Minnesota Poverty: Call to Action May 1, 2014

A Personal LBJ Story

SOME Unfinished REALITIES

2014 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Guidelines for the 48 contiguous states & the District of Columbia Published January 22, 2014 For families/households with more than 8 people, add $4,060 for each additional person.

Poverty in Minnesota , , , , ,371 (US Census Bureau)

Poverty and Race Minnesota Poverty and Median Income by Race/EthnicityPoverty Rate All Minnesotans11.4 percent White (non-Hispanic)8.1 percent Black/African-American37.8 percent Asian15.9 percent American Indian31.9 percent Hispanic/Latino25.7 percent U.S. Census Bureau, 2013; Minnesota Budget Project These new numbers show that not all Minnesotans are benefiting equally from the state’s relative success.

Child Poverty

Child Poverty in Minnesota 2010:192,000 (15.2%) 62% increase from :194, :177,578 (14.6%)

Child Poverty Rates by Race and Ethnicity Source: American Community Survey

Income Inequality

Causes of Poverty Recognize causes of poverty: Individual Community Exploitation Structural

Addressing Poverty ThroughTo Address Causes Service Individual EducationCommunity AdvocacyExploitation Structural

A Minnesota Without Poverty Response We believe there is enough for all to have enough, if we all do our part.

Build Organize Mobilize A statewide movement to end poverty in Minnesota by 2020 A Minnesota Without Poverty

All Sectors of Society

A Common Foundation: Shared Principles for Work on Overcoming Poverty Originated in 2004 in the Saint Paul Area Synod of the ELCA and signed by 35 religious leaders FIRST PRINCIPLE: We believe it is the Creator’s intent that all people are provided those things that protect human dignity and make for healthy life: adequate food and shelter, meaningful work, safe communities, healthcare, and education.

Bi-partisan bill to create Legislative Commission to End Poverty in Minnesota by 2020 Used the “Common Foundation” as the text for the bill 2006

Public Launching of recommendations Legislative Commission to End Poverty in Minnesota by

Legislative Commission to End Poverty recommendations: Restore work as a means out of poverty Refocus public assistance to streamline services Help Minnesotans build and maintain financial assets Revitalize communities through infrastructure Modernize system of education Develop ongoing structure to monitor efforts

Legislative Commission’s recommendations: Restore work as a means out of poverty

Refocus public assistance to streamline services Legislative Commission’s recommendations:

Help Minnesotans Build and Maintain Financial Assets Legislative Commission’s recommendations:

Revitalize communities through infrastructure and person-to-person support Legislative Commission’s recommendations:

Modernize system of education to build the best workforce in the nation Legislative Commission’s recommendations:

Develop ongoing structure to monitor progress Legislative Commission’s recommendations:

AMWP WORK

GOALS: Connecting to End Poverty Micro-Enterprise Partnerships Public Engagement to build Public Will Organizational Capacity

Connecting to End Poverty Moving the Legislative Commission to End Poverty Recommendations Forward in the Legislature

Connecting to End Poverty Convenings with leaders of 50+ organizations 13 identified issues from the LCEP 2 Legislative priorities to work on together

Connecting to End Poverty Convenings of 50+ organizations 13 identified issues from LCEP 2 Legislative Priority issues—2013, 2014

Connecting to End Poverty 2013 Legislative Priorities Family Economic Security Act   Raise minimum wage to $9.50   Childcare assistance   Working Family Credit Poverty Impact Projection (PIP) Assesses the effect that proposed policy would have on the number of people in poverty.

Connecting to End Poverty Regional Convenings (March-April, 2013)   Grand Rapids   Rochester   Duluth   Mora   Moorhead   Wadena Advocacy on two issues (FES & PIP)

Connecting to End Poverty What happened in 2013 when the House passed a minimum wage increase of $9.50 And The Senate passed a minimum wage increase of $7.75?

ANSWER? WE TURNED TO KETCHUP Beginning the Ketchup to the Cost of Living Campaign

Minimum Wage

Ketchup Distribution to Senators Friday, May 10, 2013

Connecting to End Poverty: CONNECTING TO END POVERTY Second CONVENING June 20, 2013 CELEBRATE EVALUATE GENERATE

Connecting to End Poverty June 2013 Reported on results of 13 issues in 2013 session

Connecting to End Poverty Third CONVENING OCTOBER 2, 2013 Preparing for the 2014 Legislative Session IDENTIFIED 3 PRIORITY ISSUES

Connecting to End Poverty 2014 Legislative Priorities Raise the minimum wage to $9.50 by 2015 Implement the $110 MFIP monthly housing assistance grant that is scheduled to go into effect in July 2015 Lead a year-long educational process on Economic Income Inequality

Connecting to End Poverty First Legislative Priority- Raising the Minimum Wage to $9.50

First Recommendation of LCEP Restore work as a means out of poverty Ensure that work pays (raise the minimum wage to $9.50)

Budget for Two-Parent Family with Two Children, Both Parents Working Statewide—2009 Food Housing Health Care Transportation Child Care Clothing/other necessities Net Taxes Monthly Total Annual Total Hourly Wage Needed $14.03 $690 1, ,862 $58,368 Source: JOBS NOW Coalition

  Improves economic security for 137,000 Minnesota children of low wage earners   Improves the income of 202,000 working women What $9.50 NOW means:

What $9.50 means: Improves the income of 325,000 working Minnesotans across the demographic spectrum Injects an additional $472 million a year in consumer spending into our state’s economy.

