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Last month, the United States Supreme Court rescinded President Biden’s eviction moratorium leaving millions in jeopardy of housing instability. During the same week, the Mississippi Legislative Tax Study Committee held hearings to discuss changes such as possibly eliminating the state income tax – a move that public policy analysts note would further devastate the budget for our public services and shift the burden onto low income families. Research shows that evictions and eliminating state income taxes can be costly, and if lawmakers want to actually support families and boost local economies, new data proves there are better ways to do that.

As already underfunded public systems are being ravaged by preventable overload from the surge of the Delta variant, now, more than ever, families need support, stability, and strengthened social safety nets that center their voices and experiences.

Infusions of unrestricted cash such as stimulus checks, unemployment benefits, the child tax credit and earned income tax credits, have allowed for families to both support their needs, as well as put significant resources back into their local economies. At Springboard to Opportunities, we’ve seen the powerful impact of giving money directly to families through our guaranteed income initiative, The Magnolia Mother’s Trust (MMT) that provides $1,000 payments to 100 low-income Black mothers every month for 12 months.

If you’ve been a frequent reader of this newsletter, you already know that our data shows that families use these funds to cover bills, create savings and purchase food and basic household goods. This not only supports the well-being of these families, but translates to more money being spent at local businesses, multiplying economic growth in our state.

The expanded federal Child Tax Credit (CTC) has already contributed to a recent boost in added revenue for the state of Mississippi. The CTC which is now fully refundable and coming on a monthly schedule for the first six months, is available to more families than ever before. Recent research conducted by The Niskanen Center and the Institute for Tax and Employment Policy estimates that with these changes, the total impact of the CTC in Mississippi will be over $2 billion, supporting 7,266 full-time jobs, and adding over $18.5 million in new state revenue.

For the families Springboard serves, these funds contributed to timely necessities. Last month, we shared the stories of Annette and I’Esha, who were received their CTC funds at crucial moments when health complications and seasonal employment led to the loss of income. Initially, these mothers had to dig into their savings to keep their families afloat. However, the advanced monthly payments from the CTC have helped them afford basic necessities like school supplies and diapers – items not covered by other public benefits like SNAP or WIC.

Critics of cash programs often chide low-income families by saying they should just save — sentiments also communicated during the hearings by the MS Legislative Tax Study Committee. But mothers like I’Esha were saving. She worked two jobs to ensure that she could meet her family’s needs. Yet, that still wasn’t enough. The realities of working multiple jobs to still not make a living wage, coupled with government policies that are often inherently punitive, demonstrate the very significance of the CTC monthly payments.

Our lives do not exist in isolation. We are impacted by multiple systems and identities. Simply telling someone to “save” without recognition that most people are trying to stay housed amidst widespread housing crises, take care of families, not get sick because they likely won’t be able to afford treatment or could lose a job that doesn’t even pay them enough to live, misses the nuances of our layered experiences, and the greater burden of systemic inequities.

The expanded CTC is one step toward correcting some of these inequities and supporting much needed revenue and spending. When we support our people, everyone benefits.

In the coming weeks, Congress will be voting on a full budget package and while there will be massive numbers, multiple programs, and all sorts of policy jargon being thrown around, we encourage you to keep the stories of those like Annette and I’Esha front and center. We have proof of what works for families and businesses, and here in Mississippi, we’re already seeing the human and revenue benefits.

Let us take this opportunity to finally make a sustainably positive impact on the health, wellbeing, and livelihoods of children, families, and broader communities in this state and across this nation.

If you’ve been following our work this year, you know that we’ve been talking a lot about stories and narrative change. At the end of 2020, we made a commitment to center the voices of our families — changing the narrative that surrounds low-income families by making them the narrator, such as lifting up stories through platforms, like our Front & Center column with Ms. Magazine.

But as we’ve continued to explore what storytelling and narrative change means and looks like, we’ve been able to see just how many ways there are to tell stories and how effective they can be at so many different levels.

Internally, we’re using new evaluation methods to help tell a bigger and more comprehensive story about our work and our families, particularly in The Magnolia Mother’s Trust. For the first time, we’re utilizing Photovoice, a qualitative research method often used in community-based, participatory research that allows participants to document and reflect their reality through art and photos. These photos will be used in dialogues with the mothers and the evaluation team and also shared more widely as part of our evaluative work with The Magnolia Mother’s Trust. We know the story of our program cannot just be told in numbers and even words and adding in a visual element will not only expand the story we see and tell, but allow mothers who are uncomfortable with writing or speaking to share their story in a different way.

On a community level, we’re working to empower residents in each of our communities to be trusted messengers and use their stories to support the health and wellness of their community. We will be hiring residents who have received their COVID-19 vaccine to become Peer Health Promoters, organizing in their communities and sharing their story of vaccination with other community members as they help dispel myths surrounding the vaccine and encourage others to take the next step for their own safety and the safety of their community.

