Happy Holidays from Prosperity Now
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Dear John,
As we get ready to close out 2023, we want to express our deep gratitude to you and for the transformative impact we've achieved together in advancing racial and ethnic economic justice. Our collective successes have set the stage for an even bolder 2024, and we’re thrilled to continue partnering with you on this journey.
Through our newsletter this year, we renewed our commitment to providing resources that equip you to further economic well-being and advance racial justice in your communities. We kicked off the year by demanding a fully-funded IRS agency that protects families struggling to make ends meet and goes after corporate tax cheats. In February, we reflected on Black History Month, celebrated a “love match” between data and action with the latest Prosperity Now Scorecard, and set policy solutions into motion. With the reintroduction of Baby Bonds legislation at the national level, and increased momentum at the state level, 2023 marked the year that the prospect of ending intergenerational poverty for Black families became more tangible.
Together, we ushered in spring, Women's History Month, and a focus on economic justice for all women. The announcement of our new pilot initiative, Strengthening Black Female Retail Entrepreneurship, exemplified this commitment. We partnered with National CAPACD and other AANHPI-serving organizations to explore credit needs and the realities AANHPI business owners face in their entrepreneurial journeys.
In the summer, we harnessed all the Baby Bonds momentum to host our Day of Action #ForEveryKidsFuture, inviting you all to Capitol Hill in support of the American Opportunities Act, the federal bill that would help move us towards finally addressing the growing racial wealth divide. We invited advocates old and new to refine their skills at our advocacy boot camp, Camp Prosperity.
Amid leadership changes, our commitment to racial and ethnic economic justice remained steadfast. We brought hundreds of community tax preparation pros to Pittsburgh, Penn. for VITACon 2023 in September, and together we brainstormed solutions for an even more impactful tax season in 2024. And just last month, we celebrated and supported entrepreneurs through our continuing research and by convening experts to discuss timely changes that affect entrepreneurs of color.
John, this list is barely scratching the surface of what we have accomplished together this year.
We hope you will join us for another impactful year of creating an economy that works for all of us. Thank you for being a vital part of the Prosperity Now Community. Read on for updates, resources, and our shared vision of a bolder 2024 and a world where every family can build wealth and thrive.
In Partnership,
The Prosperity Now Team
The Prosperity Summit is the Event of 2024 💥
The 2024 Prosperity Summit will be here before you know it and we can't wait! Make sure to mark your calendar for September 4-6, 2024 and stay tuned for registration details.
The biennial Prosperity Summit brings together thousands of professionals working to ensure that everyone in our country has a clear path to financial stability, wealth and prosperity. Whether you’re a veteran in the national movement for economic mobility or you’re just getting started, there’s something here for you.
SNAP Participant Rights Are Under Attack
Funds from SNAP are typically distributed and administered through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) accounts to eligible participants. While we believe that the rights of consumers to access their financial data and to provide new consumer protections should include EBT accounts, currently the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau’s (CFPB's) proposed rule on 1033 rule does not protect those accounts.
We need your help. The CFPB is asking for feedback—whether households with low incomes who use EBT accounts should get the same access, rights and consumer protections as other financial products. If you agree, please sign on to our joint letter below.
The Buzz on Prosperity Now
- Prosperity Now Names Marisa Calderon President and CEO
- AP News: Gates Foundation takes on poverty in the U.S. with $100 million commitment, Prosperity Now
- Yahoo! Finance: Here's the right way to lend or gift money to help your loved one buy a home, Doug Ryan, Vice President of Policy and Applied Research, Prosperity Now
- Essence: The IRS Plan To Take It Easier On Low Income Taxpayers Next Year, Joanna Ain, Associate Director of Policy, Prosperity Now
