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As an organization committed to seeing governments raise money through progressive taxation, we at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law agree with the Tribune Editorial Board that Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to use regressive property taxes to raise $300 million to close a portion of the city’s $1 billion deficit was a poor idea. We also believe that at least one proposal made in recent budget negotiations, eliminating the city’s guaranteed income pilot program to save $60 million, would be a terrible one.

There is an epic out-migration of Black families from Chicago, reversing the decades-long Great Migration that saw families leave the Jim Crow South for industrial jobs in Chicago and other Northern cities. Now it’s job opportunities and the promise of a better quality of life that are drawing Black working- and middle-class families, professionals and retirees to Atlanta, Houston and Dallas, as well as the Chicago suburbs.

Chicago-area residents might notice fewer health insurance plans available and a mixed bag when it comes to costs, as they select Affordable Care Act plans this open enrollment season, which kicked off Friday amid an election that could have consequences for future coverage.

Shriver Center President and CEO Audra Wilson told Salon: “I was both a campaign staffer and an Illinois delegate at the 2004 Democratic National Convention when then state senator Barack Obama gave his legendary ‘Red State Blue State’ speech. I was also on site and up close in Grant Park in November of 2008 where Barack and Michelle made history in being elected the first Black president and first lady of the United States. So naturally, I was excited to hear them speak at the 2024 convention, and on the cusp of another milestone: the election of America’s first female president. As a couple, they still exuded the same elegance, grace, and wisdom as they always have. But their tone was decidedly starker.”

Today the Shriver Center on Poverty Law released its 2023 annual report, Changing Rules. Changing Lives. This year’s report highlights the organization’s continued commitment to end systemic inequities and push for policies that bring justice and opportunity to everyone.

The Shriver Center on Poverty Law today announced 25 Fellows for its 2024 Racial Justice Institute (RJI). Now in its 11th year, the innovative leadership development program brings together anti-poverty advocates from around the country to learn new tools to advance racial equity.  

This one-day event marks the 60th year of the war on poverty. That national commitment led to the Shriver Center on Poverty Law’s formation under Sargent Shriver.

A new ordinance passed today by the Chicago City Council will double the minimum number of paid days off available for Chicago workers, making the city the first in the country to offer paid time off.

The 2022 annual report reflects on the past year’s accomplishments to close the wealth gap for people of color amid a rise in racialized violence during a challenging political environment.

In the face of a deeply polarized nation, this election has brought profound emotions and urgent questions about how each of us is seen and valued. For many of us who identify as people of color, immigrants, members of the LGBTQ+ community, or allies in the fight for justice, this moment can feel jarring. But it is also a call to action and an opportunity.

Statement from Audra Wilson, President and CEO of the Shriver Center on Poverty Law

We applaud the Chicago City Council Workforce Development Committee for voting earlier today, 13-2, to expand our city’s current paid time off requirements.