The Barber of Little Rock is a compelling short film about the efforts of one man, Arlo Washington, to help address the racial wealth gap.
Read moreInspired by MLK: Guaranteed Income Pilot, Uplift Harris
Today we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., minister, activist, and political philosopher, who played a vital role in shaping civil rights reforms of the 1960s. January is also National Poverty Awareness Month, a time to reflect on those less fortunate. Though Dr. King’s life was cut short on April 4, 1968, and the political winds of change shifted course from a focus on poverty to an emphasis on the Vietnam War, the lasting currents of his work still run through the discourse surrounding anti-poverty efforts today. Debates over Universal Basic Income have reemerged — including in Harris County — as have policy discussions surrounding affordable housing and a higher minimum wage. Following the lead of several major cities throughout the nation, Harris County is implementing an innovative pilot program called Uplift to offer guaranteed basic income for nearly 2,000 households in 10 zip codes throughout the region.
Read moreABA Profile of the Legal Profession: A Closer Look at Civil Legal Aid
On November 30, 2023, the American Bar Association released its fifth annual Profile of the Legal Profession. This free report, a 140-page compilation of statistics and trends about lawyers, judges, and law students, includes sections on demographics, wages, law schools, judges, pro bono work, women in the profession, legal technology, lawyer well-being, and lawyer discipline. One additional chapter — a review of civil legal aid in the United States — is the feature we wish to explore in today’s blog post.
Read moreLifting Native American Culture and Voices
The Friday after Thanksgiving is National Native American Heritage Day, although it is perhaps more commonly thought of as Black Friday, a coincidence that some have rebuked, as it links a reverent celebration of Native peoples and culture with the start of the holiday shopping season and the busiest most consumer-driven day of the year. Some have suggested alternatives to the rampant consumerism of the day: acknowledge native land, explore the many digital exhibits available online at the National Museum of the American Indian, or lift up indigenous voices by learning more about the continuing struggle to give Native Americans equal access at the ballot box. Review the links provided within.
Read morePrison Banned Books Week 2023
The inaugural Prison Banned Books Week led by PEN America launched on October 25, 2023. The campaign was introduced to spread awareness of censorship in prisons and how censorship uniquely affects people who are incarcerated, many of whom are part of an already statistically marginalized community.
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