And nationally, we’re continuing to develop new ways to share the stories of our families. Like with Photovoice, we know that not all of our residents are comfortable with traditional methods of writing Op-Eds or speaking with reporters. But we believe that each person’s story is valuable and needs to be shared. We’ve already begun a bit of this work releasing a new Storytelling Series of videos on our website. But stay tuned for some exciting announcements in the next few months about more ways we’ll be sharing out stories.

The stories of our families contain multitudes: joy, heartbreak, perseverance, setbacks, dreams, and challenges. They are human stories. And we truly believe that their stories have the power to change and transform our organization, our communities, and even our entire nation for the better. We hope you’ll join us in sharing some of these powerful stories today.

Springboard To Opportunities’ statement on The US House of Representatives passing the Build Back Better Act

This morning the House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act, the biggest investment our federal government has made in families in decades. Along with historic investments in affordable housing, childcare, and education access, this bill also extends the expanded Child Tax Credit for another year while maintaining its full refundability.

Over the last 6 months, you have heard us talk repeatedly about the value of the Child Tax Credit and the importance of these monthly, unrestricted payments to families. Over these past months, we’ve talked to hundreds of families who have been using these payments for school supplies, diapers, uniforms and shoes, and even being able to start saving for their child’s future. These payments honor the hard work that goes into parenting and child care and give value to caregivers who have historically been ignored or overlooked in our economy.

But even beyond these tangible outcomes we’ve seen, the Child Tax Credit, along with other pieces of the Build Back Better Act, finally recognize the voices and stories of families that have so often been overlooked by policymakers and community leaders. Families have been saying for decades that the current social safety net system was not working, and they had brilliant ideas and insights into what could make it better. Unrestricted cash payments, as opposed to limited vouchers and funds tied to paternalistic requirements, is a first step toward honoring the voices of families and showing that we trust them to make the best decisions for their own family.

While we recognize that there is still much work to be done both to bring the Build Back Together Act to signed legislation and in creating a truly inclusive economy that allows all families to thrive, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate and applaud the members of the House of Representatives who took this important first step in that direction.

We encourage you to take some time this weekend to celebrate along with us by reading and sharing some of the newest Front & Center columns and continuing to uplift the stories of women and families who will be benefiting most from this legislation.

2022 has been off to a difficult start. In many ways, it feels like a repeat of years past, rather than the fresh start many of us look for in a new year. But despite the setbacks and challenges, we remain committed as an organization to continue to center family voice and implement new and exciting opportunities in alignment with that. There has been so much as an organization that we have been working on over the past year, and we are finally ready to launch! So despite the difficult start, I cannot help but be thrilled for all that is in store in this upcoming year.

Part of our commitment as a radically, resident-driven organization is to make sure that our programs are never static, but rather continue to grow and evolve as resident needs grow and evolve. Resident voice is the most important evaluative measure in all of our programs, so we are constantly listening to the stories and feedback of residents to understand how we can make programs stronger and more aligned to their needs. This was how The Magnolia Mother’s Trust was developed and how we continue to refine it and make it better each year.

In 2021, we began to hear a consistent theme from our moms – they had big dreams for themselves and their families, but they were looking for some additional support in actualizing them. Some had amazing career goals that they were working toward, but just needed a little extra help in building out the necessary network and social capital to get there. Others had a vision for what a more equitable community might look like, but felt a bit lost by complicated systems and were unsure of where to start in making a plan to bring about change.

These conversations got me thinking about times in my own life when I’ve felt just on the cusp of something new or great but needed a little extra push or support to get there. I’ve had the incredible privilege of being a part of several fellowship programs that have often helped give me the tools, confidence, and community that I needed to push me to the edge and prepare to take the leap into something new. If these types of fellowships existed for me, why not offer this same type of experience for our moms?

In the next month, we are launching two fellowship opportunities for our residents. One will be our Policy and Systems Change Fellowship, which will be an opportunity for a group of fellows to meet over a nine-month period to hone their power and expertise, learn more about issues in their communities and how policy decisions impact their daily lives, build community amongst their peers and skills around advocacy, narrative change, and coalition-building, and connect with larger networks, community leaders, and policymakers. This group will work together to not only learn more about advocacy and policy but will also help us as an organization develop our policy priorities. Additionally, the fellows will identify a community issue they are passionate about and will put their new skills into action by developing and executing a responsive action plan.

The second fellowship will be the Workforce Development Fellowship focused on helping residents actualize their career goals. Many of our mothers who have been through some of our career development and goal setting programs are ready to take the next steps to actualize the larger goals they have for themselves but need some support in identifying resources and networks to get there. Through this six-month program, fellows will have the opportunity to create comprehensive action plans for their goals, meet with community leaders and experts in their field of choice who can help connect them to careers and opportunities, and begin to take the necessary steps to actualize their dreams.

We know the incredible wisdom and skills that exist within all of our residents, and we think it is time for the rest of the world to get to see that, too. We are so excited to see what comes out of these fellowship programs and the fresh ideas and insights our Springboard fellows will bring into the world. We hope you’ll continue to follow along to hear more about our amazing fellows and what more is to come in 2022!

