Coalition on Human Needs

What’s Next for Build Back Better?
2022-03-11 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | DC
While it has become increasingly clear there is no longer a path for the House-approved version of Build Back Better, Congress can still reach a reasonable compromise on a scaled-back — but still significant — package that would provide relief to families who need it and invest in our future. Join the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Coalition on Human Needs to get the latest on what’s happening in the federal landscape and what we can do to ensure Congress reaches an agreement on a meaningful policy package that lowers costs for families and helps them deal with the everyday challenges they face.
See slides from this webinar here.

Inflation Truths: Why Build Back Better will help, not hurt
2021-11-30 14:00 - 15:00 | DC
A captioned recording of the webinar is available at this link here. Find the slides at this link here.
Rising prices on food and essential goods affect everyone, but they have a disproportionately high impact on people with low incomes. With recent inflation higher than it’s been in decades, some have pointed the finger at government spending and worry President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda will contribute to further price increases.
But the facts tell a different story. Join the Coalition on Human Needs for a webinar that explains the inflationary moment we are in now: its causes, solutions, and government actions to alleviate current hardships.
You’ll hear from Jared Bernstein, an economist for President Biden who is serving on the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Josh Bivens, Director of Research at the Economic Policy Institute, and Rakeen Mabud, chief economist at the Groundwork Collaborative. You’ll learn how we can address concerns over inflation as we continue the push for truly transformational investments in health care, housing, child care, protecting against climate change, and much more.
Even if you can’t make the webinar, sign up and you’ll be emailed a captioned recording of the webinar, slides, and other resources.
A captioned recording of the webinar is available at this link here. Find the slides at this link here.

Poverty and Hardship – Then and Now
2021-09-09 14:00 - 15:15 | DC
Watch this webinar here. Slides available at this link here.
Every year, CHN provides training on what to expect from the Census Bureau’s annual poverty, income, and health insurance data, and how to find and use the data online. But the pandemic and the ensuing economic shutdown has complicated the data that’s being released and its interpretation. But don’t fret: We’re tailoring our training to prepare you for this year’s needs.
Join us for a webinar that will put the upcoming Census Bureau release in context and tell you how to use its findings. The Census Bureau’s new data, to be released on Sept. 14, covers the year 2020. But there is also more current data, available this year for the first time, that we want you to know how to use. Together, these sources make the case for the package of poverty-fighting policies proposed for action now in Congress.
The timing is perfect for you to learn about and act on this information – so please join us!
Register here.
Presenters:
The Context: Economic progress means addressing racial and ethnic disparities
William Spriggs: An economist with a distinguished career in public policy and equity in employment, William Spriggs is a professor in, and former Chair of, the Department of Economics at Howard University and Chief Economist for the AFL-CIO. He served as Assistant Secretary for the Office of Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor in the Obama Administration, and had senior economic policy roles at the Economic Policy Institute, National Urban League, and at the Joint Economic Committee of Congress.
Today’s Reality: We’ll hear from Christopher Wimer and Megan Curran from the Columbia University Center on Poverty and Social Policy and Claire Zippel from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities to learn about current monthly poverty estimates and the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse data showing the hardships households face trying to cover regular household expenses, including food, housing, and utilities.
How to Put it Together: Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs, will explain how to use the data coming out on September 14, and how to combine it with the other sources to make the case for a Build Back Better agenda that can lead to unprecedented progress in reducing poverty.
This webinar will be close captioned. Even if you can’t attend, register and we’ll follow up with a captioned recording, slides, and other important resources that will help you learn about and act on the information the Census Bureau is releasing.
Watch this webinar here. Slides available at this link here.

Making August Recess Count: Building Support for Federal Recovery Legislation to Advance Racial Equity
2021-07-16 14:00 - 15:00 | DC
View a recording of this webinar here. See the slides here.
The Biden Administration’s proposed American Jobs and American Families Plans provide unprecedented opportunities to address deep-seated racial inequities in education, employment, health, housing, and income. With this Administration and Congress, we have a very real chance of advancing once-in-a-lifetime legislation that would lift millions out of poverty, help all kids reach their full potential, get workers better pay and benefits, and expand health coverage.
But none of this can become a reality without Congress. And while Congress adjourns for recess this August, we have an ideal opportunity to build momentum for lasting change. Join the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Community Change, and the Coalition on Human Needs for a webinar on:
• Why recovery legislation is so important, and how it can advance racial equity;
• What comes next, and the strategy moving forward;
• What tools, resources, and tactics you can use for engaging Congress this August recess.
View a recording of this webinar here. See the slides here.

Poor People's Campaign: National Poor People’s & Low-Wage Workers Assembly
2021-06-21 17:30 - 19:00 | DC
On Monday, June 21st, poor people, low-wage workers, moral and faith leaders, advocates and our growing coalition of supporters will gather online simultaneously with a (socially-distant) rally in Raleigh, North Carolina for a National Poor People’s and Low-Wage Workers Assembly. The Coalition on Human Needs is proud to support and participate.
More than 140 million people across the United States live in or near poverty, struggle with low wages and are one emergency away from economic ruin. 250,000 people die every year from poverty in the wealthiest nation on the planet.
We can’t be silent anymore in the face of this reality.
The First Reconstruction followed the Civil War. The civil rights struggles of the 20th century proved to be the Second Reconstruction. Our Third Reconstruction will be a revival of our constitutional commitment to establish justice, provide for the general welfare, end decades of austerity, and recognize that policies which center the 140 million people, who struggle financially, are also good economic policies that can heal and transform our nation.
Here’s what we are going to do: This Monday, on June 21st at 5:30 p.m. ET we will gather online from all 50 U.S. states and territories. Together, we will build a strong coalition of people to fight for our country’s Third Reconstruction.
We are already beginning to plan for the Poor People’s Campaign for next year—and Monday’s event is the first public step. Next June’s event will be a generationally-transformative in-person Moral March on Washington on June 18, 2022. Together, next summer, we will flood the streets of Washington, DC and create a national stage for the voices and leadership of people directly impacted by poverty, racism and their interlocking injustices.
RSVP for the digital rally here.

The Urgent Once-in-a-Generation Chance: Getting Congress to Invest in our Children and Youth
2021-06-10 15:30 - 16:30 | DC
View this webinar here. View the slides here.
Critical gains for children have been made with the passage of the American Rescue Plan. But Congress needs to make ongoing investments to ensure our children’s futures aren’t permanently damaged and to shrink the gaps between poor and non-poor children and between white children and children of color. This webinar will educate advocates across the nation about the critical importance of enacting or building upon multiple provisions in President Biden’s investment plans and proposed budget.
You’ll learn from experts around the country who will illustrate the need for child care, the expanded Child Tax Credit, investment in education, and services for youth. You’ll hear from Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, President and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund, about the health and economic crises triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and how they have exacerbated long-standing problems for children and their families. Deborah Weinstein, CHN’s Executive Director, will describe what’s before Congress and action steps advocates can take. Deborah Stein of the Partnership for America’s Children will be our moderator, and a panel of experts will take your questions. The webinar is a collaborative effort with the Partnership for America’s Children, and our moderator, Deborah Stein, is the Partnership’s Network Director.
Even if you can’t attend, be sure to register to receive a recording of the webinar and resources. This webinar will be captioned.

YWCA Stand Against Racism Virtual Town Hall
2021-04-22 15:00 - 16:00 | DC
From our friends at the YWCA:
Public health is — and always has been — central to racial justice work.
In this virtual town hall event, Addressing Racism as a Public Health Crisis on Thursday, April 22 at 3 pm ET, YWCA USA will convene a panel of trailblazers who have been central to declaring and addressing racism as a public health crisis.
Join us as we discuss the connections between racism and public health outcomes, how to implement public health practices to effectively identify and address racial injustice in our communities, and community engagement and public policy strategies to advance racial equity through a public health lens.
Register today for a powerful event uplifting the voices of public health professionals, advocates, and trailblazers doing the work to improve the future for people of color!

YWCA Stand Against Racism: Addressing Racism as a Public Health Crisis
2021-04-22 - 2021-04-25 | DC
From our friends at the YWCA:
YWCA USA’s 15th annual Stand Against Racism campaign will take place April 22 – 25, 2021.
We invite YWCAs and allied groups to focus their events and organizing on the myriad of racial justice issues that impact the health and safety of communities of color. Most importantly, we invite you to explore how From Declarations to Change: Addressing Racism as a Public Health Crisis can advance the work of justice in your community and empower people of color.
Structural racism plays a large role in determining the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age. These factors affect people’s access to quality housing, education, food, transportation, political power, and other social determinants of health. Understanding and addressing systemic racism from this public health perspective is crucial to eliminating racial and ethnic inequities, and to improving opportunity and well-being across communities.
Our collective efforts can root out injustice, transform institutions, and create a world that sees women, girls, and people of color the way we do: Equal. Powerful. Unstoppable.
Join Us For Stand Against Racism 2021!

Setting the stage for a stronger, more equitable recovery: A conversation with Sharon Parrott, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities' new President
2021-04-06 15:00 - 15:30 | DC
Watch the recording of this webinar here.
With the passage of the American Rescue Plan, additional much-needed immediate help for COVID-19 pandemic recovery is on the way. Now President Biden is proposing an additional package of investments on infrastructure and human needs. Join CHN and Sharon Parrott, the new president of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, in a conversation about how we must seize the opportunity to build a sustainable recovery by addressing the already existing racial, health, and economic inequities that the pandemic has deepened.
For further details, see this foundation piece from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: Building an Equitable Recovery Requires Investing in Children, Supporting Workers, and Expanding Health Coverage.
This webinar will be closed-captioned. Even if you can’t attend be sure to register to get a recording of the webinar and other resources. Watch the recording of this webinar below.

National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference
2021-03-16 - 2021-03-18 | DC
The National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference, co-sponsored by the Food Research & Action Center and Feeding America, and in cooperation with the National CACFP Forum, draws anti-hunger and anti-poverty advocates; federal, state and local government officials; child advocates; representatives of food banks and food rescue organizations; sponsoring organizations and nutrition and anti-obesity groups.
Members of Congress, Hill staff, and key Administration officials attend the conference, provide comments as part of plenary sessions and panels, and join participants at receptions and special events.
The three-day event is packed with numerous networking opportunities, interactive training, content-rich sessions, and a day on Capitol Hill to meet with Members of Congress and their key staffers. Participants share information and learn how to strengthen the quality and reach of federal nutrition programs, learn best outreach and program practices from other states and localities, fill in the gaps in food service for millions of low-income children, and identify creative ideas for new and innovative approaches to ending hunger.
The National CACFP Leadership track brings together the CACFP community to discover best practices, shape change, meet with USDA officials, and learn strategies for successfully implementing the new healthier CACFP meal pattern, identify opportunities for cutting red tape, and building a thriving CACFP program.
The conference plenaries and interactive, content-rich workshops will be critical for exchanging ideas for how to ensure struggling households have the nutritional resources they need to weather the long-term fallout of the pandemic.
This year, the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference is going virtual to allow thousands of anti-hunger advocates from all across the country to safely and conveniently attend from home. You will hear from officials from the Biden-Harris Administration and the new Congress and capture the energy and networking opportunities that are the hallmark of this annual conference.

