Springboard to Opportunities

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Polling Data Explained

Black women in Mississippi are clear — they need more than survival. They need systems that create dignity, stability and joy.

New polling from the Highland Project and brilliant corners research shows that 90% of respondents say economic conditions are getting worse, more than half say their income is not keeping up with the cost of living and 76% say lawmakers rarely listen to people like them when designing programs.

These findings reinforce what Springboard has always known: when families have breathing room, they can build lives rooted in care, rest and possibility. Now it’s time for policymakers to take note and craft programs to create this reality beyond one community in one state, so that everyone has the opportunity to create a joyful life.

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE

The 7th Cohort

Springboard to Opportunities celebrates the launch of the 7th cohort of the Magnolia Mother’s Trust (MMT) today. As the longest-running guaranteed income program in the United States, MMT continues to serve as a national model for economic justice, with this newest cohort of approximately 100 Black mothers receiving their first payments of $1,000 monthly for a year on May 15th. This year’s launch marks a pivotal evolution for the program. Beyond direct cash support, this cohort introduces a transformative peer-support initiative where program alumni serve as paid facilitators, fostering connection, mutual support and robust social capital among recipients. At a time when many families face critical cuts to essential services like SNAP and Medicaid, MMT offers a proven, consistent economic support that centers trust. An alumni study of former recipients found profound intangible benefits unmatched in other economic policies, including 78 percent of mothers feeling more confident in achieving their goals and 80 percent more hopeful about their children’s futures.

“We’ve always said that Magnolia Mother’s Trust is about more than direct cash — it’s about changing the narrative around who deserves to thrive and what real support looks like.This next phase is about taking what we’ve learned and sharpening it into a model that policymakers can’t ignore. This is how we turn proof of concept into policy” – CEO, Aisha Nyandoro

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TANF in Mississippi

A message from our CEO, Aisha Nyandoro, explaining the recent acquittal of officials in the welfare fraud scandal and how this impacts the narrative of low-income families ⬇️

Our 2025 Recap

The Springboard to Opportunities Year in Review

2025 brought with it a flurry of challenges – like devastating policy decisions and increased financial insecurity for many families. But at Springboard to Opportunities, we knew our most important job this year was to double down on what we do best: centering community needs and voices. We grew our economic security programs, expanded our policy and advocacy fellowships, and ensured our families’ voices and stories were heard by policymakers and leaders at every level.

• 1,603 attendees at our community events

• 440 children received new backpacks and school supplies

• 3,613 meals and food boxes provided to families

READ THE FULL RECAP NEWSLETTER HERE

• Over 100 participants in our 6th cohort of The Magnolia Mother’s Trust

• Disbursed $1,398,250 in cash to families

• Eliminated over $2,300,000 in medical debt for 1,689 individuals

• We published Filling The Gap

• We had 91 fellows + added a new youth fellowship

• Hosted our first Capitol Advocacy Day at the Mississippi state capitol

• We continued out partnership with Ms. with our Front & Center column

• Hosted out 5th Annual Night of Storytelling with Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom

• Our CEO, Aisha Nyandoro, became a monthly contributor to Forbes

Thank you for your continued support throughout this entire year and to all of our families here in Jackson, Mississippi. We are so thankful for every single person in our communities!

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With love,

Team Springboard