People’s beliefs about youth are often derived from mere observations of young people, or through simple interactions with such individuals that do not tell the full picture about who we are. We have all done this — judged a book by its cover. We have all allowed a small sample to be the sole representative [...]

This weekend’s NY Times highlighted the extraordinary experience and resilience of eight young people who received this year’s NY Times College Scholarship.  Their stories should be call to action to the Mayor and City Council. As they head into yet another City budget season, the Mayor’s budget proposes zero funding and cuts to some of [...]

On February 2nd, Mayor Bloomberg issued his Preliminary Budget for 2012 City Fiscal Year. The budget includes $118.32 million in reductions to programs and services for children and their families! First, the troubling elements… Particularly alarming is the total elimination of all funding for the preventive programs and services that are most critical to children [...]

In 2009 and 2010, the first two phases of a scheduled 3-step increase in the public assistance grant took effect. This represents the first increase in the basic grant allowance in 19 years. Last year, the Legislature failed to implement the final stage of this modest grant increase, proposing instead to delay the final increase [...]

New York Times: “‘How Do You Say ‘Economic Security?’” A compelling op-ed piece addresses the rhetorical shift in lawmakers’ dialogue about government’s role in issues of poverty. Looking back to FDR during the Great Depression, the authors point out his use of “morally resonant language” that engaged a shared sense of social concern, addressing the [...]

Following the recent release of startling new poverty figures from the US Census Bureau, there has been an outpouring of responses in the media. We have highlighted a few of these articles here: New York Times: “Poor Are Still Getting Poorer, but Downturns Punch Varies, Census Data Show.” Looking at where poverty hit the hardest [...]

Five days ago, President Obama outlined The American Jobs Act,  an economic recovery plan that addresses the jobs crisis that many low and middle income families are facing. Today, the Census Bureau released its most recent data on national poverty. The crisis, it appears, is not just about jobs. It is also about the record [...]

New York Times: “The New Resentment of the Poor” While Republicans staunchly defend tax breaks for the wealthiest individuals and corporations, new rhetoric has emerged that calls for increased taxes on the poorest people in America who need to pay their “fair share”, including the elimination of the earned income tax credit and a rise [...]

New York Times: “Failing Forward” Charles M. Blow discusses the increased rate of unintended pregnancies among low-income women and the impact that proposed conservative policies will have on these children. While politicians on the right push for anti-abortion measures that would only exacerbate this problem, they also propose cuts to services like the federal Women, [...]

City Limits: “NY Pols Tout Bill Targeting Jobless Youth.” On Tuesday in Harlem, Representative Charles Rangel, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand,  Assembly member Keith Wright, and leaders from that National Urban League presented their new legislation aimed at combating youth unemployment. Called the Urban Jobs Act, this legislation allocates $20 million for GED programs, individual case management, [...]