EquityBlog

With the news that people of color are major audiences for smartphones, PolicyLink recently tried something we hadn’t done before. During the State of the Union, we partnered with tech start-up Survey Swipe to do a real-time, live poll of our network using a new smartphone app.

Though there were some bugs in the system, the overall response was terrific. Check out some of the responses from our network below (full breakdown available here). And click here to see composite responses from other progressive organizations who tried out the survey along with us.

Statement by the
Equity Caucus at Transportation for America
on President Obama’s
State of the Union Address

We applaud President Obama’s State of the Union call for smart, targeted transportation investments that connect all Americans to opportunity.

The infrastructure Americans build, operate, and repair today will create jobs now and lay the foundation for a competitive and prosperous tomorrow. But our inadequate, outdated, and underfunded transportation systems are keeping too many struggling Americans—young and old, rural and urban—from fully connecting and contributing to the national economy.

Millions of Americans rely exclusively on public transit, walking, or biking to get to work, to the doctor’s office, to school, and to the grocery store. Nearly 20 percent of African American households, 14 percent of Latino households, and 13 percent of Asian households live without a car. Fifteen percent of Native Americans must travel more than 100 miles to access basic services.

Smarter transportation investments can unleash the under-realized economic power of communities across America.

We look forward to working with President Obama and Congress to move forward a surface transportation authorization in 2011 with investments that:

• Create affordable and flexible transportation options for everyone, regardless of income, race, age, disability, or background;
• Create, protect, and ensure fair access to quality jobs, training, and contracting opportunities in the transportation industry;
• Promote healthy, safe, and inclusive communities with housing opportunities for families of all incomes; and
• Encourage fair and transparent investment of public dollars invested in transportation.

The American people want these changes, too. A recent Transportation for America poll revealed that more than two-thirds say they “would like more transportation options.”

By investing in transportation projects, America can get people back to work now, lay a strong foundation for future economic growth, and expand opportunity for millions of people. But we must target our investments equitably to the people and places that need them the most.

Americans are ready to get back to work building our future.

Endorsed by these members of the Equity Caucus:

PolicyLink (Equity Caucus Chair)
Alliance for Biking & Walking
Alliance for Metropolitan Stability
Alternatives for Community & Environment
Amalgamated Transit Union
America Bikes
American Public Health Association
Apollo Alliance
Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living
Center for Community Change
Center for Rural Strategies
Center for Social Inclusion
Change to Win
CLASP
Coalition for the Advancement of Regional Transportation
Coalition on Human Needs
Coalition on Regional Equity
Conservation Law Foundation
Developing Communities Project
Enterprise Community Partners
Equity Atlanta
Gamaliel Foundation
Good Jobs First
Green for All
Greenlining Institute
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity
Labor/Community Strategy Center and Bus Riders Union
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Little Village Environmental Justice Organization
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition
Low Income Investment Fund
Massachusetts Public Health Association
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
NAACP
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations
National Association of County and City Health Officials
National Center for Bicycling & Walking / Active Living Resource Center
National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development
National Complete Streets Coalition
National Congress of American Indians
National Council of La Raza
National Fair Housing Alliance
National Housing Conference
National Housing Trust
National Low Income Housing Coalition
National Urban League
National Wildlife Foundation
Opportunity Agenda
Partnership for Working Families
Poverty & Race Research Action Council
Public Advocates
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Reconnecting America
Redwood Coast Rural Action
Safe Routes to School National Partnership
Smart Growth America
Transit Riders for Public Transportation
TransForm
Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO
Transportation Equity Network
Transportation for America
Trust for America’s Health
Ubuntu Green
Urban Habitat
U.S. Public Interest Research Group
William C. Velásquez Institute
Wider Opportunities for Women
YouthBuild USA

President Obama’s State of the Union speech tonight will help define the coming year in Washington. Within moments of the speech, we’ll all hear the pundits chime in about how Obama’s speech plays politically.

But we want to know what you think – LIVE as the speech is going on!

Join our first-of-its-kind live poll on your mobile device.

(iPhone/iPad/iOS, Android, and Windows Phone 7 are all supported).

During the speech, you will receive a series of polling questions from us – how you’re feeling about the speech, whether you think Obama is speaking to low-income families and people of color, etc.

Then, the morning after the State of the Union, we’ll share the survey responses to let you know what the Equity Movement thought of the speech.

Please join us in this first-of-its-kind poll.

Statement on President Obama’s signing of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 by PolicyLink Founder and CEO Angela Glover Blackwell.

Ms. Blackwell also serves as advisory board chair of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity

“Millions of children will be getting the nutrition they truly need thanks to President Obama’s actions today. The bipartisan Healthy, Hunger-Free kids Act will help children eat better in school – and learn how to eat healthier at home.

“Black and Latino children, in particular, will benefit from this exciting new effort. By boosting real-dollar funding for school lunch and removing barriers to receive free- or reduced-cost lunch, we can help end the obesity crisis that is hitting communities of color hardest. By improving nutrition education, we can empower all children to advocate for healthier meals at home.

“The bill was signed today with a stroke of a pen, but only came to fruition through more than a year of dogged work by countless advocates, parents, and legislators from both sides of the aisle. At a time when many people question whether Washington can work together to do what’s needed to move America forward, we all should be proud of the hard work that led to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.”

This post is written by PolicyLink CEO Angela Glover Blackwell

Keep the Promise:

Don’t Underfund the Most Promising Anti-Poverty Program in Decades

We’ve all seen the American Express commercials – Geoffrey Canada telling of his long and noble fight to improve the lives of thousands of children as head of the Harlem Children’s Zone.

But Geoff needs our help in the Senate now to realize his vision of bringing all children a core pipeline of services, from birth to college.

Geoff’s work has been extraordinary. He has boosted the opportunities and expanded the possibilities of countless children. When President Obama heard about this success, he promised to expand HCZ’s strategy to needy communities across America – help the “block by block” strategy expand community by community.

And the President kept his word – creating the Promise Neighborhoods program to help other communities build their own comprehensive anti-poverty programs based on the lessons learned in Harlem.

Last year, Congress approved $10 million in planning grants to help communities sketch out their own Promise Neighborhoods.

Nationwide, the response was overwhelming. Nearly 1,000 groups organized to apply for the grants, with more than 330 organizations (representing every state) formally applying just last month – all for twenty grants of up to $500,000.

The next crucial step was the President’s request for $210 million in FY 2011 to help actually make these plans into reality. It is a vital investment that would plant the seeds for growth and opportunity in countless neighborhoods.

But those seeds may never get a chance to grow.

A House subcommittee overseeing the Promise Neighborhoods program drastically pared back the President’s request, slating the effort for just $60 million – not nearly enough to help communities implement this proven, pragmatic solution to child poverty.

And even that amount isn’t safe.

As soon as this Tuesday, the Senate subcommittee overseeing the program will meet to decide whether to fund the program at its full amount. We must invest what’s needed in order for this program to truly thrive – and for potentially millions of children to benefit from the lessons of the Harlem Children’s Zone.

These key senators need to hear from you. They must hear that our economic future – and the talents of millions of children – is at stake.

Click here to tell Senate leaders to make it right and fully fund the Promise Neighborhoods Program.

(For more information on Promise Neighborhoods, please visit www.PromiseNeighborhoodsInstitute.org).