The Next COVID Relief Bill: Why it's important and what you can do
2021-02-18 14:00 - 15:00 | DC
View a streaming captioned copy of the webinar here. The presenter slide deck is available here.
Jared Bernstein, top Biden economist serving on the White House Council of Economic Advisers, will join CHN to explain how the COVID relief legislation now moving through Congress is the right size, with the right policies, to get us on the road to economic and pandemic recovery.
Called the American Rescue Plan, this robust $1.9 trillion plan proposed by the new Biden administration supports COVID vaccines and health care; cuts child poverty in half; helps the unemployed; provides more nutrition aid, housing assistance, one-time payments, child care, and paid leave; supports education and other state and local services; and much, much more.
Moderator Ellen Teller of the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) will field questions for Jared. We’ll then hear more real-world stories about how the pandemic is hitting our communities, and how this COVID relief package will help. And we’ll finish with CHN’s Executive Director Debbie Weinstein updating you on where things stand in Congress, and what you can do to ensure that help goes where it’s most needed.
If you’ve joined other CHN webinars, you may have seen Jared Bernstein, then with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, make economic predictions about poverty and income. He’s a top economist and a great explainer focused on addressing inequality and the needs of people with low incomes.
This webinar will be closed-captioned. Even if you can’t attend be sure to register to get a recording of the webinar, slides, and other resources. Watch the recording below:

Webinar: Budget Strategy to Pass a COVID Bill in the Senate: Reconciliation 101
2021-01-22 13:30 - 14:30 | DC
Register to view a recording of this webinar here. Find slides here.
There is a way to enact legislation in the Senate with only a simple majority (51 votes, not 60): it requires Congress to pass a joint budget resolution with “reconciliation instructions.” This webinar will explain how it works: what is allowed through reconciliation; what isn’t; how often this tactic can be utilized; likely timetables. We’ll discuss this in the context of the COVID Rescue Plan being advanced by the incoming Biden Administration.
Our expert presenters:
Joel Friedman, Vice President, Federal Fiscal Policy, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Tamara Fucile, Senior Advisor for Government Affairs, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Moderator: Debbie Weinstein, Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs
This webinar is best suited to advocates who are working on federal policies/funding related to all aspects of the pandemic.

Want to dive in further? Here are some excellent resources on reconciliation:

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: Introduction to Budget “Reconciliation”
House Committee on the Budget: Budget Reconciliation: The Basics
Congressional Research Service: The Budget Reconciliation Process: Stages of Consideration
Congressional Research Service: Senate Organization in the 107th Congress: Agreements Reached in a Closely Divided Senate
Congressional Research Service: The Budget Reconciliation Process: The Senate’s “Byrd Rule”

Congressional Research Service: The Senate Powersharing Agreement of the 107th Congress (2001-2003): Key Features
Holland & Knight: Senate Elections Make Budget Reconciliation a Potential Tool in 117th Congress

Questions about Senate parliamentarian; who selects; role: The current Senate Parliamentarian is Elizabeth MacDonough, who has been serving since 2012 (she was appointed by then Democratic Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid). The Parliamentarian rules on whether provisions belong in a reconciliation bill. The presiding officer in the Senate (either the Vice President or the President Pro Tempore (now Senator Leahy) can decide to rule differently than the advice of the Parliamentarian, although this is very rare – the last time it happened was in 1975. According to CQ, this is how it would work related to whether a provision could be included in a reconciliation bill (that is, whether it meets the test of the Byrd rule):

“Then, a senator who believes a provision runs afoul of the Byrd rule could raise a point of order, and the presiding officer at that point could decide the point of order is “not well taken,” regardless of the parliamentarian’s advice.
The senator could then appeal the ruling of the chair. But under a special provision of the 1974 law that established the modern budget process, it would require 60 votes to sustain the appeal.”
That is, Vice President Harris could rule that a provision (for example, raising the minimum wage) was allowable, and it would take 60 votes to overrule that decision. By the infrequency of this move, it is clear it would not be done lightly.
We need lots of people to contact Congress in order for the American Rescue Plan to pass. Please help by forwarding this request to your lists for individuals to click and send emails to their senators and representative:
Please tell Congress to enact President Biden’s new COVID rescue plan.
The $1.9 trillion package, according to the New York Times, “includes more than $400 billion to combat the pandemic directly, including money to accelerate vaccine deployment and to safely reopen most schools within 100 days. An additional $350 billion would help state and local governments bridge budget shortfalls, while the plan would also include a dramatic increase in tax credits to help lift children, families, and workers out of poverty, $1,400 direct payments to individuals, more generous unemployment benefits, federally mandated paid leave for workers, food and housing aid, and large subsidies for child care costs.”
The essential legislation also provides critical aid to renters, people threatened with or experiencing homelessness, households unable to pay heat or water bills, and offers an extension of the eviction and foreclosure moratoria. Click on the link below to learn more about the plan and then write to your representative and senators.
Click here to learn more about the “American Rescue Plan” and then write to your members of Congress today.
If you have any questions please contact Nicolai Haddal: nhaddal@chn.org

Our Children are in Danger: A webinar about increased hunger, poverty, and other serious threats to children and their families because of the pandemic
2020-11-16 12:00 - 13:00 | DC
View a recording of this webinar here.
Since May, the number of poor children in the U.S. has grown by 2.5 million. Parents report their families are going without enough to eat. Millions of households are on the brink of eviction and can’t afford to pay for their basic living needs. When families don’t have adequate access to the internet, children are shut out of education. The Senate and the Trump Administration have allowed children’s urgent needs to go unmet by failing to agree to more help for families.
Now, as Congress returns for a post-election session, you are needed to show them they must act – and soon. Join CHN, First Focus Campaign for Children, and RESULTS for Our Children are in Danger: A webinar about increased hunger, poverty, and other serious threats to children and their families because of the pandemic.
You’ll hear from Deborah A. Frank, M.D., Founder and Principal Investigator of Children’s HealthWatch. Dr. Frank is a nationally recognized expert on the impacts of economic and social factors on very young children. You’ll hear from parents Kimberly Mitchell and LaShon Marshall about their experiences caring for children during the pandemic. And you’ll hear analysis of new research findings on how children are faring from Indi Dutta-Gupta, Co-Executive Director of the Georgetown Center on Poverty & Inequality, and a leading authority on policy that alleviates poverty and inequality. You’ll also hear about the kind of relief Congress must pass from Cara Baldari, Vice President of Family Economics, Housing and Homelessness at First Focus Campaign for Children. Cara’s work centers on building the political will for a national commitment to reduce child poverty in the United States. Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs, will be the moderator.
You’ll get reliable information about how children and families have been affected in the pandemic, including alarming racial disparities. And you’ll also get current information about Congressional proposals for reversing this damage – and how to use it to get our children out of danger.
This webinar will be close-captioned. All registrants will be sent the full recording, slides, and links to important resources.

Coalition on Human Needs: Special Post-Election Webinar
2020-11-09 13:00 - 14:00 | DC
Watch a recording of this webinar here. See slides here and handout here.
There is so much on the line with the election and so much uncertainty regarding the outcome. Join the Coalition on Human Needs for an hour of clarity on Monday, November 9th at 1 p.m. ET. You’ll hear from Senator Sherrod Brown; Jared Bernstein, noted economist and economic adviser to former Vice President Biden; Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; and other important leaders. You’ll learn up-to-date details regarding the state of play of the election — the implications its outcomes will have for human needs programs over the next four years, and likely congressional decision-makers.
No matter the outcome of the election, those with low incomes and other vulnerable people will need strong advocacy over the next four years. Join us to learn what we think comes next. You’re welcome to forward this notice to your colleagues or networks.
Full line-up of speakers:

Senator Sherrod Brown
Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Jared Bernstein, economist and economic adviser to former Vice President Biden
Clarissa Martínez-de-Castro, Deputy Vice President, UnidosUS
Richelle Friedman, Director of Public Policy, Coalition on Human Needs
Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

2020 National Conference on Safe Housing
2020-10-28 - 2020-10-30 | Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, 22202
Join a national network of service providers, advocates, grassroots organizations, and leaders from coast to coast for the first national conference addressing the housing needs of domestic violence/sexual assault survivors, communities of color, and marginalized populations!
Conference attendees will explore best practices, evidence-based approaches, and innovative safe housing solutions. Participants will also have an opportunity to help develop a national safe housing agenda designed to improve systems and decrease barriers; while also striving to create more comprehensive and equitable options for all survivors.
For more information and to register, visit: www.SafeHousingConference.org.

Volunteering this Election: Phoning it In
2020-10-23 12:30 - 14:00 | DC
Join the Coalition on Human Needs, National Low Income Housing Coalition, and FRAC in another volunteer opportunity for individuals who want to be an active participant in elections. Whether or not you can vote, volunteering is a powerful way to ensure those who can vote are able to do so safely and fairly. However, many people do not vote, or know critical information about how, where, and when to cast their vote. Join us in a brief training with our Reclaim Our Vote experts on how to do nonpartisan phone banking, and then help us get out the vote while we do phone banking as a group. You will be given all of the materials you need, so no experience is required.
Help us ensure all eligible voters are able to cast their vote.
Date: Friday, October 23
Time: 12:30-2:00 pm ET
Register here.

CHN's 17th Annual Human Needs Hero Reception
2020-10-07 17:30 - 18:30 | DC
Thank you so much to everyone who helped make our 17th Human Needs Hero event such a success! Did you miss the sponsorship deadline but would still like to support? Please contact Nicolai Haddal at nhaddal@chn.org
Honoring: Census Counts, Count All Kids, and Protecting Immigrant Families!
Our first ever virtual Human Needs Hero will be held on Zoom this year!
Every year, the Coalition on Human Needs gathers advocates, from neophytes to veterans with decades of experience, to celebrate our community’s steadfast commitment to standing up for the most vulnerable in our society. This year, in spite of the tremendous upending of our lives by the pandemic, we’ve continued to stand up as a human needs community for the same priorities we’ve always held dear. So, while we cannot come together physically, we’re embracing the opportunity to bring even more folks into the fold virtually.
Our 2020 Human Needs Heroes have been especially heroic this year. We are so honored to celebrate three campaigns that have overcome tremendous obstacles to ensure justice for children and immigrants today and for generations to come: The Census Counts and Count All Kids campaigns, who continue to fight for an accurate count of all people in the Decennial Census, and Protecting Immigrant Families, a campaign committed to lifting up immigrant voices and advocating for humane immigration policies in our communities and in our country.
But our honorees are much more than just campaigns. These are group efforts spearheaded by some of the most compassionate and dedicated advocates and policy experts in Washington and beyond. Our friends have found ingenious solutions to continue rallying for immigrants and children despite the stress and obstacles presented by COVID-19. Join CHN in celebrating their myriad accomplishments!
We are hoping you and/or your organization will sponsor the event and be listed in invitations and our program. This is our only major fundraising event of the year and all proceeds raised go to supporting the work of the Coalition on Human Needs. Plus: this is the first time we have gone fully virtual! So get out your best Zoom shirt, pour your favorite drink, and bring out your loved ones and pets for a very special 2020 Human Needs Hero reception. We can’t wait to see your faces there.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Nicolai Haddal, Field and (Virtual) Events Coordinator at nhaddal@chn.org or 202-223-2532 x115.

ABOUT OUR HONOREES

Census Counts
The Census Counts campaign, which is housed at The Leadership Conference Education Fund, brings together community-based organizations across a wide spectrum of advocacy: civil rights, immigrant, LGBTQ, disability, infant and child, poverty and homelessness, faith-based, labor, health care, education, youth, and more. Census Counts organizers and advocates are working to ensure communities the census has historically missed are counted in the 2020 Census.

