It didn’t get much media attention, but the U.S. Congress banned the use of federal funds for racial profiling last week by voice vote. This adds to the existing federal rules which ban federal law enforcement agencies and joint task forces from racial profiling (excluding airport security. We have our eye on you TSA!). OfContinue reading “Banning Racial Profiling is Long Overdue”
Category Archives: featured
Seattle Election Initiative Aims to Take Big Money Out of Campaigns
This article was contributed by Rosalind Brazel, communications manager for Washington Community Action Network (Washington CAN!) The Honest Elections Initiative campaign aims to take big money out of politics and give low income people a real voice in electing leaders who represent them. On Monday, June 1, more than 32,000 signatures were delivered to theContinue reading “Seattle Election Initiative Aims to Take Big Money Out of Campaigns”
Ban the Box: Two Big Wins for the Fair Hiring Campaign in Florida
Last week, small business owners, activists, and faith leaders gathered on the steps of the Daytona Beach City Hall to announce the City of Daytona’s plan to “ban the box” and open up opportunities to all applicants by removing the criminal conviction question from city job applications. The effort, commonly known as “ban the box”Continue reading “Ban the Box: Two Big Wins for the Fair Hiring Campaign in Florida”
Los Angeles is Biggest City to Enact $15 Minimum Wage
Los Angeles has become the biggest city in the nation to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, Los Angeles City Council members voted 13-1 today to more than double the federal wage by 2020. Los Angeles City Council members signaled two weeks ago that they would raise the minimum wage, and tookContinue reading “Los Angeles is Biggest City to Enact $15 Minimum Wage”
Job Gap Research is Key as New York Groups Fight for Fair Wages
Fast food workers in New York took another big step toward winning fair wages two weeks ago when Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the convening of a new Wage Board to examine and make recommendations about increasing the minimum wage in the state’s fast food industry. Cuomo’s office has now announced the next steps in theContinue reading “Job Gap Research is Key as New York Groups Fight for Fair Wages”
States Must Do More to Support Workers and Families
“Get a Better Job!” “Get an Education!” “Pull Yourself Up by Your Bootstraps!” Too often when workers struggle to make ends meet, these are the messages they hear. Unfortunately, these messages set unrealistic expectations. Rather than creating an environment that helps ensure working families can succeed, too many states set up systems that that workContinue reading “States Must Do More to Support Workers and Families”
Native Americans in Philanthropy: Innovation and Inspiration
When you bring more than 200 Natives and their allies together to exchange information and ideas on what’s going on in Indian Country it’s bound to be a gathering that is full of wisdom and good-humored teasing, Indian style! That’s how the Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) celebrated their 25th anniversary at Mystic Lake HotelContinue reading “Native Americans in Philanthropy: Innovation and Inspiration”
Beating Cancer Is One Thing; Beating Medical Debt Is Another
It was a dreary Wednesday afternoon, about a year-and-a-half ago. I was rehearsing in Seattle for an upcoming performance with my rock band, Theory of Change. I was working out some parts with the saxophonist, and things were sounding good. Then, I got the call that would change my life.
Fair Revenue a Must in Budget Deal
In Washington state, the Legislature is in special session, negotiating a budget deal. The state desperately needs funding for our schools, as the state Supreme Court has ruled that the Legislature is failing our children.
20 Years Later, Can We Finally End Excessive Policing?
The movement against police violence — a movement perhaps best summed up by the slogan Black Lives Matter — is at a turning point. Of course, police abuse of power is as old as policing itself. Racist and disproportionate police misconduct, and violence targeted at communities of color, is just as lasting. But it seemsContinue reading “20 Years Later, Can We Finally End Excessive Policing?”