As you’ve picked up your mail over the past few weeks, I’m sure you’ve been reminded that tax season has arrived. W2s, 1099s, and all other sorts of statements are coming in, and we are all doing our best to make sure things are taken care of before April 15. For many of us, doing our taxes might seem like a hassle, an extra task, or maybe just something we ship off to our accountant. But for our Springboard families, tax season is often a lifeline.

Receiving a tax refund can be an important part of how low-income families plan and budget for what is coming up next or work to pay off debts they might owe. For many families just trying to get by, this extra bit of cash coming in the early spring is exactly what they need to make it a few more months. This year, with the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credits (CTC) that were a part of the American Rescue Plan, it is more important than ever that families are able to file their taxes and take advantage of the credits and opportunities made available.

Unfortunately, though, there is a whole industry dedicated to taking advantage of families who rely on this extra bit of income. We’ve probably all seen the pop-up shops that show up from December-April with flashy signs and advertisements, often in the middle of low-income communities promising specific amounts of money or an immediate cash payout instead of having to wait for one’s return to come in the mail or through direct deposit. Not only do these shops typically take a significant portion of a person’s refund as payment for their services, they rarely are staffed with certified accountants or people who know anything beyond the very basics of filing taxes. As such, they often fail to get families all the credits that they are due, like the EITC and CTC, and often exploit a family’s need for immediate resources, charging exorbitant preparer fees or offering illegal “loans” to get your refund faster. We’ve watched as these predatory institutions specifically target our families, putting out advertisements on cars and doors as early as December to try to lure families in.

While we’ve always partnered with the United Way and other entities to provide better information and free tax preparation, this year we’ve doubled down our efforts. In all our communities, we have been pushing out information about Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites where all our families qualify to have their taxes done for free by a certified professional trained to make sure they get all the tax credits they are due. Through our partners at Community Change, we were able to provide residents with direct access to an IRS Community Affairs staff member who could answer their tax questions and make sure they got accurate information about tax credits, VITA sites, and more.

But our hope is not only to educate families about what resources are available to them. We also want to ensure our families feel empowered and equipped with the knowledge they need to make the best decisions for themselves – not only this tax season, but in every tax season to come. So often low-income families are told they’re not smart enough or well-connected enough to know what they need, and predatory entities swoop in to fill the gap. But we know this story, like so many of the other myths that surround our families, is not true. As we talk about VITA tax sites and qualified preparers with residents, we also talk about what the EITC and CTC and other tax credits are, so they feel empowered to ask for what they deserve and not bogged down by jargon or complex policy that can leave all of us confused at tax time.

When we think about policy agendas or advocacy campaigns, tax season is not always the most glamorous or exciting topic rising to the top. But we know from talking with our families and being in communities that it is essential for them. And as an organization demonstrating the importance of cash-based benefits for families in our own work, we know we have to ensure that all these benefits, including tax refunds, are designed to support the most vulnerable families based on their voices and experiences.

Springboard has been supporting families in low-income housing communities since 2013. Over that time, we have been inspired by countless stories, built deep relationships, and watched residents recognize the power and strength they have to set and achieve their goals for themselves and their families. As our work continues to grow and expand, both we and our families are becoming more keenly aware about the ways systems, policies, and community structures and norms play an important role in their ability to reach their goals and create thriving communities where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

That’s why we are excited to announce our new Springboard Fellowship programs that kicked off in March! So far, we have launched our Policy and Systems Change Fellowship and a Workforce Development Fellowship with plans to begin an Education Fellowship and a Youth Fellowship before the end of 2022. These fellowships are intended to support residents in having more comprehensive support in achieving and planning for larger goals and dreams, building connections with peers and broadening their own networks and social capital, and recognizing the larger systems and policies that affect their daily lives and ability to achieve their goals.

In the Policy and Systems Change Fellowship, fellows are building a community of support, learning to hone their own power and expertise, understanding the impacts of policy decisions, and starting to build advocacy tools and skills. Fellows will connect with local and national policymakers, organizers, and community leaders, helping them understand the ins and outs of policy making while recognizing their own expertise and knowledge — particularly regarding policies that affect low-income families. Throughout the fellowship, fellows will be working to identify, develop, and implement a self-designed community project around an issue area that is important to them.

The Workforce Development Fellowship is designed to support residents who have established career goals and are looking for the next steps in achieving them. Fellows are building connections with their peers and other local leaders who can support them and start building out their network as they look toward potential jobs and career changes. They will also be working with Springboard staff and coaches on goal setting, action planning, and ensuring that they have the resources and connections to take the next steps on their plans. Throughout all this, they will also be learning to recognize the systems that are often at play that prevent them from achieving their goals or taking the next steps in their careers and learning to advocate for their needs and more equitable workforce policies.

We are continuing to develop and design our Education Systems Fellowship and Youth Fellowship alongside our residents to ensure they align to their needs and interests and look forward to sharing more about those soon. But for now, we hope you’ll join us in recognizing and celebrating these incredible women who are learning to own their power, know their expertise, and lead the change toward a new and better world for all of us!