Count All Kids
Through educating the public, supporting state and local advocates, and working with the Census Bureau to help them improve their plans to reach out to families with young children, the Count All Kids Committee and the Count All Kids Campaign are working to make sure that every child is counted in 2020. Because young children have been the age group most missed in previous censuses, Count All Kids has worked ceaselessly to spread the word that everyone should be counted, including babies, toddlers, and people of all ages. Count All Kids has been an invaluable ally in the fight for a fair and accurate census.

Protecting Immigrant Families
The Protecting Immigrant Families, Advancing Our Future (“PIF”) Campaign was created in 2017 in response to leaks about policy changes by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other government agencies. Co-chaired by the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) and the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), the Campaign has grown into a nationwide network of over 500 groups. Members represent diverse sectors including public health, nutrition, anti-poverty, early childhood, education, housing, aging and disability, faith-based, immigrants’ rights, civil rights, and many others united by the belief that our collective well-being depends on all of us being healthy and safe. The Campaign’s structure has allowed them to develop innovative advocacy strategies, lift up best practices, and keep allies informed of public charge policies that impact immigrant families. The PIF Campaign has led the fight against the proposed “public charge” wealth test for immigrants, which has deep roots in America’s history of discrimination, racism, and classism. PIF secured a record-setting quarter million comments to DHS’s public charge regulations which strengthened multiple strategic lawsuits brought by PIF members and allies in federal courts. Since the public charge changes were first threatened, the rule has discouraged many immigrant families from accessing benefits even though they are eligible. PIF campaign members remain dedicated to fighting back and to making sure immigrants and others who believe they are directly affected by public charge rule changes have information to make sound decisions about maintaining their families’ health and well-being.

WHY SUPPORT CHN?
Your support for CHN is more important than ever. We truly mean it. The pandemic has changed the way we work, but not our commitment to fighting for basic human needs programs.
All proceeds from sponsorships and ticket sales benefit the work of the Coalition on Human Needs. Since 1981, CHN has promoted adequate funding for human needs programs, progressive tax policies and other federal measures to address the needs of low-income and other vulnerable people.
We do this by:

Our new COVID-19 response working groups and weekly legislative planning meetings;
Publishing fact sheets, news stories, and extensive resources on the harm of the pandemic and the inadequate response to the crisis by the Trump administration;
Mobilizing to register new voters in 2020;
Facilitating hundreds of thousands of communications to Congress and the Trump administration for pandemic relief and expanding low-income tax credits, Medicaid, housing assistance, and SNAP;
Teaching concerned people how to become effective advocates;
Promoting the work of CHN members and strengthening their campaigns; and
Providing timely updates through our Voices for Human Needs blog and Human Needs Report.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped make our 17th Human Needs Hero event such a success! Did you miss the sponsorship deadline but would still like to support? Please contact Nicolai Haddal at nhaddal@chn.org

Webinar: Get Out the Vote: Opportunities to Mobilize People
2020-10-06 15:00 - 16:00 | DC
Event description coming soon.
This webinar is hosted by the Coalition on Human Needs, Food Research & Action Center, National Low Income Housing Coalition, and NETWORK. It is the first in a series of webinars for 501(c)(3) organizations on permissible election-related activities.
Register here.

Webinar: Then and Now: How to Use New Census Surveys About Poverty, Income, and Health from 2019 and 2020
2020-09-09 15:30 - 17:00 | DC
Did you miss CHN’s annual webinar on using new Census surveys about poverty, income, and health from 2019 and 2020? Don’t fret! Sign up here to receive a captioned recording of the webinar along with further resources and follow-up materials. Webinar description below:
Wednesday, September 9, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. ET
All registrants will receive the webinar’s recording, slides, and extra information. The webinar will be close-captioned.
In 2019, unemployment averaged 3.7 percent. In July 2020, it was 10.2 percent. The pandemic blew a hole in our economy. In mid-September, the Census Bureau will release its annual poverty, income, and health insurance statistics for 2019. Census has also collected new Household Pulse survey data, telling us about economic security now. There’s a lot we can learn from 2019, while still recognizing that conditions are painfully different for millions of Americans today.
This webinar will prepare you for what we’ll learn about 2019, how to get and use the data for your state or city, and how it compares to new data showing alarming numbers of households with less earnings, going without food, falling behind in rent, and lacking health insurance.
Nationally known economist Jared Bernstein will predict what we can expect to see in the 2019 data and compare it to today’s economic crisis. Poverty expert Arloc Sherman will tell you how to use the new Household Pulse survey (with national, state and city data since the pandemic’s onset). Debbie Weinstein, expert Census data trainer, will provide hands-on guidance on how to use – and how to talk about – the data coming out in September.
Speaker Bios:
Jared Bernstein joined the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in 2011 as a Senior Fellow. From 2009 to 2011, Bernstein was the Chief Economist and Economic Adviser to Vice President Joe Biden, Executive Director of the White House Task Force on the Middle Class, and a member of President Obama’s economic team. He is the author and coauthor of numerous books for both popular and academic audiences, including Getting Back to Full Employment: A Better Bargain for Working People, and Crunch: Why Do I Feel So Squeezed? Bernstein has published extensively in various venues, including the New York Times and Washington Post. He is an on-air commentator for the cable stations CNBC and MSNBC, and hosts On The Economy (jaredbernsteinblog.com).
Arloc Sherman is Vice President of Data Analysis and Research at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, focusing on family income trends, income support policies, and the causes and consequences of poverty. He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on National Statistics Panel to Review and Evaluate the 2014 Survey of Income and Program Participation’s Content and Design. Prior to joining the Center in 2004, Sherman worked for 14 years at the Children’s Defense Fund. His book Wasting America’s Future was nominated for the 1994 Robert F. Kennedy Book Award.
Deborah Weinstein is Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs. In her four decades of advocacy experience, Debbie has worked on a wide range of human needs issues at both the state and federal level. Prior to coming to CHN, Weinstein served for nine years as director of the Family Income division of the Children’s Defense Fund. Every year, she finds new ways to make the Census data accessible and useful to advocates working on local, state, or federal issues.
Moderator: Ellen Teller, Director of Government Affairs, Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), Chair of the Board of Directors of the Coalition on Human Needs, and best ever fielder of webinar questions.
This webinar is co-sponsored by the Coalition on Human Needs, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), and the Partnership for America’s Children.
Sign up here to receive a captioned recording of the webinar along with further resources and follow-up materials.

Webinar: Help Opportunities for Supporting Voter Engagement as a 501(c)(3) Social Justice Organization
2020-09-01 15:00 - 16:00 | DC
Join FRAC, Coalition on Human Needs, National Low Income Housing Coalition, and NETWORK for the next webinar in a series that is focused on elevating ideas on how and why 501(c)(3) organizations can support — in nonpartisan ways that are mission-aligned — voter registration, voter mobilization, and voting.

Identify strategies, tools, and resources that social justice organizations can use to support this vital work, especially in the time of COVID-19 when people and organizations are particularly stretched from responding to unprecedented needs.
Learn about activities ranging from social media to voter registration that your organization can take part in.
Get access to free and easy-to-use resources that you and your organization can use in this work.

This webinar is hosted by the Coalition on Human Needs, Food Research & Action Center, National Low Income Housing Coalition, and NETWORK. It is the second in a series of webinars for 501(c)(3) organizations on permissible election-related activities.
Register here.

Mass Poor People’s Digital Assembly & Moral March on Washington
2020-06-20 10:00 - 12:30 | DC
Let’s Stand Together in a Time of Emergency: The Mass Poor People’s Assembly and Moral March – ONLINE – Saturday, June 20
This pandemic and economic collapse, along with the recent wave of police brutality and racist murders, have forced this nation into an unprecedented season of crisis and action. The harshness of this emergency results from a deeper and much longer-term crisis, of systemic racism and inequality. The extra burden of death inflicted on Black victims of the coronavirus is a painful legacy of our nations’ racism. In fact, 14,400 more Black Americans would be alive if they died at the same rate from COVID-19 as White Americans. But even before the pandemic, discrimination and deeper poverty visited upon communities of color have created harm that we must work together to end.
This is a time that calls for us to join together, and empower the leadership emerging from poor and dispossessed people that is paving the way forward. And the Poor People’s Campaign has convened a historic, unprecedented digital event to lift these voices.
The Mass Poor People’s Assembly and Moral March on Washington is a 2.5 hour program that will be broadcast on Saturday, June 20th at 10am ET. There will be rebroadcasts at 6pm ET, and again on Sunday June 21st at 6pm ET, at June2020.org. Join CHN and our friends at the Poor People’s Campaign by registering here.
We cannot stress this enough: The June 20 digital rally will be an online rally without precedent. We are coming together to demand that the millions of poor and low-income people in our nation — from every race, creed, gender, sexuality and place — are no longer ignored, dismissed or pushed to the margins of our political and social agenda. Poor and low-income leaders will touch on a host of issues from healthcare to systemic racism, voting rights, housing, water, education, war and peace, and more. You’ll hear from some movement leaders with a history of supporting these causes. And to top it all off you’ll hear some great music from people around the country.
There are so many ways to get involved: By registering, you can take a selfie to have yourself included among thousands of others; your members of Congress will get an invite to join; and you’ll learn about voter registration opportunities and how to get involved in this movement for the long haul.
Register for June 20, 2020 here and tune in for the broadcast on June 20 at 10 AM ET. You can also watch the rebroadcasts at 6 PM ET or on June 21 at 6 PM ET at June2020.org.

FRAC: Communication and Outreach During COVID-19 Webinar
2020-05-07 15:00 - 16:00 | DC
Thursday, May 7, 3:00 p.m. Eastern (2:00 p.m. Central, 1:00 p.m. Mountain, 12:00 p.m. Pacific)
As schools remain closed due to COVID-19 — and with many states announcing that they will stay closed for the rest of the school year — it is important that schools, sponsors, and advocates maintain communication with families about the availability of meals through the child nutrition programs. This webinar will highlight strategies and best practices for getting the word out as things continue to evolve.

YWCA Stand Against Racism National Tele-Town Hall
2020-04-23 15:00 - 17:00 | DC
Voting rights, census participation, and civic engagement are, and have always been, essential to racial justice. As the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts all aspects of life, it is also exacerbating the impact of systemic and structural racism on communities of color across health, education, justice, and economic sectors. In this moment, our collective efforts to secure full access at the ballot box, to ensure a fair and complete Census count, and to stand against racism—whenever and wherever it happens—are more important than ever.
During YWCA’s annual Stand Against Racism campaign, we are thrilled to be hosting a National Tele-Town Hall with our partners: Black Women’s Roundtable, League of Women Voters, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Supermajority, United State of Women, and When We All Vote. Together we will:

Explore the issues with national leaders in the movement for racial justice and gender equity
Learn best practices and build skills for effective civic engagement amidst social distancing
Motivate and inspire our nationwide networks for the work of racial justice

Join us!

Maintaining Program Participation During COVID-19
2020-04-23 15:00 - 16:00 | DC
Communities across the country have stepped up to create plans that connect children to meals during COVID-19, but how do advocates and sponsors maintain momentum and sustain programs? Join this webinar to hear about strategies for maintaining participation and tips for adjusting meal service as the impact of COVID-19 continues to evolve.

