Dear Friends and Valued Partners,

Happy holidays from Prosperity Now!

At this time of year, I find myself in awe of how much of our work is powered by our collective will to effect change and contribute to a unified spirit of giving.

We pour so much of ourselves–our time, talent and treasure–into this important fight for racial economic justice, and in turn, it gives us back so much--meaning, purpose and tangible progress toward molding and shaping the world we want to live in.

As I reflect on this past year, both challenges and victories come to mind. While the challenges compel us, the victories confirm that change is possible and inspire us to keep moving forward. We made some important strides toward improving economic conditions for families and children around the country, many of which we have been championing for decades.

Some of our most notable wins in policy change are the expansion of the Child Tax Credit, providing families with essential support that has already drastically cut child poverty, the introduction of Baby Bonds legislation at the federal level and the formation of Baby Bonds and Children’s Savings Account programs in Connecticut, New York and Washington, DC.

We also celebrated critical federal investments in physical infrastructure through the Bipartisan Infrastructure legislation that make important progress toward racial equity. In this bill, we were delighted to see the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) codified into law, supplying critical funds for BIPOC small business owners. Similarly, we were gratified to see the launch of the SBA Community Navigator program.

I’m also incredibly proud of our staff and partners for coming together around our signature events this year, including VITACon, Right at Home, Camp Prosperity and our first LinkedIn and Instagram Lives— all held in this still-evolving virtual environment.

Lastly, during this season of giving, I’d like to invite you to join me in investing directly in Prosperity Now’s work to build a movement that demands a more equitable economy for everyone, including those who have been historically excluded by design.

NBC News: Fixing America's poverty problem starts with telling a new story

Multi-Housing News: Overcoming Misconceptions About Manufactured Housing Communities, Doug Ryan, Interim Vice President of Policy & Applied Research

Harvard Graduate School of Design: Report on Manufactured Housing and Latinx Homeownership Finds Significant Challenges and Offers Strategies for Improvement, Doug Ryan, Interim Vice President of Policy & Applied Research

Capitol One: WATCH: How Black Leaders Are Creating Equity in America, Gary Cunningham, President & CEO

The Observer: Pres. Biden Signs Law Making Minority Biz Dev Agency Permanent, Gary Cunningham, President & CEO 

Authority Magazine: Gary Cunningham Of ‘Prosperity Now’ On How They Are Helping To Promote Financial Inclusion, Gary Cunningham, President & CEO 

Los Angeles Times: Expanding Opportunity in Low-and Moderate-Income Communities, Laura Yepez, Program Manager of Ecosystem Change, Simone Robbennolt, Senior Research Associate & Doug Ryan, Interim Vice President of Policy & Applied Research

Black Enterprise: Voter Suppression: Economic Equity & Racial Justice Town Hall Series, Gary Cunningham, President & CEO

This month, Alejandra Montoya-Boyer, Director of Policy at Prosperity Now, joined Ursula Ramos, Senior Communications Manager, for a timely discussion on the Build Back Better Act (BBBA) and its potential impact on BIPOC communities. Watch the video below!

Prosperity Now continues to urge the swift passage of the BBBA in the Senate, and is advocating for key measures, such as the expanded Child Tax Credit and CTC eligibility for children for immigrant families, investments in affordable housing and resources for small business owners of color.

Emergency Rental Aid is Still Needed: Here’s How to Get it Where It can Make a Difference

The eviction crisis, like COVID, has not passed. With the expiration of the federal and some state and local eviction moratoria, evictions have quickly accelerated this fall. Doug Ryan, Interim Vice President of Policy & Applied Research, writes about the enduring need for Emergency Rental Assistance.