In 1965, the American South was a battlefield for civil rights. A wealthy elite sought to block the rights and voice of the Black community. This battle reached a tipping point in Alabama over the basic right to vote. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Almost fifty years later, many statesContinue reading “From Selma to Montgomery”
Tag Archives: communities of color
ICAN Member Featured in CNN story
An Idaho student and member of Alliance affiliate Idaho Community Action Network was part of a CNN story about the 1965 Selma Re-Enactment March that took place last week in Alabama. Civil rights activists from all across the country made the four-day trek from Selma to Montgomery to mark the 47th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, andContinue reading “ICAN Member Featured in CNN story”
The Distasteful Politics of Food
How, what, and where we eat everyday is strongly influenced by the federal government, in partnership with major food corporations, through a piece of legislation called the Farm Bill. Many of the social determinates of health that impact our communities find their roots in the Farm Bill a massive piece of legislation up for renewalContinue reading “The Distasteful Politics of Food”
New State Health Insurance Exchange Rules Must Be Strengthened
Earlier this summer, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a preliminary set of regulations that instruct states in the development of their new health insurance marketplaces, also called exchanges. These rules govern all aspects of how the exchanges are run and are a key mechanism for reigning in health insurance company profiteering.Continue reading “New State Health Insurance Exchange Rules Must Be Strengthened”
Medicaid Makes a Difference Report
Congress is locked in a budget battle that’s grabbed round-the-clock media attention. Lost in the coverage are the real stakes in the debate, including the lives of the more than 50 million people covered by Medicaid, which is now in the budget-cutting cross-hairs. More than half of these 50 million are people of color. RacialContinue reading “Medicaid Makes a Difference Report”
Hispanics are the Hardest Hit of the Economic Recession
A recent study released by the Pew Research Center brought to light the fact that Hispanics have been the hardest hit during this economic recession. According to this study, the decline in the housing market in 2006 and the economic recession from 2007 to 2009 were enormously felt in communities of color. For instance, theContinue reading “Hispanics are the Hardest Hit of the Economic Recession”
Why Medicaid Matters
In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed Medicaid and Medicare into law. At the signing ceremony, he spoke of the tradition of leadership that compelled the country to create such programs. He also spoke of another tradition, one embedded in our national identity and values. He said this value “calls upon us never to be indifferentContinue reading “Why Medicaid Matters”
Immigration Victories in Arizona and Beyond
Following the passage of Arizona’s racist, anti-immigrant law SB 1070, there is good news. In the wake of SB 1070, five anti-immigrant bills have been defeated in Arizona. One of the bills defeated included the denial of birth right citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants. But the worst of one of all proposed requiring hospitalsContinue reading “Immigration Victories in Arizona and Beyond”
America’s Food Sweatshops
This article is written by Yvonne Yen Liu and reprinted with permission from Colorlines.com. Liu presented the findings of her report, “The Color of Food,” at the Alliance’s IPP Symposium, “Health Equity — Beyond Health Care Reform” on March 11, 2011. You can download the full report here.
Washington CAN! Leads 800 People in Demanding an Equitable State Budget
All across the country, lawmakers are faced with grim state budget shortfalls that will mean devastating cuts to the social safety net. As a result of the national recession, Washington state faces one of the worst economic downturns in over 80 years. In the past two years lawmakers have balanced the state budget by cuttingContinue reading “Washington CAN! Leads 800 People in Demanding an Equitable State Budget”