FRAC: National Day of Action
2020-04-22 | DC
On Wednesday, April 22, join the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), Feeding America, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), Center for American Progress (CAP), and other national allies and advocates across the country in a National Day of Action urging Congress and the Administration to enact SNAP benefit boosts in the next COVID-19 relief package. Recent reports indicate that the next package would include assistance for businesses and healthcare efforts, but not SNAP — we must insist that individuals and families need immediate relief, too.
The next COVID-19 relief bill must include the following SNAP priorities:
1. boost SNAP maximum benefits by 15 percent;
2. increase the minimum SNAP benefit from $16 to $30; and
3. suspend all SNAP administrative rules that would terminate or cut benefits.
These temporary provisions must continue until the economy improves. The provisions will not only help households put food on the table during this crisis, but will also help to stimulate the economy.
Check out FRAC’s COVID-19 Updates page for more resources on the Day of Action, which will be added leading up to Wednesday.
Get vocal on social: Join FRAC, Feeding America, CBPP, and CAP for a Twitterstorm this Wednesday from 3:00-4:00 p.m. EDT as part of the Day of Action.
Click to tweet: On Wed, 4/22 @3PM EDT, join @fractweets, our national partners and other advocates for a Day of Action Twitterstorm urging Congress and the Administration to boost SNAP benefits and help families put food on the table during #COVID19. bit.ly/fracCOVID-19

FRAC: Possibilities Through Partnership During COVID-19
2020-04-16 15:00 - 16:00 | DC
Ensuring access to nutritious meals during COVID-19 requires collaboration on every level. Join FRAC and guest speakers to learn about promising partnerships between state agencies, school districts, program providers, food banks, and others that result in more children being reached by the child nutrition programs.

Congress and COVID-19: What passed and what comes next
2020-04-03 13:00 - 14:00 | DC
In response to the massive public health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has passed a historic $2.3 trillion relief and recovery package. The legislation enacted so far takes some important steps towards responding to the crisis. But it does not do enough, and Congress will have to return to ensure that the people most in need – and whose aid will do the most to spur recovery – get adequate help. Join CHN as we examine the good and the bad of what’s available so far, and the human needs that still must be addressed in a fourth package. We’ll discuss cash assistance, expanded benefits, help for nonprofits, and new programs such as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. And we’ll let you know how you can take action to call on Congress to take the next steps needed.
If we cast aside any of us – whether incarcerated, homeless, immigrant, poor – it will hurt all of us. Congress may have dispersed, like all of us, but we still must work together to recover from this pandemic.
A captioned recording of this webinar along with the slides is available here.

Think Babies Policy Forum
2020-04-01 09:00 - 10:30 | Rayburn HOB, 2020 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC, 20005
Where do babies in your state stand?
Join ZERO TO THREE for the Think Babies™ Policy Forum on Capitol Hill as we reveal how your state is supporting the littlest among us and where it has room to grow. This year, we will focus on equity of opportunity for all babies, with new data that goes beyond averages to explore differences that emerge when we look at race/ethnicity, income, and geographic setting.
RSVP here.
Date:
April 1, 2020 from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Location:
The Gold Room (Room 2168)
Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC

CANCELLED: Friday Advocates Meeting
2020-03-27 09:00 - 10:00 | AFSCME, 1625 L St NW, Washington, DC, 20036
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic Friday Advocates’ Meetings have been halted until further notice.
For further information please email Richelle Friedman at: rfriedman@chn.org

Friday Advocates Meeting
2020-03-06 09:00 - 10:00, 2020-02-14 09:00 - 10:00, 2019-12-13 09:00 - 10:00, 2019-11-01 09:00 - 10:00, 2019-09-13 09:00 - 10:00, 2019-07-12 09:00 - 10:00, 2019-06-21 09:00 - 10:00, 2019-06-07 09:00 - 10:00 and 2 more dates | DC
CHN’s regular Friday Advocates Meetings are off-the-record. Thank you for not quoting speakers in materials you send to your networks.
If you would like to attend a FAM, please contact Joe Battistelli: jbattistelli@chn.org

FRAC: National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference
2020-03-01 - 2020-03-03 | Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert St NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Join 1,200+ of your fellow anti-hunger advocates in Washington, D.C., for two days of “can’t miss” networking opportunities, content-rich sessions, interactive training, and the National CACFP Leadership track, followed by a day on Capitol Hill. You’ll go home with an arsenal of best practices, innovative advocacy methods, and personal connections to help you better fight hunger in your community, your state, and at the national level.
Co-sponsored by the Food Research & Action Center and Feeding America in cooperation with the National CACFP Forum.

Register at this link here.

The New Trump Budget: Why it Really Matters
2020-02-13 14:00 - 15:00 | DC
President Trump’s latest budget proposal is out. And it’s every bit as bad as we feared.
Recently, President Trump asked a crowd of his donors: “Who the hell cares about the budget?”
We do, and we think you should too. Why? If the new one is similar to his past proposals, there will be very big cuts proposed for human needs programs. Congress has rejected these in the past. But his plans matter, because the Trump Administration has aggressively sought to carry them out through administrative rule-making and moving or refusing to spend money despite Congressional intent.
In this webinar, you’ll hear from experts about what the Trump budget would do and how it would affect people across America now and into the future.
You’ll find out more about how the President’s proposals will affect low- and moderate-income people through likely cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, housing, help for people with disabilities, education and job training, social services, and public health programs. You’ll learn about the impact of tax cuts – who benefits and who is hurt by the loss of revenue.
You’ll also get tips on how to talk about the choices the budget makes, its winners and losers, and how fairer and more sensible choices can better meet our nation’s needs. You’ll get social media tools so you can be a part of a national debate on the right budget choices.
Speakers:
Tamara Fucile: Tamara is Director for Government Affairs and Senior Advisor for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Tamara helps direct the Center’s work with federal policymakers and with other national organizations on a broad range of policy issues, including federal budget and appropriations, nutrition programs, and housing issues. A great budget expert, she served as Associate Director for Legislative Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget from 2014 to 2017.
Deborah Weinstein: Debbie is Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs. In her 16 years at CHN, she has focused on educating advocates about how to engage in critical federal budget choices on behalf of low-income people.
Accessibility Assistance: The webinar will be captioned. The webinar will also be recorded, and all registrants will get the recording link with captions, slides, and follow-up information.

Hill Event on proposed Social Security Cuts 01/28/20 11:00am-12:00pm
2020-01-28 11:00 - 12:00 | Rayburn HOB, 2020 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC, 20005
Please join The Arc of the United States, Center for American Progress, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, Little Lobbyists, Shriver Center for Poverty Law, and Social Security Works next Tuesday, January 28, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.. ET for briefing on the Proposed Rule on Continuing Disability Reviews.
January 28, 2020
11:00 am-12:00 pm
385 Russell Senate Office Building
The Trump administration is attacking Social Security and demanding that 2.6 million people with disabilities fill out complex and unnecessary paperwork and cutting benefits. If the administration’s rule is enacted, we’re facing a $2.6 billion cut by 2029 to Social Security benefits for people with disabilities and chronic conditions, including seniors, children, and people with cancer. The administration is increasing the number of onerous continuing disability reviews and resurrecting the playbook of the 1980s when a dramatic increase in random reviews lead to tens of thousands of people losing their lives. These cuts to the Social Security program resulted in a massive outcry from the public and both chambers of Congress and were repealed. As we did back then, we will fight back. Join us to tell the Administration that we will support NO SOCIAL SECURITY CUTS!
Participants: Members of Congress, People with Disabilities, Family Members, Experts on Social Security
The event will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/socialsecurityworks
Please contact rcokley@americanprogress.org with any questions or accessibility needs or concerns.
Promote on Twitter using #NoSocialSecurityCuts

Note from CHN:
You can still comment in opposition to this proposed rule – Deadline: Friday, January 31 at midnight.
Background and simple links to submit comments are here.

Service Providers and Census 2020 - What You Need to Know
2019-12-04 14:00 - 15:00 | DC
Register here.
Join CHN and our partners for a webinar December 4th at 2pm ET to learn what service providers need to know about the 2020 Census. Specifically we will share what’s at stake, what service providers need to be doing between now the Census, and where to get free/easy-to-use resources that can be used to achieve our goals. Hear from leaders of the national Count All Kids Campaign and the Census Counts Campaign as well as a local service provider about what works and what missteps to avoid.
Register now, even if you can’t attend, to ensure you have the recording and follow up materials sent to you.
Speakers:

Beth Lynk, Census Counts Campaign Director, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Deborah Stein, Network Director, Partnership for America’s Children
Local Service Provider, Community Action Partnership
Moderator: Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs

*Registrants for this webinar will receive follow-up emails on this and related topics. You may unsubscribe at any time.

GivingTuesday 2019
2019-12-03 | DC
The season of giving is here, and after your post-Thanksgiving #BlackFriday and #CyberMonday shopping, on #GivingTuesday, December 3rd, please consider supporting the Coalition on Human Needs (CHN).
CHN has been fighting for human needs for close to 40 years. This past year alone, CHN has:

Fought for an accurate count in the 2020 Census
Resisted harmful changes in programs like SNAP and Medicaid
Stood up to improve the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit
Organized letter-writing, phone, and comment campaigns opposing harmful changes that would hurt low-income people.

And so much more. CHN will always be committed to advocating for the human needs community, but we cannot do it alone. Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Click here to support CHN!
Help us by becoming a sustaining donor to the Coalition on Human Needs. By giving $5 monthly, you will support our efforts now and well into the future. And thanks to support of a generous funder, all contributions collectively up to $5,000 will be matched dollar for dollar.
Please keep CHN in mind for your #GivingTuesday contribution. By saving the date and making a tax-deductible donation online, you will strengthen CHN in our fight for human needs. Please join us this December 3rd.

Economic Policy Institute: The Future of Work and Care
2019-11-06 12:00 - 13:30 | Economic Policy Institute, 1225 I Street NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC, 20005, United States
The National Academy of Social Insurance, with support from Caring Across Generations and the Ford Foundation, recently released a groundbreaking report on Designing Universal Family Care: State-Based Social Insurance Programs for Early Child Care and Education, Paid Family and Medical Leave, and Long-Term Services and Supports. The report explores strategies that states could pursue to better support families in meeting evolving care needs over the lifespan. This analysis was developed over a year of deliberations by a Study Panel of 29 experts in care policy from a variety of perspectives.
In this symposium, Alexandra Bradley (Lead Policy Analyst on the Academy Study Panel) and Benjamin Veghte (Study Panel Director and now Research Director at Caring Across Generations) will identify gaps in our care infrastructure and policy options developed by the Study Panel to address them. Elise Gould (Senior Economist at EPI) will discuss her recently co-authored study on value-based budgeting for California’s early care and education system. And Robert Espinoza (Vice President of Policy at PHI) will report on his research on the relation between quality direct care jobs and quality long-term care and propose standards for direct care jobs and workforce policy.
A light lunch will be served. Your RSVP will help us prepare.
Co-hosted by: Economic Policy Institute, the National Academy of Social Insurance, and Caring Across Generations
What: Symposium on strategies to meet families’ evolving care needs.
Who: Alexandra Bradley, Caregiving Study Panel project
Benjamin Veghte, Caring Across Generations
Elise Gould, Economic Policy Institute
Robert Espinoza, PHI

When: Wednesday, November 6
12 p.m.–1:30 p.m. Eastern
Where: Economic Policy Institute
1225 I St. NW, Suite 600

EITC/CTC Call-in Day of Action
2019-11-06 | DC
Right now, Congress is looking to add bipartisan tax legislation to the end-of-year budget package. It is imperative that if there is any tax legislation helping businesses and the rich that we also do what we can to help low-wage workers. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) help working families and individuals better provide for basic needs. These two tax credits together lifted 8.9 million people out of poverty in 2018, and helped millions more, and with improvements they can do more to alleviate poverty and help low-income families keep up with the increasing cost of living.
On November 6th please call: 1-888-678-9475
When you do you will be connected with your Senator’s DC office. When you are connected please ask the receptionist who answers your call to share this message with your Senator and their lead tax staff person:
“Any tax package that passes this year must include improvements to the low-income tax credits: the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit.”
More Background: The overwhelming beneficiaries of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) are corporations and wealthy individuals while largely ignoring low-wage workers, whose wages have been stagnant in recent decades, and their families. Congress will likely add a bipartisan package of tax provisions to end-of-year budget legislation including ‘technical corrections’ for business provisions in the TCJA. Those corrections will add more tax breaks worth billions for business. Senators need to hear from us now that any tax package must help low-income workers.
The 2017 law included a highly touted $1,000-per-child increase in the CTC (from $1,000 to $2,000 per child). However, low-income working families with 11.4 million children are receiving only a token CTC increase of $75 or less. The reason is because under the 2017 law the CTC doesn’t start to phase in until a tax filer has more than $2,500 in earnings, and it then phases in slowly. And if a family’s CTC would exceed the federal income tax it owes the family cannot receive more than $1,400 per child as a tax refund.
The EITC for low-wage workers who aren’t raising children in their home is often too small even to offset the income and payroll taxes that these workers must pay, and doesn’t cover workers of all ages. That’s the main reason why the federal tax code taxes more than 5 million such workers into or deeper into poverty. Despite longstanding bipartisan support to boost the EITC for these workers, the 2017 tax-cut law failed to include it.

