Inside: Resources and Upcoming Opportunities for the Field
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Dear John,
It’s hard to believe we’re already in 2023. After closing out an impactful year celebrating many successes driven by our network of racial economic justice advocates, I am excited to partner with you all to push an even bigger, bolder agenda.
I know the Prosperity Now team is hard at work developing opportunities to learn, network and advocate throughout this year, as well as a multitude of resources to equip you all to continue advancing economic wellbeing and racial economic justice in your communities.
I invite you to read on to learn more about what we have in store for January, special (and exciting) announcements and ways you can get involved with Prosperity Now.
As always, I look forward to continuing our work together. Thank you for joining Prosperity Now in this fight.
In Solidarity,
Gary Cunningham
President & CEO
Prosperity Now
Racism and White supremacy are woven into the DNA of our society and are spiritually, economically, physically, and mentally damaging for those furthest from justice. It is time for all of us to hold each other accountable and redirect racist ideas and practices to one that values our common humanity. Prosperity Now’s Director of Racial Economic Justice writes about including racial healing practices as we seek to reshape institutional policies and practices that impact communities of color.
$40 million in Funding for VITA for FY2023 – The Fight Continues!
Thank you for your hard work in 2022! With your help and advocacy, we are celebrating a momentous victory: the omnibus spending bill for fiscal year 2023, which includes $40M for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)! Congratulations to YOU, as Prosperity Now Community members—what an amazing achievement. The fight continues in 2023, and it will not be easy with a divided Congress. Nonetheless, we are confident that with your continued support and advocacy work, we will achieve more of our legislative goals in 2023.
To learn more about advocacy at all levels of government, click here to access Prosperity Now’s Virtual Advocacy Toolkit.
New Resources for a New Year
A Divided Orlando: A Look at the City’s Racial Wealth Gap | Prosperity Now
Enterprising Black Orlando and Prosperity Now have teamed up to explore new ways to support and invest in high-impact, Black-led nonprofits in Orlando that advance economic mobility and wealth building.
America’s Broken Criminal Legal System Contributes to Wealth Inequality | Center for American Progress
This extensive report from the Center for American Progress reveals how America’s failed history of mass incarceration and criminalization of Black life has “birthed a nationwide criminal records crisis that, in turn, has become a significant driver of poverty and racial inequality.”
Baby Bonds: A Legislative Toolkit for Building a Brighter Future in Your State | Prosperity Now
This comprehensive toolkit provides guidance to state and local policymakers and advocates on drafting impactful Baby Bonds legislation.
How State and Local Leaders Can Address America’s Wealth Gap | Route Fifty
This article from Route Fifty advocates for a state and local approach to community wealth building amidst a polarized federal government.
A New Financial Security Ecosystem: Laying the Groundwork for a New Financial Security Ecosystem | Prosperity Now
In this brief, Prosperity Now seeks to reimagine the existing Financial Security frameworks by exploring the cascading nature of financial crises to broaden how we think about addressing financial security.
Opinion - House GOP’s First Bill: A Misleading Gambit to Protect Interests of Wealthy Tax Cheats | Center on Budget & Policy Priorities
The United States House of Congress majority made their first policy priority in 2023 rescinding “nearly all of the Inflation Reduction Act’s $80 billion in ten-year funding for the IRS,” which will make the IRS understaffed and unable to uphold the tax code, therefore protecting those who like to cheat the systems.
Are You Joining Us?
In-Person Events
The State of the Racial Wealth Divide: Memphis | Feb. 2. 2023 | 12-4 pm CST - Register Here
Gain a deeper understanding of opportunities and challenges in supporting communities of color, with Black and brown-led organizations leading the charge. The discussion will focus on the role of effective collaboration, philanthropic and corporate funding, policy and advocacy, and investment in closing the racial wealth divide in Memphis.
The State of the Racial Wealth Divide: Savannah | Feb. 3. 2023 | 12-4 pm CST - Register Here
Gain a deeper understanding of opportunities and challenges in supporting communities of color, with Black and brown-led organizations leading the charge. The discussion will focus on the role of effective collaboration, philanthropic and corporate funding, policy and advocacy, and investment in closing the racial wealth divide in Savannah.
Webinars
Racial Wealth Equity: Closing the Gaps through Data | Black Wealth Data Center | Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Sign up to learn about real-world examples of data practices at the federal, state, and local level that are coming up short and hear how the Black Wealth Data Center and its partners are working to address them.
2023 Tax Season Kick-Off | Prosperity Now | Monday, January 30, 2023
Tax filing season is here, and we are working hard to bring you the resources and support needed to promote success and efficiency for the 2023 season! The Taxpayer Opportunity Network will be holding our annual “Tax Season Kick Off” on Monday, January 30, 2023, at 2:00 pm EST.
Recording: VITA Offseason Prep: 2022 Tax Law Updates | Prosperity Now | Recorded December 8, 2022
Click here to watch the recording of Prosperity Now’s 2022 Tax Law Updates Webinar hosted by TON members Brad Martin and Marshall J. Hunt, which provides tax law updates and highlights, specifically those that will impact VITA sites moving forward.
The Pulse on Prosperity Now
Federal News Network, To level the playing field, invest in the IRS, Gary Cunningham, President & CEO
Yahoo! Finance, How big will your tax refund be? Changes this year make it harder to guess, Joanna Ain, Associate Director of Policy
Massachusetts Government, Baby Bonds Task Force Findings Report, Shira Markoff, Policy Fellow
The Grio, How will the economy impact Black Americans in 2023?, Prosperity Now
YouTube, Prosperity Now National Convening-Best Motivational Speaker, Chris James
KUOW, 'Baby Bond' proposal would benefit nearly half of all WA newborns, Prosperity Now
