January 2018 RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar Planning for a Powerful 2018

Transcription

1 January 2018 RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar Planning for a Powerful 2018 Login online at: or dial (201) , Meeting ID: #

2 2 Welcome from Joanne Carter Executive Director, RESULTS RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar

3 3 RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar

4 4 Thank You for an Inspiring 2017! 442 media pieces in face-to-face meetings (139 House, 40 Senate) 118 outreach events 8 of 10 RESULTS U.S. Poverty groups (plus 18 Free Agents) represented at the 2017 International Conference See a list of all the media pieces published since last year s election more on our media map! RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar

5 5 Advocacy Makes a Difference! RESULTS volunteers and millions of other Americans stood up for health care and against cuts to nutrition programs Despite attacks at the start of 2017, Congressional leaders were not able to push through proposals to restructure SNAP and Medicaid Advocates stopped Senate leaders from getting 50 votes on four different health bills that would have decimated Medicaid Focused, strategic actions coupled with stories made a difference! RESULTS members with Sen. Susan Collins (R- ME), July 25, 2017

6 6 December 2017 Tax Recap Tax legislation adding $1.5 trillion to the federal deficit passed in December despite a huge public outcry that you helped create. Meredith Dodson Director of U.S. Poverty Campaigns mdodson@results.org Final tax bill includes a slight increase in the Child Tax Credit for low-income families (see this good Vox explainer) and Senate Republicans are now on record supporting an expansion of tax credits for low-income families.

7 7 We can, and we must, win this second part of the fight. - RESULTS Executive Director Joanne Carter after the tax vote

8 8 Primary Campaign for Early 2018: Protect Anti-Poverty Programs at Risk in Upcoming Budget Battles House leaders want to push deep cuts to assistance programs in their next budget Targets are SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, EITC, CTC, etc. While there is some pushback from the Administration and the Senate whether to prioritize cuts to health and basic assistance, we need keep up the pressure and tell Congress to strengthen these programs!

9 9

10 10 Hunger and Poverty by Race From new U.S. Census poverty data: More than 1 in 5 Black Americans live below the poverty line Almost 1 in 4 Hispanics Only 8.8 percent of Whites This is the legacy of structural racism that created the racial wealth gap.

11 2016 USDA Data: Food Insecurity 4.6 mil SNAP lifted 4.6 mil people out of poverty, including 2.1 million in 2015

12 12 Anti-Poverty Programs Make an Impact!

13 13 Federal Programs are Key in Fighting Hunger

14 SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) SNAP is the first line of defense against hunger in America It is one of the most efficient government programs o More than 99 percent of benefits go to eligible households In 2016, SNAP lifted nearly 3.6 million people above the poverty line o Serves over 41 million people per month 3.6 mil SNAP lifted 3.6 mil people out of poverty in 2016

15 Without SNAP, I d be on the cusp of homelessness. With SNAP, I m on the cusp of law school. -Asia Bijan Thompson, RESULTS Expert on Poverty #Voices4RESULTS

16 SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) Participation 3.6 mil SNAP lifted 3.6 mil people out of poverty in 2016

17 Medicaid and CHIP Are Key Especially for Young Children 3.6 mil SNAP lifted 3.6 mil people out of poverty in 2016 RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar

18 Instead of Taking Food and Health Care Away from Working Families, We Must Strengthen SNAP and Other Policies Some in Congress want to add work requirements to programs like SNAP and Medicaid. But taking away food and health care doesn t help people find work. We should address the cliff effect without undermining the core benefits of SNAP and other antipoverty programs. SNAP s meal allotment of about $125 per month, or about $1.40 per meal per person, is inadequate to meet the nutritional needs of hungry Americans. RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar

19 Looking Ahead: Opportunities to Reduce Poverty (and Make Poverty an Election Issue?)

20 20 Q&A: How to Chat Advocacy in a New Political Era: Lessons from the Front RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar

21 Group Planning A goal without a plan is just a wish. Planning last January is what set you up for a record year in your advocacy work with RESULTS Planning focuses your efforts on maximizing your strengths and improving in areas where you want to get better Planning opens up resources to help you be successful The Essentials You Will Need Individual Planning Form Group Planning Guide Group Planning Summary (turn this form in by January 31) All group planning resources can be found on the RESULTS Group Resources and Administration page: Jos Linn Grassroots Manager for U.S. Poverty Campaigns jlinn@results.org RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar

22 22 Group Planning Summary Start discussion with outlining your group norms Be sure to consider norms that address how your group will work to combat forms of oppression and promote inclusivity Also assess your group s current health be honest about where you are. We will use 2018 to better support and strengthen our groups and volunteers RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar

23 23 Group Planning Summary Spent time on outlining roles for your groups Remember, taking on a role is ensuring better health for your group o When everyone participates it means greater group strength and less work You can find our Grassroots Roles list on the Group Resources page Also, make up your own role if you need a new one to help your group strive and thrive RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar

24 24 Group Planning Summary Note the language outcomes v. goals Fill out the form as if it one year from now What do you want to look back on and say that your group accomplished in 2018 Start with the end in mind RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar

25 2018 #LettersGetLoud Campaign What is it? Throughout the year, we ll be mobilizing our grassroots network and engaging new members to craft powerful letters to share and deliver to Congress. The more letters we write, the more our #LettersGetLoud! Why are we doing this? We must make the fight against poverty the issue of One letter is powerful but if we all write letters, together we can draw on the collective impact of our stories, our letters, our voices to influence decision makers and bring an end to poverty. Congress needs to hear from you, and they need to hear how policies affect real people! How we ll do it: LEARN the issue ORGANIZE our communities USE our voices DELIVER our letters Kristy Martino U.S. Poverty Grassroots Organizer Link to campaign page Follow the campaign on social media