CHN’s 16th Annual Human Needs Hero Reception
2019-09-18 17:30 - 19:30 | AFL-CIO, 815 16th St NW, Washington, DC, 20005, United States
Honoring: Marian Wright Edelman and Peter Edelman
Every year, the Coalition on Human Needs gathers advocates, from neophytes to veterans with decades of experience, to celebrate our community’s steadfast commitment to standing up for the most vulnerable in our society. And there is much to celebrate: We’ve stood up against harmful cuts to programs like SNAP and succeeded in increasing funding for human needs programs; fought for a fair and accurate Census; resisted attacks on immigrants; and much more.
Of course, these accomplishments are only possible thanks to the tireless work of the generations of change-makers who have come before us. That’s why we are especially thrilled to honor Marian Wright Edelman and Peter Edelman for their historic contributions to advancing the cause of the most needy, spending decades advocating for those who need an advocate the most.
We’re hoping you and/or your organization will sponsor the event and be listed in invitations and our program. This is our only in-person fundraising event of the year and all proceeds raised go to supporting the work of the Coalition on Human Needs.
For more information and to sponsor: Click here for our Human Needs Hero event page!

What Can We Expect from the New Poverty, Income and Health Insurance Data, And How Can We Find the Info We Need?
2019-09-04 14:00 - 15:30 | DC
On September 10th, the Census Bureau will release national poverty and income data, as well as nationwide and state health insurance data. Other state and local findings will be out on September 26th and October 17th.
CHN’s annual preview is especially important this year: First, Jared Bernstein will share his incisive predictions about what the data will show (More uninsured after years of better news? More progress in reducing poverty or stubbornly high numbers?). Second, there are changes both in the Census Bureau’s website and the timing of releases that we will help you navigate. Whether you plan to comment on September 10th or use the data over time, we will give you the tools you need.
Presenters:

Jared Bernstein: Senior Fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, famously and clearly analyzes economic trends both as an on-air commentator for CNBC and MSNBC, as well as regularly contributing to the Washington Post’s PostEverything blog and elsewhere. He hosts the respected blog On the Economy (jaredbernsteinblog.org). Jared will give you the forecast, telling you what to watch for, and what it means.
Deborah Weinstein: Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs, provides practical information about how to get and use the information you need (local, state, and national), and shows how to navigate this year’s Census website and timing changes.

This webinar will be captioned.
Register here.

National Alliance to End Homelessness: 2019 National Conference on Ending Homelessness and Capitol Hill Day
2019-07-22 - 2019-07-24 | Washington Marriott Wardman Park, 2660 Woodley Rd. NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
The 2019 National Conference on Ending Homelessness and Capitol Hill Day is the nation’s largest convening of service providers, leaders, advocates, and consumers working to end homelessness in the United States. This year’s July conference will feature dedicated tracks focused on families and youth experiencing homelessness, updated content on chronic homelessness, veterans, single adults, and other populations. Capitol Hill Day will offer an opportunity to speak with members of Congress and their staff, and advocate directly for the resources that will benefit homeless families and youth in your districts.

Institute for Policy Studies: "Taxing the (Very) Rich: Finding the Cure for Excessive Wealth Disorder"
2019-06-25 09:00 - 17:00 | Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20036, United States
Any serious policy agenda geared towards combating inequality and raising living standards for the vast majority must look to ultra-high earners in the top 0.1 percent, who wield disproportionate economic and political power.
The Economic Policy Institute and the Institute for Policy Studies invite you to attend a day-long conference on Taxing the (Very) Rich. Join tax policy experts, activists, advocates, organizers, and elected officials who will be making the case for taxing the very rich—and debating how best to do that.
Free with Eventbrite Ticket. Register HERE.

Americans for Democratic Action: Honoring America’s Federal Workers and other Champions
2019-06-18 18:00 - 21:00 | Washington Court Hotel, 525 New Jersey Aenue Northwest, Washington, DC, 20001
Tuesday, June 18th at the Washington Court Hotel in Washington, DC
Reception begins at 6:00 PM, followed by awards ceremony.
Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) has the distinct honor of celebrating progressive leaders for over 70 years at our annual awards reception. It has been our privilege to honor liberal giants like Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Senator Sherrod Brown, and former Labor Secretary Robert Reich as well as rising stars such as Virginia Delegate Danica Roem.
Join us Tuesday, June 18th at the Washington Court Hotel in Washington, DC as we celebrate champions and fuel our work in this important year.
ADA is proud to honor:
Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) with ADA’s 2019 Frances Perkins Public Service Award for her steadfast advocacy for progressive change.
America’s Federal Workers with ADA’s 2019 Reuther/Chavez Workers’ Rights award and have AFGE President J. David Cox accepting the award (presented by Congressman Andy Levin (D-MI))

Nan Aron of Alliance for Justice with ADA’s Winn Newman Lifetime Award (presented by Heidi Hartmann of IWPR)

FRAC: June 2019 Breakfast Matters Webinar
2019-06-13 15:00 - 17:00 | DC
Community Eligibility Adoption Deadline is Quickly Approaching: Get Your Questions Answered Here
Community eligibility is a huge success, reducing paperwork for schools and increasing school breakfast and lunch participation. School districts that are still on fence on whether to adopt for the 2019-2020 school year will need to decide by June 28, 2019 (note: by statute, the deadline to apply is June 30, 2019, but this year the 30th falls on a Sunday; contact your state agency for clarification). This webinar will feature policy experts and a school district staff who operating community eligibility. The webinar will cover important considerations about adoption, such as community eligibility’s relationship with Title I and state education funding, strategies for increasing school meal participation and boosting your budget, and tips for marketing your program to families.

Bread for the World 2019 Advocacy Summit
2019-06-10 - 2019-06-11 | DC
This year’s Advocacy Summit will stretch over two days — Monday, June 10 and Tuesday, June 11, 2019
There will be breakout sessions, a reception honoring Bread founder Art Simon, and a dinner and legislative briefing on Monday, June 10.
The following day, on June 11, a morning gathering and breakfast will take place ahead of Capitol Hill visits with members of Congress.
The day will end with an evening reception, including awards given out to legislators, and a worship service where participants can share with others about their day. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served at the reception.
To learn more about what happens at the Advocacy Summit, read about last year’s event here.
This year’s theme is “Better Nutrition, Better Tomorrow.” The theme is the same as the 2019 Offering of Letters, which is focused on urging Congress to pass legislation that will accelerate progress on global nutrition. Register for this year’s Advocacy Summit »

Economic Policy Institute: Broader, Bolder, Better with Elaine Weiss
2019-05-23 16:00 - 17:00 | Economic Policy Institute, 1225 I Street NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC, 20005, United States
Date: May 23, 2019
Time: 4:00 pm

In Broader, Bolder, Better, Elaine Weiss of the Broader, Bolder Approach to Education campaign and former Massachusetts education secretary Paul Reville make a compelling case for a fundamental change in the way we view education. The book builds upon nine years of research by the Broader, Bolder Approach to Education, a national initiative endorsed by more than 60 policy experts and leaders from across the country. It draws on case studies of effective integrated student support efforts in twelve diverse communities to illustrate the variety of strategies that can be adopted locally.
Join Weiss and others for a discussion of Broader, Bolder, Better and the need for a large-scale expansion of community-school partnerships in order to provide student supports from cradle to career.
What: Book Talk on Broader, Bolder, Better: How Schools and Communities Help Students Overcome the Disadvantages of Poverty
Who: Elaine Weiss, author, Broader, Bolder, Better
Christian Dorsey, Chair, Arlington County Board
Joy Kirk, teacher, Frederick County, VA, Public Schools
When: Thursday, May 23
4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m. Eastern
Where: Economic Policy Institute
1225 Eye St. NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005

FCNL: Let’s Talk Climate Solutions with Rep. Costello
2019-05-22 20:00 - 21:00 | DC
Rep. Ryan Costello (PA-06) has been key to the Friends Committee on National Legislation’s work to foster bipartisan climate change action in Congress. Now you have a special opportunity to hear from him directly.
Please join FCNL on Wednesday, May 22 at 8:00 p.m. EDT for a call with former Rep. Costello and Emily Wirzba, FCNL’s legislative representative for sustainable energy & environment. Together they will discuss the importance of your grassroots advocacy for bipartisan climate solutions, and FCNL’s climate strategy.
You are an important part of our work to advance bipartisan political action to address our climate crisis. Strategizing together about FCNL’s work will be crucial to our success.
Rep. Costello will discuss his long association with FCNL, and we will hear from Emily about FCNL’s strategy for climate action in the 116th Congress. There will be an extended question and answer period. This is a unique opportunity, so please submit your questions ahead of time through the sign-up form.

The Latest Plan to Deny Assistance: Shrinking the Poverty Line
2019-05-22 14:00 - 17:00 | DC
The Latest Plan to Deny Assistance: Shrinking the Poverty Line
Wednesday, May 22, 2:00 p.m. ET(1:00 p.m. CT, noon MT, 11:00 a.m. PT)
Register here.
By shrinking the poverty line over time, the Trump Administration is proposing to reduce the number of people who qualify for health care, nutrition, and other aid.
Join the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and CHN for a webinar that will tell you how this proposed change would affect people who need Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, school meals, LIHEAP, and many other programs.
The Trump White House is seeking comments by June 21 on changing the way the federal poverty line is adjusted annually for inflation. The webinar will clearly explain why this matters to children, seniors, people with disabilities, and others who are poor or near-poor. You’ll learn how shrinking the inflation adjustment will over time reduce vital assistance by billions of dollars as millions of people are disqualified.
You’ll get clear explanations from expert Center on Budget and Policy Priorities staff. You’ll get access to easy ways to provide comments online, and to resources with the facts and arguments you need.
This webinar will include closed-captioning – we appreciate your sharing with your networks that the webinar and recording provide this form of accessibility for those with hearing impairments.
Register Now! (All registrants will get the slides, webinar recording, and a follow-up email with links to the CHN webpage with resources and easy ways to comment.)