AMWP’s Ketchup to the Cost of Living Campaign Ketchup to the Cost of Living t-shirts and wristbands Ketchup Kids Save the Day Video Ketchup to the Cost of Living Toolkits and Postcards Ketchup to the Cost of Living Forums (14 sites) Minimum Wage Coalition Ketchup to the Cost of Living FLASHMOB

Ketchup to the Cost of Living T-shirts

Ketchup Kids Save the Day VIDEO

Ketchup to the Cost of Living FLASHMOB

CONNECTING TO END POVERTY FIRST PRIORITY ISSUE—DONE!!!! Minimum Wage Bill Signing—April 14, 2014

Connecting to End Poverty Third Priority Issue: Educational Process on Income Inequality

Second GOAL in our WORK Initiating Micro-Enterprise Partnerships

Micro-Enterprise Partnerships address 3 of Legislative Commission’s recommendations: Restore work as a means out of poverty Help Minnesotans build and maintain financial assets Revitalize communities through infrastructure

Micro-Enterprise Partnerships Congregations or other community groups Rural communities Immigrant communities Communities of color

First Micro-Enterprise Partnership The Art Shoppe at Midtown Global Market Partners: Mount Olive Lutheran Church and Jewish Community Relations Council and 7 artists

Micro-Enterprise Partnerships Wadena Micro-Enterprise Partnership

Micro-Enterprise Partnerships R & B MEP North Minneapolis Partners: Redeemer Lutheran Church Bethlehem Lutheran Church Business Mentor Training—March 16, 2013

Micro-Enterprise Partnerships R & B MEP North Minneapolis Training for business mentors-March 2013

Micro-Enterprise Partnerships R & B MEP North Minneapolis Entrepreneur Training Training for 21 entrepreneurs began April 5, 2014

Micro-Enterprise Partnerships Lift-Off MEP Excelsior Partner congregation: Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Excelsior

DVD and Conversation Guide Budget Holes and Hot Dish Wedding Cake Conundrum Public Policy Pickles Capitol Capers for Our Kids Available at or The Art Shoppe at Midtown Global Market

WHAT’S NEXT?

Goals for Statewide leader in the movement to end poverty and catalyst for coordinated action Connecting to End Poverty (with 50+ organizations) to move LCEP recommendations

2014 Legislative PRIORITY: Educational process on Economic Income Inequality

Goals for Micro-Enterprise Partnerships as lab for leadership and innovation

Goals for Statewide Public Engagement Campaign to build public will to end poverty   Statewide communications and marketing strategy   Coordination across all sectors   Education, messaging, measurement

Statewide Public Engagement Campaign Across Sectors

Goals for Adequate capacity for completion of strategic plan   Staff capacity   Board development   Funding capacity

Who is Doing the Work? Board of Directors, 1 ½ staff, partner staff, 3 interns, Workgroups: Arts Micro-Enterprise Development Public Policy Public Engagement Statewide Organizing Team And Many Partner Organizations

…the fullness of time…

What can you do? Contact your legislators and thank them. They mustard the courage and compassion to ketchup to the cost of living by raising the minimum wage to $9.50. Now more Minnesotans can relish a better life.

To Find Your Senator by Smartphone or Computer 1. Google “Who represents me?” “ Minnesota State Legislature” will appear. 2. Click on “Who represents me?” 3. In the box, write your zip code. All of your state and federal legislators will be listed.

What can you do? Sponsor a discussion group using the Minnesota Church Ladies videos and conversation guide Volunteer to staff The Art Shoppe at Midtown Global Market once or twice a month (4 hour shift)

What can you do?

Support the work of A Minnesota Without Poverty by giving a financial donation or joining a workgroup.

What can you do? Encourage your congregation or organization to be a partner in a Micro-Enterprise Partnership.

Micro-Enterprise Partnership A Minnesota Without Poverty, a statewide movement to end poverty in Minnesota by 2020, seeks congregations and non-profit organizations to participate in its Micro- Enterprise Partnerships. This effort facilitates entrepreneurial opportunities in rural and immigrant communities, and communities of color – with full participation of people experiencing poverty in these communities.

Micro-Enterprise Partnership Goal: Provide opportunities for small business development among people who are experiencing poverty in local communities

Micro-Enterprise Partnership A Minnesota Without Poverty provides: $5000 to local community for the development of a loan fund Training to local mentors who want to develop a Micro- Enterprise Partnership in their community Training for entrepreneurs in a local community Training for team development among mentors and entrepreneurs Assistance in writing business plans Assistance in completing loan applications Ongoing counsel and guidance in carrying out the local initiative A loan committee for making decisions on loans

Micro-Enterprise Partnership A Local Community partner : Contributes $5000 matching grant to form a $10,000 loan pool Recruits 8-10 business mentors Attends training for mentors and some training sessions for entrepreneurs Recruits potential entrepreneurs Assists entrepreneurs in writing a business plan and loan application Provides ongoing encouragement and technical support to entrepreneurs Assists in counseling of the loan repayment process

Micro-Enterprise Partnership Entrepreneurs will: Complete an application form Attend an interview with trainer and volunteer Attend team training session Attend all business training sessions Complete a business plan Make application for a loan If approved, sign loan documents and receive loan START A BUSINESS! Repay loan according to loan agreement

QUESTIONS? Comments?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION Connecting to End Poverty: What should be the next major public policy we work on together—that will move us toward ending poverty in Minnesota? Statewide Public Engagement: Pick one sector of society and suggest a message that will communicate to build the public will to end poverty.

We believe there is enough for all to have enough, if we all do our part.

Thank you for doing your part to work toward ENOUGH FOR ALL.