26 Group Planning If you are not planning tonight, please set a date to do planning in January Find all the resources you need to do your 2018 group planning at: including the Individual Planning Form, the Group Planning Guide, the Group Planning Summary, and Grassroots Roles Descriptions Please submit your completed Group Planning Summary to Jos Linn by January 31 Scan the Summary form and it to jlinn@results.org; if you cannot it, contact Jos for other options The January U.S. Poverty Action has tips to help with planning and a guide to requesting your first lobby meetings for the year: RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar

27 27 Group Planning Questions? RESULTS staff will stay on Fuze for 30 minutes after the end of tonight s webinar in case you have questions. Otherwise, please feel free to contact us with questions as you do your planning this month. Contact Jos Linn (jlinn@results.org) with questions about the planning process, your group outcomes, and submitting your plans. Contact Meredith Dodson (mdodson@results.org) with questions about our 2018 policy campaigns. GOOD LUCK! RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar

28 28 Upcoming Outreach Louisiana Storytelling & Advocacy Training Session, Saturday, January 13 at 5:00pm CT. Women Resource Center, 1221 Truxton Street, Gretna, LA. Featuring RESULTS Experts on Poverty Qiana Torregano, Maxine Thomas, and Asia Bijan Thompson. For more information, contact Meredith Dodson. Iowa (Des Moines) Presentation on Poverty and Young Children, Monday, January 29 at 6:30pm CT. Franklin Avenue Library, 5000 Franklin Ave, Des Moines, IA. More details soon. Contact Jos Linn for more information. Iowa (Iowa City) Presentation on Poverty and Young Children, Tuesday, January 30 at 6:30pm CT. St. Mark s United Methodist Church, 2675 E. Washington Street, Iowa City, IA. More details soon. Contact Jos Linn for more information. Pennsylvania Join the Fight Against Poverty Training, Saturday, February 17 at 10:00am. Featuring RESULTS Expert on Poverty Asia Bijan Thompson. Al Beech/Wood Side Food Pantry, 190 S Sprague Ave, Kingston, PA. For more information contact asiabijant@gmail.com. RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar

29 29 Announcements All RESULTS offices will be closed for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday next Monday, January 16. U.S. Poverty Free Agents Calls, Tuesday, January 17 at 1:00pm and 8:00pm ET. Login at or dial in by phone at (201) , Meeting ID: #. The 2018 RESULTS International Conference is July 14-17, 2018 in Washington, D.C. Registration is NOW OPEN! Register and share our new 2018 Conference flyer! Find these and other events on the RESULTS Events Calendar. RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar

30 30 Thank you for being on tonight s Webinar! Remember that starting next month, the U.S. Poverty National Webinar moves to the FIRST Tuesday of the month at 8:00 pm ET. Our next National Grassroots Webinar is Tuesday, February 6 at 8:00pm ET Happy Planning!

31 31 FINAL THOUGHT Ginnie Vogts, RESULTS Columbus and Regional Coordinator RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar

32 32 Additional Resources RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar

33 2018 #LettersGetLoud Campaign What is it? Throughout the year, we ll be mobilizing our grassroots network and engaging new members to craft powerful letters to share and deliver to Congress. The more letters we write, the more our #LettersGetLoud! Why are we doing this? We must make the fight against poverty the issue of One letter is powerful but if we all write letters, together we can draw on the collective impact of our stories, our letters, our voices to influence decision makers and bring an end to poverty. Congress needs to hear from you, and they need to hear how policies affect real people! How we ll do it: LEARN the issue ORGANIZE our communities USE our voices DELIVER our letters Link to campaign page Follow the campaign on social media

34 1. Learn the issue Understand what the stakes are, understand the impact of policy on real people yourself, your family, those in your own community, and around the world Learn about your members of Congress, gauge where they stand on the issue, what approach in messaging you can take so that they will hear you and connect with you on your issue Resources: U.S. Poverty Campaigns Global Poverty Campaigns Champion Scale U.S. Poverty EPIC Laser Talks Global EPIC Laser Talks State and local data (U.S. Poverty) Link to campaign page Follow the campaign on social media

35 2. Organize your community Gather members of your group and your community for education and action meetings, or host an outreach event Share the issue and why it is important, inspire others to take action by sharing why this matters to you Lead a letter writing skills session Resources: Organizing and outreach guide Storytelling and powerful speaking tools Building relationships with Congress webinar Template LTEs (letters to the editor) (U.S. Poverty) Template LTEs (Global Poverty) Link to campaign page Follow the campaign on social media

36 3. Use your voice Write a letter (or letters!) to your members of Congress, make it powerful by making it personal Record yourself and others reading your letter out loud via phone or other video capturing device Share your video letter on social media, tag your member(s) of Congress and end with a call to action for others to write their own letters the more voices we share, the more our #LettersGetLoud (and don t forget to include that hashtag!) Resources: Hear some of our volunteer #LettersGetLoud and get inspired! Sample social media posts Tips and tricks for recording and posting Link to campaign page Follow the campaign on social media

37 4. Deliver your letters Maximize the impact of your letters you ve written them, shared them via social media, now hand deliver them to Congress Set up a face-to-face meeting while your members are on recess, collect the physical letters from your community and deliver them during your meeting (feel free to record and share this action too!) Let your members of Congress know that they work for you then write another letter and repeat! Resources: Scheduling a face-to-face meeting guide Get a lobby prep meeting from RESULTS staff: U.S. Global Congressional requests and leave behinds Link to campaign page Follow the campaign on social media