2019 National Health Care for the Homeless Conference & Policy Symposium
2019-05-22 - 2019-05-25 | Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H St NW, Washington, DC, 20001, United States
Join us at #HCH2019 as we explore what it means to be “Working Together for Justice” through sintensive trainings in health care and homelessness in the heart of Washington, D.C. Register to learn and network with hundreds of colleagues from across the U.S. at this singular annual gathering of clinicians, consumers, administrators, advocates, and policymakers.
Whether you’re interested in exploring cultural humility or medical respite, harm reduction or trauma-informed care, we hope you’ll join us in our nation’s capitol as we unite as a community to explore the future of homeless health care and real solutions to homelessness.

Economic Policy Institute: "Zero Weeks: America’s Leave Crisis and the Cost of Doing Nothing"
2019-05-16 15:30 - 17:00 | Economic Policy Institute, 1225 I Street NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC, 20005, United States
Most Americans agree that family comes first. No matter where you work or what zip code you live in, you should be able to welcome a new child, to care for your mother when she has her knee replaced or to heal from cancer without facing financial disaster.
And yet in 2016, only 14 percent of private sector workers in the U.S. reported having paid family leave through an employer; less than 40 percent have personal medical leave through an employer-provided temporary disability program. The United States and Papua New Guinea are the only countries in the world without a paid leave law. Because 44 percent of American households don’t have enough savings to cover their basic expenses for three months, families are often forced to choose between taking time off to care for a partner or parent with an unexpected medical emergency or continuing to work so that they can keep their job and health insurance. The crisis is just as bleak for new mothers. Nearly 1 in 4 mothers return to work within two weeks of having a baby. Without the protections of paid leave, new mothers are 40% more likely to need food stamps or public assistance.
Weaving powerful stories together with insightful interviews with leading policymakers, economists, researchers, and activists, Zero Weeks lays out a compelling argument for guaranteed paid leave for every American worker. The film looks at paid leave from an emotional, medical, financial and global perspective.
Once a fringe issue, paid leave is now central to the national debate. The issue is not just political, it’s smart economics. Three states that have implemented their own policies—California, New Jersey and Rhode Island—have experienced greater economic stability. Companies like Google, which provide over 16 weeks of paid leave, have seen their rates of attrition fall by 50%. Paid leave is not just good for families, relationships, and the health of seniors, parents and children, but it is beneficial for business and our nation’s ability to compete on a global scale.
Join the Economic Policy Institute on Thursday, May 16, for a screening of Zero Weeks, a movie that chronicles the deep financial and emotional distress caused by America’s shameful lack of paid leave in the workplace
The screening will begin at 3:30 p.m., with introductory remarks from EPI Senior Economist Elise Gould, Director of Family Values @ Work Ellen Bravo, and the film’s director, Ky Dickens. The movie will start promptly at 4 p.m. Snacks and beverages will be served during the film and a brief reception will follow the screening.

What: Screening of “Zero Weeks: America’s Leave Crisis and the Cost of Doing Nothing”
When: Thursday, May 16
3:30 p.m Eastern
Who: EPI Senior Economist Elise Gould
Director of Family Values @ Work Ellen Bravo
Director Ky Dickens
Where: The Economic Policy Institute
1225 I Street NW, Sixth floor
Washington, DC 20005

Webinar: Why We Should Oppose Repealing Payday and Other Loan Protections
2019-05-02 14:00 - 15:00 | DC
Join the Coalition on Human Needs and Americans for Financial Reform for a webinar that will tell you all about rules that protect consumers from payday loans and other forms of predatory financing-and how the Trump administration is trying to repeal those protections.
And you’ll learn how to slow down the Administration’s efforts by commenting on the dangers of their proposal.
In October 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a final national rule that protected borrowers from appallingly high interest rates on payday and car title loans. For years, civil rights organizations, consumer advocates, faith groups, working families, and others across the country have pushed for a rule to protect their communities from the payday lending debt trap. But now the CFPB is looking to gut crucial protections against predatory payday lenders.
Join us to learn why payday and car title lending protections work, and how we can protect them. This webinar will feature expert speakers on the rule change and why it matters, as well as examples of why protections against payday lending work at the state level. You’ll also learn about how you can take action to stop the Trump administration by commenting against the CFPB rule change.
Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs, will moderate.

FRAC: April 2019 Breakfast Matters Webinar
2019-04-11 15:00 - 16:00 | DC
Community Eligibility or Provision 2: Similarities, Differences and Things to Consider
Community eligibility is a huge success, allowing high-poverty school districts to offer school meals at no cost and reducing paperwork for schools. School districts will need to decide if they want to opt in for the 2019-2020 school year by June 30, 2019 and should be planning for implementation now. Other school districts have found Provision 2, a longstanding federal option, to also be a great way to offer meals at no cost. Join this webinar to understand the similarities and differences between community eligibility and Provision 2, and the factors that may help school districts decide which provision to implement.

CWLA 2019 National Conference, Advancing Excellence in Practice & Policy: Meeting the Challenge of the Family First Prevention Services Act
2019-04-09 - 2019-04-13 | Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20001
The CWLA 2019 National Conference, Advancing Excellence in Practice & Policy: Meeting the Challenge of the Family First Prevention Services Act, will be held April 9 – 13 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. With the framework of the CWLA National Blueprint for Excellence in Child Welfare, this conference will highlight successful strategies and practices organizations and communities are using that can be leveraged to meet the challenges and opportunities of the Family First Prevention Services Act and help ensure that children and families flourish.
Both the CWLA National Blueprint and Family First Act are calling for a multi-system, community-based approach to protecting children and supporting families. The conference will feature evidence-informed/evidence-based programs and practices and their related policies and tools that will accomplish the goals of the Family First Act and lead to the successful implementation of the National Blueprint.

Food Research & Action Center: SNAP Matters for Seniors Webinar
2019-04-03 13:00 - 14:00 | DC
Wednesday, April 3, 2019 – 1:00 PM Eastern (12:00 PM Central, 11:00 PM Mountain, 10:00 AM Pacific)
Discover how many eligible seniors in your state are missing out on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation’s first line of defense against hunger. You’ll learn about interactive data tools that highlight the senior nutrition gap as well as concrete strategies and resources to connect eligible older adults to SNAP. All attendees will receive a communications toolkit to help them promote why SNAP matters for seniors, just in time for Senior Hunger Awareness month (April) and Older Americans Month (May).

Friday Advocates Meeting
2019-03-29 09:00 - 10:00 | AFSCME, 1625 L St NW, Washington, DC, 20036

FCNL Spring Lobby Weekend 2019
2019-03-23 - 2019-03-26 | DC
Registration for Spring Lobby Weekend 2019 is now open!
The 2019 Spring Lobby Weekend will focus on immigration. Come lobby for laws that protect the rights and safety of immigrants, migrants, refugees, and their families.
This is an especially pivotal time in DC—join us this March and make your voice heard.
For questions about scheduling your lobby visit, contact Amanda Levin, FCNL’s Lobby Visit Coordinator.
For all other questions related to Spring Lobby Weekend, contact Annie Chiorazzi.

IPS Brown Bag: Activists & Poets Against Walls
2019-03-18 12:00 - 13:30 | Institute for Policy Studies, 1301 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC, 20036
In this multimedia brown bag session, independent DACA activist Allyson Duarte and Poets Against Walls co-founder Emmy Pérez will talk about recent activism in the Rio Grande Valley in support of borderland communities. They will share video footage of speech clips and poetry performances to introduce some of the intersectional work they are involved in. Poets Against Walls is a collective of poets with a DIY philosophy that aims to amplify and help document borderland poetry, testimonio, and the spoken word to help counter mainstream depictions of the borderlands. Allyson Duarte’s work and advocacy commitments emphasize the need to seek solutions beyond whatever policy measures can achieve through the limited scope of party politics, which is almost always defined by gridlock that is rooted in private interests.
Allyson Duarte is a DACA recipient and proud resident of the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas. She currently resides in DC and is pursuing graduate studies at American University. Her advocacy efforts revolve primarily around immigration in border communities, but she has also partaken in efforts related to education, LGBTQ+, and environmental issues. Allyson is emphatic about the need to supersede advocacy and organizing modes that find reliance on America’s two-party electoral system.
Emmy Pérez poetry collections include With the River on Our Face and Solstice. Her work also appears in anthologies such as Ghost Fishing: An Eco-Justice Poetry Anthology, Other Musics: New Latina Poetry, and What Saves Us: Poems of Empathy and Outrage in the Age of Trump. She is a past recipient of poetry fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, CantoMundo, and the New York Foundation for the Arts, as well as a member of the Macondo Writers’ Workshop for socially engaged writers. She grew up in Santa Ana, California, where she recently received LibroMobile’s inaugural Modesta Avila Award, and for the past 18 years has lived in the Texas borderlands. Currently, she is Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and serves as Associate Director for the Center for Mexican American Studies. She currently serves on the organizing committee for CantoMundo national literary organization and co-founded Poets Against Walls.
Co-Sponsored by Split This Rock and the Institute for Policy Studies, this event is presented as part of “What Is It, Then, Between Us?: Poetry & Democracy,” an annual programming initiative of the Poetry Coalition.

FRAC: MARCH 2019 Breakfast Matters Webinar
2019-03-14 15:00 - 16:00 | DC
Making Community Eligibility Work with Lower ISPs
Community eligibility is a federal option that allows high poverty schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students. Schools can participate in community eligibility as long as 40 percent of the enrolled students are automatically eligible to receive free school meals—typically by way of direct certification. Thousands of schools across the nation have adopted community eligibility with ISPs between 40 and 60 percent and are finding that it can help improve their school nutrition finances, while increasing the number of students experiencing the educational and health benefits linked to eating school meals. . Now is the time to start planning for community eligibility implementation for the 2019-2020 school year. Join this webinar to learn about the strategies and resources available for making community eligibility work at schools with ISPs between 40 and 60 percent.
Register here.

First Focus: Cutting Child Poverty in Half Within a Decade: A Congressional Briefing
2019-03-14 14:00 - 15:00 | Rayburn HOB, 2020 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC, 20005
First Focus: Cutting Child Poverty in Half Within a Decade: A Congressional Briefing
Hosted by the U.S. Child Poverty Action Group, First Focus, the American Academy of Pediatrics , and the National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives, in collaboration with Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, and Congressman Danny Davis
Children continue to disproportionately experience poverty in the United States, and are 62 percent more likely to experience poverty than adults. Yet while the U.S. child poverty rate remains stubbornly high, there is no long-term national strategy, or even a national dialogue, to address child poverty in the U.S. and the negative outcomes associated with it. We know it does not have to be this way. When countries prioritize their children, it results in lower child poverty rates and improved economic outcomes for all of society.
In response to a mandate from Congress, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine released a landmark consensus study on child poverty in the United States. This study included analysis of the economic, health, and social costs of child poverty to our society, as well as the effectiveness of current anti-poverty programs–including international, federal, state, and local efforts–to reduce child poverty. Based on this analysis, the study committee issued a set of evidence-based policy recommendations about how to cut the national child poverty rate in half within a decade.
Concurrent with the release of this study, the U.S. Child Poverty Action Group, a partnership of over 20 national organizations, launched a national campaign, End Child Poverty U.S., to garner collective action in calling upon the federal government to make child poverty a priority through setting a national target to cut our child poverty rate in half within 10 years.
Please join the U.S. Child Poverty Action Group, First Focus, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Prevention Science Coalition To Improve Lives for a Congressional briefing, Cutting Child Poverty in Half Within a Decade, to hear from leading experts on this new landmark study and learn how Members of Congress and other stakeholders can utilize its findings to reduce child poverty and its negative consequences in the United States.
Opening Remarks

