John,
As we continue to reflect on the last twelve months and how we got here, the generations that came before and the choices they made, this Juneteenth we have the opportunity to ask ourselves how we can honor the past by redefining our future and the limitations on our ability to truly live in a free and just society.
We owe it to ourselves to reflect on origins of this nation by centering those most deeply impacted by systemic inequality, like Black families. In honor of this important holiday, we’re privileged to share the experience of Dr. Connie Kitchens, one of our 2020 Care Fellows. She shares what the incredible expansion of the Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan has meant for her and her family.
“After more than 30 years as a proud educator in the schools of my hometown in Georgia, I decided to retire, thinking the next phase of my life would be enjoying time with my husband and more quality time with my daughters and grandchildren. My life was flipped upside down three years ago when my 27-year-old daughter received a terminal cancer diagnosis. When she passed away in 2019, my husband and I became the primary caregivers for her nine-year-old daughter and four-year-old son with sickle-cell disease.”
“In order to keep afloat, we used our retirement to support my daughter, and enrolled both her and my grandson in clinical trials to keep costs down. Due to my daughter and grandson’s illnesses, I’ve become a volunteer in caregiving and cancer advocacy.”
"The Child Tax Credit proposed by the Biden administration is much improved from the 2020 benefit. With the 2021 plan, the money from this tax credit can go much further. We don’t qualify for public assistance because of retirement income and home ownership. But despite this, having both kids at home all day during the pandemic increased all the expenses, and exploded the cost of living with our limited income. For us, $250 per child would help offset the high utility bill and help cover food. What this means for our family and others, is that it gives a leg up so that folks can work on coming out of poverty. To be comfortable, not just survive. Extending the expanded Child Tax Credit for a couple of years will help people across the country become middle class citizens, and get them back on their feet, especially after the pandemic.”
“For me, volunteering as a Care Fellow with Caring Across has been a tremendous time — I participated in a Get Out the Vote effort, and developed such a different insight into the political world. I’ve always had relationships with local politicians through my work as an educator, but there’s a huge gap between being a politician and advocating for policies that are close to your heart. I feel seen and heard, this advocacy work is important to elevate all of our families.”
- Dr. Connie Kitchens
The expansion of the Child Tax Credit has already had an incredible impact on supporting our children and lifting our families out of poverty. Which is why we’re working so hard to make sure that expansion becomes permanent in the American Families Plan. Our advocacy takes immense effort and the voices of caregivers like Connie. Not to mention the resources needed for our transformative fellowship to empower Care Fellows like Connie, where it costs up to $5,000 per fellow to provide the development they need to become powerful advocates for care.
Your gift of $25 or more will make an incredible difference by ensuring we can keep up our tireless advocacy and keep empowering caregivers every day. Make a gift now →
Our hope for this Juneteenth is that we become free from financial and racial inequity and insecurity, raise our voices, and assert change.
With care,
Rebekah Alexander, Individual Giving Manager
Caring Across Generations
&
Dr. Connie Kitchens
2020 Care Fellow
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