Dear Friends,

June is a month of celebration for many communities. We at Prosperity Now look forward to observing Immigrant Heritage Month, Caribbean Heritage Month and Pride in support of the diverse communities we serve. We also look forward to uplifting the vibrancy and joy of the African American community on Juneteenth — June 19 — while also reflecting on the historical injustices that fuel our fight for justice and equity.

Homeownership Month
This June, we also celebrate Homeownership Month, focusing primarily on Black homeownership rates — but also the vital wealth-building potential of homeownership for all low- and moderate-income communities.

The Biden Administration’s Continued Commitment to Racial Economic Equity
I was heartened and encouraged last week to see the Biden administration’s acknowledgement of the Tulsa Massacre and the President’s continued commitment to policies that will help close the racial wealth divide. From taking action on racial discrimination in the housing market, to growing federal contracting opportunities with small, disadvantaged businesses to supporting community-led civic infrastructure projects—these are the kinds of bold actions we need to create jobs and build wealth in communities of color.

Camp Prosperity
Finally, I am thrilled to announce this year’s Camp Prosperity advocacy bootcamp! Just as the summer camps of our youth were an opportunity to develop new skills, Camp Prosperity is an opportunity to sharpen your advocacy skills so you can more effectively champion the needs of your community.

Camp Prosperity is a three-part, virtual learning session aimed at local advocates, service providers and practitioners interested in engaging in advocacy to strengthen financial security for the communities they serve. At Prosperity Now, we believe that everyone can and should be strong advocates for change.

Registration is open now, and we hope you will join us!

A New Partnership to Expand Financial Well-being for Youth
Prosperity Now is pleased to announce a partnership with Build Up, a program that provides low-income youth with career-ready skills, leading them to become empowered civic leaders and homeowners, and Fannie Mae to launch an iterative version of our HomeReserve program. Prosperity Now will provide technical assistance to Build Up to design and implement a program where students open individual matched savings accounts that will grow as they matriculate through Build UP’s education program. Read more about Build Up and this exciting new partnership in our new blog post.

Now is the Time to Permanently Expand the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit | Center for American Progress
The Center for American Progress’ report provides evidence in support of the CTC and EITC expansions included in the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan.

Racial and Gendered Equity and Biden’s American Jobs Plan | Prosperity Now
This blog from Prosperity Now considers the American Jobs Plan’s commitment to overcoming structural economic inequity and whether the intended beneficiaries reap the benefits. 

From Relief to Resilience: Reimagining Investments | Asset Funders Network
This Asset Funders Network brief reimagines and builds on past recommendations to map more just paths philanthropic organizations can take to build economic well-being for all.

The American Jobs Plan: Investing in Unions and Job Quality | Prosperity Now
Prosperity Now shares how the American Jobs Plan would strengthen wages and benefits for home care workers and ensures workers have a fair choice to organize, join unions and bargain with employers.

Friends and Family Exchanges | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
This toolkit from the CFPB provides practitioners with tools to support clients who give, borrow, lend or share financial resources with friends and family members.

Ensuring and Expanding Access to Alternative Tax Preparation Services Fireside Chats | Prosperity Now 

• Session 1, June 10 at 3 p.m. ET: Volunteer Management for Alternative Service Delivery
• Session 2, June 15 at 3 p.m. ET: Alternative Service Delivery and Client Outreach
• Session 3, June 28 at 3 p.m. ET: Engaging Partners in a Coalition to Advance your Cause

Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) and Health: Learn more about the role public health can play in non-traditional health interventions | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | June 17, 2021

Camp Prosperity 2021: Advocacy Summer Camp Series | Prosperity Now 

• June 29, 2021: Mapping Influence: Understanding Who and How to Engage for Change
• July 13, 2021: Successful Allyship in Grassroots Advocacy
• July 27, 2021: Advocating for Equity-centered Policies

Registration link coming soon!

One Million Children Should Not Be Left Out of the Child Tax Credit
The expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) under the American Rescue Plan has the potential to lift millions of kids out of poverty. Yet one million children from immigrant households cannot access the credit because they have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead of a Social Security number. Read our blog post on why Congress should make this important tax benefit available to all children in immigrant families, helping them thrive.

New State-Level Baby Bonds Program in Connecticut
Connecticut’s legislature pushed the national discussion on Baby Bonds into high gear, becoming the first state to pass a bill creating a state-level Baby Bonds program. Under the program, $3,200 will be invested on behalf of Connecticut babies born after July 1, 2021 who are enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program, HUSKY Health. While the total investment for children is less than the national Baby Bonds program proposed by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7) in the American Opportunity Accounts Act, it is an important step forward in Prosperity Now and other advocates’ efforts to build momentum for a national program and a significant victory for the estimated 16,000 Connecticut babies who will benefit from this program each year.

Calling for the Permanent Expansion of the EITC and CTC
In March, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan, which included a fully refundable Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the tripling of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). However, these new expansions are temporary, effective for just one year. Prosperity Now has long advocated for a permanent expansion of the CTC and the EITC, which would support families in an uncertain economy and help ensure essential expenses are paid. Support this by sending a pre-drafted email to your member of Congress here.

Support the Allowing Steady Savings by Eliminating Tests (ASSET) Act
Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Chris Coons (D-DE) recently introduced the Allowing Steady Savings by Eliminating Tests (ASSET) Act (S. 1801) in the Senate to accompany a similar bill introduced in the House by Reps. Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) and Jimmy Gomez (D-CA). If passed, this bill would remove savings penalties on TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) and raise asset limits for SSI (Supplemental Security Income). Additionally, the bill would allow recipients of these programs to build savings while maintaining these much-needed benefits. Policies like this one are critical for promoting financial stability, as nearly 40% of households lack enough savings to live for three months at the poverty level. Email your representative and ask them to sign onto the ASSET Act here.

The Avenue News: BCPS teacher wins state award for financial education in elementary schools, Robin McKinney, Board Member

WUSA9: Yes, you can file a basic federal tax return for free, Rebecca Thompson, Director, Field Engagement & TON

CNN: W. Kamau Bell: Few things say 'the US economy is broken' more than this, Prosperity Now Data

Lookout Santa Cruz: SEEDS of Hope: How a $25 investment in every Santa Cruz County newborn is a giant leap for equity, Shira Markoff, Director of Children’s Savings

Yahoo! Finance: No solution in sight as renters, landlords face ‘eviction cliff’ on June 30, Doug Ryan, Senior Fellow