Bruce Lesley, President, First Focus Campaign for Children

Moderator

John K. Roman, Ph.D., Senior Fellow, Economics, Justice and Society Group, NORC, University of Chicago and Co-Director of the National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives

Panelists

Christine-James Brown, President and CEO, Child Welfare League of America and NAS Study Committee Member, Building an Agenda to Reduce the Number of Children in Poverty by Half in 10 Years
Dr. Benard Dreyer, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, Director of Pediatrics, Bellevue Hospital Center, Past President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, NAS Study Committee Member, Building an Agenda to Reduce the Number of Children in Poverty by Half in 10 Years
Dr. Angela Diaz MD, PhD, Director, Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center and Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

The Trump Budget: What You Need to Know
2019-03-14 14:00 - 15:00 | DC
The Trump Budget: What You Need to Know
Thursday, March 14th
2 P.M. EDT, 1 P.M. CDT, 12 P.M. MDT, 11 A.M. PDT
Register Here
Even if you can’t attend, you should register to get access to the webinar recording with captions, slides, and follow-up information.
Each year, the President is mandated by law to submit a proposed federal budget to Congress. The budget states the President’s priorities. For the Trump Administration, that means cuts to human needs programs and big Pentagon increases. This year, we expect the proposed budget will be released the week of March 11th.
The Coalition on Human Needs is hosting a webinar to tell you what you need to know about the Trump budget and the work ahead for better alternatives in Congress. One of the biggest issues: will Congress lift looming spending caps that will slash domestic programs by about 10 percent? We’ve already heard that the President wants to make deep cuts in domestic appropriations while dramatically increasing funds for the Pentagon. Advocates need to know how to prevent those cuts, how to fight against cuts to basic needs programs like Medicaid or SNAP, and how to advance real improvements in the services we need. On this webinar, you’ll find out more about the spending caps and how the President’s proposals will affect low- and moderate-income people through likely cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, housing, help for people with disabilities, education and job training, social services, and public health programs. And you’ll learn about opportunities to protect and expand human needs programs as Congress takes up the FY 2020 budget.
Speakers:
Sharon Parrott: Sharon is Senior Fellow and Senior Counselor at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. A preeminent expert on federal budget and anti-poverty policy, Sharon served for two years as Associate Director for the Education, Income Maintenance, and Labor (EIML) Division at the Office of Management and Budget within the Obama Administration.
Deborah Weinstein: Debbie is Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs. In her 16 years at CHN, she has focused on educating advocates about how to engage in critical federal budget choices on behalf of low-income people.
Accessibility Assistance:
The webinar will be captioned. The webinar will also be recorded, and all registrants will get the recording link with captions, slides, and follow-up information.
Register here.

FRAC: CEP 30-Minute-Deep-Dive
2019-03-12 15:00 - 16:00 | DC
Understanding the Relationship between Community Eligibility and Title I Funding
Community eligibility is an amazing federal option that allows high poverty schools to offer breakfast and lunch at no cost to all students while eliminating the free and reduced-price school meal application. Many school districts have questions regarding how to measure student poverty for Title I funding purposes at community eligibility schools in the absence of collecting this form from families. Join FRAC for this 30-minute webinar to learn what you need to know about community eligibility implementation and measuring poverty for Title I and the resources available to assist school districts with planning for community eligibility implementation.
Register here.

CEPR: Screening of "I, A Black Woman, Resist"
2019-03-11 15:00 - 16:30 | Rayburn HOB, 2020 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC, 20005
March 11, 2019
3:00 PM
Hosts:
Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep. Raúl Grijalva
Sponsors:
The Center for Economic and Policy Research, the Washington Office on Latin America and the U.S. Network for Democracy in Brazil.

Location:
Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC
Room 2325
Please join us for a screening of the short documentary “I, A Black Woman, Resist” followed by a discussion with two leading experts on racism and feminism in Brazil about the life and legacy of Afro-Brazilian leader Marielle Franco, a staunch critic of police brutality and state-sanctioned violence who was assassinated on March 14, 2018.
Deeply rooted in the longstanding tradition of Black Feminist activism in Brazil, Marielle Franco dedicated herself to speaking truth to power and to uplifting and empowering marginalized communities in Brazil up until the final moments of her life. Featuring a first-hand account from Dr. Barber of the last event that Marielle attended at Casa das Pretas (Black Women’s House) on the night of her assassination, this short documentary seeks to raise awareness, build consciousness, and facilitate dialogue around the necessity of transnational solidarity in the fight against racism and the global struggle for Black Lives.
Co-Director Dr. Sharrelle Barber will speak and answer questions about her inspiration to create this documentary that bears witness to Marielle Franco’s life. Dr. Gladys Mitchell-Walthour will discuss the broader context of human rights and democracy in Brazil and the status of the Afro-Brazilian rights movement at this challenging juncture in the country’s history.
Please RSVP and direct questions to Marilyn.Zepeda@mail.house.gov.

Friday Advocates Meeting
2019-03-08 09:00 - 10:00 | Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), 1200 18th St NW, Washington, DC, 20036
CHN’s regular Friday Advocates Meetings are off-the-record. Thank you for not quoting speakers in materials you send to your networks.
Location: Our FAM on Friday March 8th will be at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), 1200 18th St NW, 2 blocks from both Farragut North and Farragut South metro stops.
If you would like to attend a FAM, please contact Joe Battistelli: jbattistelli@chn.org

Economic Policy Institute: Making the Digital Economy Work for Everyone
2019-02-25 17:00 - 19:00 | Washington Court Hotel, 525 New Jersey Aenue Northwest, Washington, DC, 20001
From the Economic Policy Institute:
The digital transformation of the global economy is more than automation and AI—it is a fundamental structural transformation. As two of the leading global economies, the United States and Germany are at the forefront of debates about what the changes brought by technological progress mean for employees, gig workers, unions, and businesses.
What innovative ideas are out there to make the digital economy a working economy for all? Please join us for a discussion with policy makers and union leaders from both sides of the Atlantic as we address this challenging question.
This event is free and open to the public. Your RSVP will help us prepare.
Monday, February 25
5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. Eastern time
Hubertus Heil, German Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs
Liz Shuler, Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO.
Moderated by Thea M. Lee, President, Economic Policy Institute
Washington Court Hotel
Ballroom
525 New Jersey Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20001
RSVP for this event

National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference
2019-02-24 - 2019-02-26 | Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert St NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Co-sponsored by Feeding America and the Food Research & Action Center in cooperation with the National CACFP Forum.
Join 1,000+ of your fellow anti-hunger advocates in Washington, D.C., for two days of “can’t miss” networking opportunities, content-rich sessions, interactive training, and the National CACFP Leadership track, “CACFP Innovation, Dedication, Celebration,” followed by a day on Capitol Hill. You’ll go home with an arsenal of best practices, innovative advocacy methods, and personal connections to help you better fight hunger in your community, your state, and at the national level.
http://www.antihungerpolicyconference.org/

Friday Advocates' Meeting
2019-02-22 09:00 - 10:00 | DC

Friday Advocates' Meeting
2019-02-01 09:00 - 10:00 | DC
CHN’s regular Friday Advocates Meetings are off-the-record. Thank you for not quoting speakers in materials you send to your networks. UPDATE: The Friday, Feb. 1 Friday Advocates Meeting will be located at CLASP, 1200 18th Street NW, Suite 200.
If you would like to attend a FAM, please contact Joe Battistelli: jbattistelli@chn.org

Census 2020: Why getting it right matters (a lot!)
2019-01-23 15:00 - 16:00 | DC
Census 2020: Why getting it right matters (a lot!)
Wednesday, January 23rd
3 P.M. Eastern, 2 P.M. Central, 1 P.M. Mountain, 12 P.M. Pacific
Click Here to Register Today
With 2019 now upon us, the 2020 Census is right around the corner. Join the Coalition on Human Needs and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights to find out what you need to know as the year-long countdown to the next decennial census begins.
You’ll hear from experts on the importance of a complete and accurate count, how inadequate census outreach would be detrimental to our democracy, and an overview of the state of play around whether a citizenship question will be included. You’ll get a preview of what will happen between now and 2020, how to keep up the pressure on Congress and the Administration to ensure a fair Census, and what can be done to improve the count of certain populations such as young children that have been under-counted in the past.
The decennial census is one of the foundational building blocks of our democracy. The demographic information gleaned by the Census Bureau is used to make critical decisions both by the government and the private sector, such as the allocation of funding for social services and where non-profits and businesses decide to expand their operations. And the official count will be used for electoral redistricting and the reapportionment of Congress itself.
So much is at stake, and many important changes are in store for the 2020 Census. This time, there will be a greater emphasis on gathering Census form responses online. And in spite of a federal judge’s recent ruling, questions still remain about the inclusion of a citizenship question for the first time in decades, which could result in lower response rates from populations that have historically been undercounted to begin with.
Click here to register today.
Keep in mind: Slides and a full recording of the webinar will be available after the event, so even if you cannot attend, you should sign up to gain access to the materials.

Protect Immigrant Families Rapid Response Webinar
2018-10-01 14:00 - 15:00 | DC
View an archive of this webinar here.
On September 22nd, the Department of Homeland Security publicized a proposed rule change that would make using health, anti-hunger, anti-poverty, or affordable housing programs a disqualifier for some immigrants, putting millions of families at risk. The proposed Public Charge rule would punish immigrants going through official immigration processes and their families for applying for or receiving benefits for which they are legally eligible.
Once the proposed rule change is published, there will be a 60 day period for the public to leave comments. The Coalition on Human Needs is hosting a webinar on on behalf of our partners at the Center for Law and Social Policy and the National Immigration Law Center. On this webinar, you’ll find out what you need to know about the public charge rule, why this change is so dangerous, and what we can do about it.

Poverty, Income, Health, and Work: What Can We Learn From the New Census Data?
2018-09-06 13:00 - 14:00 | DC
Unemployment is down, but workers’ pay is losing ground. Did low-income people make gains in 2017? What is helping; what’s standing in the way?
CHN held its 2018 annual Census webinar to prep you for the new data that came out on September 12-13. In this webinar, you’ll get the forecast from economic expert Jared Bernstein and training from CHN Executive Director Debbie Weinstein on how to get the facts for your community, congressional district, state and nation. Our Moderator is Ellen Teller, Director of Government Relations at the Food Research & Action Center.
View a streaming copy of this material with an ASL interpreter here.

Strategies to Stop SNAP Proposals that Take Away Food Assistance from Millions
2018-04-24 15:30 - 16:30 | DC
You can view an archive of this recording here.
Tuesday, April 24, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time
SNAP, the nation’s most effective anti-hunger program, is under attack in the 2018 Farm Bill that’s moving through the House right now, possibly reaching the House floor as early as the week of May 7. The 2018 Farm Bill expected to be approved by the House Committee on Agriculture would make it harder for millions of people to put food on the table by taking away or reducing SNAP benefits for many struggling Americans, including parents raising kids, people with disabilities, older adults, and people who are working but struggling to get enough hours or get by on low wages. Many children will lose access to free school meals, too.
Please join this webinar to learn more about how the Farm Bill moving to the House floor would harm SNAP participants and communities across the country, the best messages to use when talking about the Farm Bill, and actions you can take in the coming days and weeks to protect SNAP. This webinar is co-sponsored by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Coalition on Human Needs, Feeding America, and the Food Research & Action Center.
Please note that this webinar is geared towards advocates; it is not for legislative staff or members of the media and is not on the record.

