Douglas County Collaboration Explores Guaranteed Income
UWKV is part of a coalition in Douglas County that explores possible ways to lift people out of poverty. An offshoot of the Douglas County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) the group is participating in a Guaranteed Income Pilot Project. This effort is designed to educate community members about guaranteed income programs and what such a program might look like if it were tried in Douglas County.
Data walks, which are facilitated conversations while walking through posters featuring local data on poverty, were the first step in the group's outreach. In January and February, the group also hosted screenings of a documentary film about existing guaranteed income projects. The screenings were followed by panel discussions with local experts. Both sessions, one at the Lawrence Public Library and the other at Eudora High School were well attended.
The documentary, "It's Basic," explores guaranteed income projects in the United States and their effects on the people who participated. It serves as a jumping off point for conversations in communities and helps people understand why cash payments with no strings attached may help transform individual lives effectively.
No additional screenings are scheduled at this time, but you can learn more at:
https://catalog.results4america.org/strategies/guaranteed-income
https://countiesforaguaranteedincome.org/
https://www.unitedforalice.org/
For more information, contact:
Jill Jolicoeur jjolicoeur@dgcoks.gov
Kathy Smith ksmith@uwkawvalley.org