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John,
I am thrilled to officially be on board and extend my warmest greetings as president and CEO of Prosperity Now. It is with immense enthusiasm that I embark on this journey to lead an organization in its 45th year that is building a bolder now for a more prosperous and equitable tomorrow.
This month, we stand at the intersection of new possibilities and continued commitment. Prosperity Now works daily to transform current systems, practices and policies in service of an economy that works for everyone, and I’m proud to contribute to this mission. Together, we will create and navigate the evolving landscape of racial economic justice, ensuring that every child and family can thrive regardless of racial, ethnic, or economic background.
We have a strong start to our 45th year with January marking the beginning of a brand-new tax season. We’re grateful to the thousands of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) preparers and our Taxpayer Opportunity Network whose hard work will make this season a success and make tax time more fruitful for low-to-moderate income families. This month, we also mark Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day, an acknowledgement of the largest federal anti-poverty program that supports millions of working families each year. Starting on January 26, we will celebrate the impact of the EITC online and in-person by partnering with local leaders in Florida, California, Georgia, and more. Stay tuned here for updates on how to get involved!
As we prepare for the 2024 Prosperity Summit: Mobilizing Our Collective Power Towards Economic Justice for All, we also excitedly await your conference session ideas! Keep reading below for directions on how to submit your session proposal and be part of what makes the Prosperity Summit THE place to be for champions of racial economic justice.
This is just the beginning of our bold partnership with you this year. This month and beyond, I am eager to engage with each of you, hear your stories, and learn from your experiences. Here's to a year of growth, resilience and shared success!
Warmly,
Marisa Calderon
President & CEO
Prosperity Now
Apply to host a session at the 2024 Prosperity Summit!
The Prosperity Summit offers three days of sessions, workshops, networking events and keynote addresses designed to make participants feel empowered, informed, energized, hopeful, and part of a movement that is advancing prosperity and equity for our nation. From now through March 15, we're accepting workshop proposals from you, our dedicated advocates, partners, and friends.
Click here to begin the submission process. You will be asked to create an account, describe your session, and choose the workshop track your session falls under. If you are selected, you will receive a reduced registration rate with full access to all 2024 Summit programming. We look forward to hearing your ideas!
The Child Tax Credit works. We must expand it.
Earlier this week, a bipartisan deal was announced that would revive the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC). "If passed, the CTC expansion could help as many as 16 million additional children who are close to the poverty line, making a real difference in the lives of families who need financial support the most," says Marisa Calderon, President and CEO of Prosperity Now.
But we need your help asking Congress to prioritize children and families over corporations and support the expanded CTC! Please take a moment to submit a pre-drafted letter to your Members of Congress and request that they pass a permanent expansion of the CTC in 2024.
Like Martin Luther King, Jr., we are committed to dismantling racist systems and structures at the root and drive economic power in communities.
— Ebony White, Senior Director of Programs
Will you join us in MA to fight #ForEveryKidsFuture?
Join Prosperity Now as we partner with The Midas Collaborative and United Way of Massachusetts Bay on January 29 at 11:00 a.m. for a Day of Action at the Massachusetts State House. We need YOU to help us lift up policies that support asset development and financial security for low-income Massachusetts families so that every child and family has the opportunity to build wealth and thrive.
Wealth inequality persists across the country and, without direct policy intervention, the wealth gap will continue to widen. A 2015 Federal Reserve study found in the greater Boston area alone, the median net worth for white households was nearly $250,000, and for Black households, it was just $8. That’s where Baby Bonds and matched savings come in.