How Benefit Cuts Impact People with Disabilities: How to Fight Back
2018-04-19 15:00 - 16:00 | DC
You can view an archive of this webinar with ASL and captioning here.
Webinar: How Benefit Cuts Impact People with Disabilities; How to Fight Back
Learn about likely federal policy threats affecting people with disabilities, in programs such as Medicaid, nutrition assistance, SSI/SSDI, housing and legal protections. Included in the webinar will be a discussion of effective messaging to combat these threats, and action steps you can take to get involved. Following the presentations, participants will have an opportunity to ask questions.
WHEN: Thursday, April 19th, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT
PRESENTERS:
T.J. Sutcliffe, Director of Income and Housing Policy at The Arc
Lisa Ekman, Co-Chair, Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Fiscal Policy Task Force
Rebecca Cokley, Senior Fellow, Disability Policy, Center for American Progress
Rebecca Vallas, Vice President, Poverty to Prosperity Program, Center for American Progress
Moderator: Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs
This webinar is co-sponsored by Center for American Progress, Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Fiscal Policy Task Force, and the Coalition on Human Needs. The webinar will be captioned and ASL interpreting will be provided; a transcript will be available, along with the recording and slides.

The Trump Budget: What You Need to Know 2018
2018-02-14 12:30 - 13:30 | DC
An archived version of this webinar is available here.

Webinar: Wednesday, February 14, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. ET
co-sponsored by the Coalition on Human Needs, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Center for American Progress, and the Food Research & Action Center.
President Trump’s budget proposal for next year will be released on February 12. Then the Trump Administration will try to sell Congress and the public on his priorities. You need to know what’s proposed, and how it affects low- and moderate-income people and communities. Last year, the Trump budget included massive cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, housing, help for people with disabilities, education and job training, social services, and public and environmental health programs. Find out what’s the same or different, and whether they will package cuts under the theme of promoting work.
You’ll hear from federal budget expert Sharon Parrott, Senior Fellow and Senior Counselor at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, get brand new related poll findings from expert John Halpin, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, brief action steps from Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs, and added anti-hunger budget details from moderator Ellen Teller, Director of Government Affairs at the Food Research and Action Center. There will be time for questions.

Using the New Poverty, Income, and Health Insurance Data: A Practical Guide
2017-09-07 14:00 - 15:00 | DC
An archived version of the webinar is available here.
On September 12 and 14, the Census Bureau will release its annual poverty, income and health insurance survey data. Don’t miss CHN’s handy preview to show you how to use the local, state, and national findings. You’ll get brilliant predictions and insights about trends. You’ll learn about the wealth of information available, and how it can help make your case for public investments in vital programs. Whether your organization wants to comment on the findings at the time of release or use them all year long, this webinar will give you the tools you need.

The 2020 Census: Why Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Count Matters
2017-07-19 14:00 - 15:00 | DC
An archive of this webinar is available here.
This webinar co-sponsored by the Coalition on Human Needs, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the Children’s Leadership Council, and the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality.
The 2020 Census may seem like a long time away, but decisions are being made now in Washington that will affect the accuracy of the count. In the past, the Census has undercounted young children, communities of color, and low income rural and urban households; very much related, immigrants also are at risk of disproportionate undercounting. This matters a lot: much federal funding is distributed by formulas based on population and income, and some communities will get less than they should if their residents are not accurately counted. Further, congressional, state legislative, and municipal districts are re-drawn every ten years based on the Census count. In 2020, for the first time, the Census Bureau will promote the Internet as the primary way to answer the census, which may increase the likelihood of an undercount in low-income communities.
In this webinar, learn from national Census experts about how we can protect and improve on the Censusâ€™ accuracy, so that low-income communities are not shortchanged. This webinar will be useful for advocates and service providers working at the local, state, or federal levels. If your communities receive funding based on federal or state formulas, this webinar is important to you.
Presenters:
Terri Ann Lowenthal is a nationally recognized expert on the U.S. census. During a 14-year career as a congressional aide, she was staff director of the House census oversight subcommittee from 1987-94, and has advised the Census 2000 Initiative and The Census Project, Funders Census Initiative, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and business and industry data users. She will describe how the 2020 Census will be used and the preparations for it going on now.
William O’Hare has more than forty years of experience in statistical analysis of social and demographic data. Previously a Senior Consultant with the KIDS COUNT Project at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Bill is the author of The Undercount of Young Children in the U.S. Decennial Census (SpringerBriefs in Population Studies). Bill will explain about who is undercounted, with new state and local information and how advocates can use it.
Corrine Yu is Senior Counsel and Managing Policy Director of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and a leader in efforts to protect and improve the accuracy of the census. She will describe action steps to make sure the Census is adequately funded and to prepare for the outreach needed in communities to get an accurate count.
Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs, moderator.

Trump's Plans to Cut Human Needs Programs
2017-03-21 14:00 - 15:00 | DC
An archive of this webinar is available here.
President Trump has announced plans to cut domestic programs to pay for Pentagon increases. Learn about the expected impact on housing, services for children, seniors and people with disabilities, nutrition, public health, and more.
This is the first step in a long budget process. You’ll hear from experts about what’s next – and the strategy to fight back.

The New Congress: How It Plans to Cut And How to Fight Back
2016-12-16 14:00 - 15:00 | DC
An archive of this webinar is available here.
The Affordable Care Act. Medicaid. Medicare. SNAP. SSI. Tax rates for the wealthy and corporations. The new Congress wants to repeal, restrict and/or cut all of these. How will they use their rules to try to carry all this out? And how will Senators who oppose these goals try to stop the cuts?
Presenters:
Ellen Nissenbaum, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Deborah Weinstein, Coalition on Human Needs
Representative Jim McGovern
Moderator: Ellen Teller, Food Research and Action Center
What you’ll learn:
The new Congress will try to repeal the Affordable Care Act in January, so President Trump can sign it soon after his inauguration, and enact some kind of replacement later. They will use budget rules to try to get the repeal done with a simple majority. Ellen Nissenbaum, a renowned expert on the congressional budget rules, will explain how the rules work, and what leverage points may exist for opponents. Some actions can pass with only 51 Senators; many others require 60 votes to pass. These rules affect the strategies over plans to cut/restrict critically important human needs programs, as well as gigantic tax cut proposals. Advocates need to understand the rules, to work effectively with congressional allies to hold off extreme proposals. Deborah Weinstein will talk about advocacy strategies we can use together.

Poverty Data Webinar 2016
2016-09-07 15:00 - 16:30 | DC
An archive of this webinar is available here.
Would you like to know …

whether poverty is growing or declining in your state?
how to use state and local data about income by race, age, or gender?
how to get the new Census Bureau poverty, income and health insurance data?
why cat videos attract more attention than sociology studies?

Get the answers to three of these questions in our annual Poverty Data Webinar!
Wednesday, September 7, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET (Noon Pacific Time)
Jared Bernstein, nationally known economic expert you’ve seen on CNBC, MSNBC, and in the NY Times, Washington Post, and on NPR, will share his astute analysis of what the new data is likely to show for poverty, income, and health insurance, and why. Jared is Senior Fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and previously was Chief Economist and Economic Advisor to Vice President Joe Biden.
Deborah Weinstein will provide you with practical training so you can find and use the Census data as soon as it is released (The Census Bureau will publish the data on September 13 and 15). She has specialized in helping advocates use national, state and local data, with clear instructions and follow-up help if you need it. Debbie is Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs.
Ellen Teller, our moderator, will make sure the speakers answer as many of your questions as possible. Ellen is a champion advocate, and is Director of Government Affairs at the Food Research and Action Center.

Child Lead Poisoning: Preventable Harm
2016-05-03 13:00 - 14:00 | DC
An archive of this webinar is available here.
Child Lead Poisoning: Preventable Harm
A Webinar co-sponsored by the Coalition on Human Needs, First Focus, Children’s Leadership Council, Partnership for America’s Children, MomsRising, and the National Head Start Association
Tuesday, May 3, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET
The lead poisoning of children (and adults) in Flint, Michigan has focused the nation’s attention on the terrible human cost of allowing contamination of our water supply. We have since learned that lead in water affects many communities nationwide, and that lead from paint in older buildings is an even more prevalent source of child poisoning. We have known about this for a long time, and steps to reduce the lead around us in previous decades have dramatically reduced the number of children suffering from lead poisoning. But reduced investments by local, state, and federal governments have slowed our progress and brought preventable harm to more than half a million U.S. children.
This webinar will provide expert evidence about the consequences of lead poisoning in children, examples of work being done in Flint and Philadelphia to stop this scourge, and timely information about Congressional proposals to fund the solutions.
Speakers include:
Dr. Jennifer A. Lowry, MD, a pediatrician and national expert on medical toxicology, including lead poisoning, practicing at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO. She directs the Mid-America Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PESHU) for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 and serves as chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Environmental Health.
Colleen McCauley, Health Policy Director at Public Citizens for Children and Youth in Pennsylvania. She works on child health policies, with special emphasis on low-income and undocumented children in the metro Philadelphia area. Prior to joining PCCY in 2001, Colleen was a nurse and former Assistant Director of the Abbottsford Community Health Center in Philadelphia.
Moderator:
Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs.

$2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America
2015-12-15 14:00 - 15:00 | DC
An archive of this webinar is available here.
A special webinar with authors Kathryn Edin and Luke Shaefer, whose book $2 a Day describes in depth the lives of families living in extreme poverty in America. $2.00 a Day has been included in theNew York Times Book Review list of 100 Notable Books of 2015. When he reviewed the book in September, respected Harvard sociologist William Julius Wilson wrote, “This essential book is a call to action, and one hopes it will accomplish what Michael Harrington’s “The Other America” achieved in the 1960s, arousing both the nation’s consciousness and conscience about the plight of a growing number of invisible citizens.”
Kathy and Luke will be joined by a panel of experts: people who have lived in such deep poverty. Their comments and questions,and yours, will be moderated by CHN’s executive director, Deborah Weinstein.
At a time when some are intent on feeding divisiveness and hatred, please join us in this call to conscience.
Special thanks to our co-sponsors:
Children’s Leadership Council
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)
National Women’s Law Center
MomsRising

Using the New Poverty Data
2015-09-09 14:00 - 15:00 | DC
An archive of this webinar is available here.
Using the New Poverty Data
Wednesday, September 9, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Eastern time
The annual Census Bureau data about poverty, income, and health insurance will be released on September 16 and 17. There is increasing recognition that poverty is stubborn, entrenched, and damaging. There is also a growing body of evidence about what works to reduce poverty.
Learn how to get accurate information about your state and community – and how to use it to press for real solutions.
Presenters:
Jared Bernstein, Senior Fellow, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Jared, formerly Chief Economist and Economic Advisor for Vice President Biden and the Obama White House, and now a prominent writer and commentator on economic issues, will predict likely poverty and income trends in the new data. And show us what works to reduce poverty – and what doesn’t.
Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs
Debbie has been providing practical, hands-on tips on using the Census survey data for a long time. Each year, she works to streamline the info so you can find and use poverty, income, health insurance, education, disability, race/ethnicity, employment and other data for the nation, and for states and communities.
The webinar will give you step-by-step instructions to find the information you need, including trends over time and comparisons to other states. All registrants will be sent those instructions and follow-up help when the Census Bureau releases its new reports.

Jobs - A Webinar on What the Federal Government Must Do Webinar
2010-01-28 14:00 - 15:00 | DC

Learn How to Use New Data About Poverty and Health Insurance Webinar
2009-09-02 14:00 - 15:00 | DC
