes, have been excluded from major and vital provisions needed to sustain their health and well-being, such as access to health and nutrition benefits programs. In June, the LIFT the BAR Act was reintroduced. If passed, it would restore access to these critical public benefits. CLASP continues to actively advocate for the bill in a variety of ways at the federal and state levels, including providing strategic guidance to policymakers; researching impact and uplifting state wins to showcase the value in lifting the five-year waiting period for permanent/green card holders; and building support in Congress, all with the goal of passing this important legislation.
Learn More |
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Youth Policy:
CLASP's New Deal for Youth's (ND4Y) Evaluation Strategy group has been hard at work forging a powerful collaboration with the Praxis Institute. Over the span of a year-long research cycle, they've delved deep into evaluating the true impact of ND4Y and crafting strategies that will shape its future. The team has guided the research process and meticulously documented the incredible impact of the ND4Y initiative to date. The entire report, "Community Transformation: Youth Changemakers Leading National Policy and Systems Change for Liberation" is available now. It's exciting to see the immense work of these Changemakers that is elevating the role youth leaders play in advancing crucial policies and transforming how we engage individuals with lived experience in advocacy.
Read the full report |
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Mental Health:
It comes as no surprise that CLASP's mental health efforts are beginning to see an uptick in demand and urgency. The pandemic brought to bear the much-needed shifts in our mental health services, especially to youth and those most impacted by our current exclusionary policies. We're excited about our recent partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as we've helped them tweak one of their grant programs to better serve transitional-aged youth. We will continue to work with them as part of our larger strategy to focus more on flexible funding for prevention. Additionally, the latest video of our four-part webinar series focused on decolonizing mental health, "Questioning the Role of the Medical Industrial Complex," is now available. I highly encourage you to watch these hard-hitting and timely webinars.
Watch the webinar |
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Child Poverty:
States are now facing the first deadline for spending their federal child care pandemic relief funds. As this fiscal cliff looms, state child care agencies, child care providers, and millions of families with young children will face major challenges in providing and accessing care due to the continued crisis of a vastly underfunded child care system. In response, CLASP has developed four state profiles featuring work in Louisiana, Michigan, New York, and Virginia, detailing the successes and challenges of the relief funding implementation process and highlighting how the funding ultimately improved the lives of families and child care providers. Earlier this summer, I also published a blog calling on expansions for paid leave and support for caregiving.
Each year, the U.S. Census Bureau releases annual statistics measuring poverty, income, and health insurance rates from the previous year. Recently, the Bureau released the data for last year which revealed that in 2022 child poverty more than doubled. This concerning statistic underscores the need for better policy and highlights the importance of continuing the fight for improved policy solutions. In response to this data, CLASP experts provided commentary and analysis of the data as a resource for policymakers, researchers, journalists, fellow advocates, and the general public.
Learn more |
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Environmental Justice:
Part of the Biden Administration's Inflation Reduction Act included a robust program around environmental justice grant making. CLASP played a substantial role in this outcome by submitting public comments on how to make these grants more equitable and reach more communities with the biggest need. We also responded to requests for information on the energy rebates program, specifically providing a perspective on how to make these programs more accessible for families with low and middle incomes.
Learn more |
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Reproductive Rights:
Last year's devastating Dobbs ruling continues to exacerbate systemic barriers to people accessing abortion care, particularly for immigrants and those in mixed-status families. CLASP continues to work with partners in this space, serving as allies and providing anti-poverty and racial equity perspectives. A recent fact sheet, written in partnership with the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, highlights these barriers and proposes a set of concrete recommendations for Congress and the Biden Administration to support immigrant access to abortion.
Read more |
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Reconnecting + Celebrating |
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Reconnecting with CLASP Alumni
On August 2nd, CLASP hosted a successful gathering of past and current CLASP board and staff who've contributed to the achievement of significant policy successes over the years and continue to impact and transform the lives of millions of people in communities across the country. It was wonderful to meet members of #TeamCLASP, past and present. I was struck by the common theme of people feeling that even the briefest of stays at CLASP had profound and lifelong effects on them. Watch the video of the outstanding event here.
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| Celebrating 20 Years of Youth Policy Work at CLASP!
At this event we also celebrated 20 years of youth policy work at CLASP. With current and former members of CLASP's Youth Policy team, we highlighted the impact this work has had over the past 20 years as well as honor the team's founder, Linda Harris, and past team director, Kisha Bird. Check out what friends and partners had to say about CLASP's incredible youth team here.
Check out photos from the event! |
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A Labor Day look at workers under Biden's presidency On Labor Day, CLASP's Education, Labor and Worker Justice experts weighed in on NPR's "All Things Considered" about President Biden's approach to labor and ensuring there are equitable pathways for women and people of color. |
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October 12 – Equity Matters
This year CLASP is launching a virtual discussion series titled Equity Matters. The purpose of this series is to bring together a diverse and cross-sector group, including policy officials, institutional leaders, researchers, advocates, and community members to foster transformative conversations on the core issues that perpetuate poverty and racial inequities. Our first session, "Equity Matters: Addressing Poverty, Racial Injustice, and Threats to Multiracial Democracy," will be held on October 12, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. ET. Register Today!
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November 8 – Indi + Friends
CLASP's "Indi + Friends" is back! This year the conversation will be held virtually on November 8, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. ET. I'd love for you to join us as I engage in conversation with a phenomenal group of panelists to discuss the importance and impact of centering individuals with lived experience in policy and advocacy. RSVP to join us!
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