Hurricane Karina was devastating to Black communities in New Orleans and all of Louisiana, but it turns out the devastation wasn’t anywhere near the havoc coronavirus has inflicted on the Crescent City. More people in Louisiana are unemployed —300,000 — and more have died — 2,500 — due to the covid-19 pandemic than when Hurricane Katrina hit 15 years ago, MSN reported. The epicenter of the impact is New Orleans, which at one point had the worst coronavirus death rate in the U.S. In New Orleans, nearly 60 percent of the population is Black. Black residents make up 32 percent of the state’s population but 55 percent of its deaths from covid-19, MSN reported. ...

Coronavirus Devastates Black New Orleans: ‘This Is Bigger Than Katrina’ The pandemic is disproportionately harming U.S. black communities, especially in Louisiana. Economists warn the deaths could be just the start of further setbacks for already vulnerable residents. By David Benoit Published on Monday, May 23, 2020 by The Wall Street Journal A recent study showed how little they have to fall back on. Black families have a median of only 32 cents in available cash or other liquid assets for every $1 a white family has, according to theJPMorgan Chase Institute, the bank’s internal think tank. Black families in New Orleans had only 27 cents. The institute spent two years matching anonymous data from its banking records to race disclosures in voting records, compiling information on 1.8 million households in three states. The JPMorgan data showed that black families cut their everyday spending after an involuntary job loss more sharply than white families, buying...

“We have to do something to keep this industry here. If we do not, the state of Louisiana will shrivel up and die!” — Rep. Stuart Bishop, Ways and Means chairman Louisiana’s two chief fiscal analysts did not spare members of the Revenue Estimating Conference from the unvarnished truth, though they attempted warnings before presenting their best calculations of the unvarnished truth Monday afternoon. “You don’t want to hear the numbers because it will give you a shock,” said Division of Administration fiscal analyst Manfred Dix....

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Preparing for 2020 elections in Louisiana has proven to be everything except smooth sailing. The latest pushback comes from advocacy groups that argue the current election plan ”violates the fundamental right to vote as protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments.” The state’s presidential and municipal primaries were first moved in 2019, from March of 2020 to April of 2020 because of scheduling conflicts with Easter, and with other states’ primaries which is prohibited. As those elections approached in 2020, the coronavirus pandemic hit the state....

Did you know that half a billion people could be pushed into poverty by the coronavirus crisis? It’s a staggering prospect as millions–from grocery and poultry workers to farmers and refugees—struggle to stay healthy and survive. That’s why Oxfam is working with people like you to try to reach more than 14 million people in need. Our teams in about 50 countries—experts in water, sanitation, hygiene services, food security, women’s issues, and more—are providing lifesaving supplies and collaborating with different communities in local languages and following local customs. It’s all part of our approach to identify sustainable solutions in partnership with a vast network of local organizations that know their communities best....

$1M donated by New Orleans’ convention center — but labor activists call for much more BY ANTHONY MCAULEY | STAFF WRITER | NOLA.com APR 22, 2020 – 7:50 PM The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center’s oversight board on Wednesday approved a donation of $1 million to support programs for “needy hospitality workers due to COVID-19,” which will be split equally between The United Way of Southeast Louisiana and Greater New Orleans Foundation Support Foundation. The offering of aid comes in the wake of pressure from a coalition led by the hospitality workers union, UNITE HERE, which immediately blasted the offering as insufficient. In a statement issued after the board vote, the coalition said the grant amounts to barely $10 for each New Orleans hospitality worker, referring to U.S. Department of Labor’s data estimate that about 95,000 people are employed in the city’s bars, hotels, restaurants and other such jobs that make up the...

U.S. Supreme Court abolishes split jury verdicts; dozens of convictions voided by John Simerman for Nola.com The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday that juries across the nation must be unanimous to convict or acquit a criminal defendant, outlawing the split verdicts that had persisted in Louisiana since openly racist lawmakers enshrined them in the state Constitution during the Jim Crow era. In a 6-3 decision that crossed ideological lines, the high court ruled that the Sixth Amendment’s right to a jury trial implicitly requires a unanimous verdict, and that the previously acknowledged need for jury consensus in federal courtrooms applies equally to state courts through the 14th Amendment. The decision will mean a new trial for Evangelisto Ramos of New Orleans, who was serving a life prison sentence after being convicted of murder in a 10-2 decision. It will immediately affect scores of other recent criminal convictions and hundreds...

Louisiana advocacy organizations have a roadmap for an equitable COVID-19 recovery by Jake Clapp for The Gambit A group of Louisiana advocacy organizations is looking to the future, to when the state will be recovering from the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Louisiana isn’t a stranger to disaster recovery, but efforts in the past have often left out the state’s most vulnerable populations or ultimately exacerbated problems that squeeze working communities and people of color. Around 70% of the deaths attributed to the pandemic in Louisiana have been among black residents, Gov. John Bel Edwards said earlier this month. In a follow-up press conference, Dr. Corey Hebert, a professor, physician and the chief medical officer at Dillard University, directly connected that disproportionate mortality rate to the disproportionate rates of illnesses like hypertension, kidney disease, diabetes and heart disease that appear among African Americans. “There’s overwhelming data which points us squarely to the...

Why the Virus Is a Civil Rights Issue: ‘The Pain Will Not Be Shared Equally’ First came early data showing that the coronavirus affected African-Americans disproportionately. Then came the fight for a fair response and recovery. by Audra D.S. Burch for The New York Times Rallies and marches and other traditional forms of protest are out, given the social distancing restrictions now in place from coast to coast, but activists are organizing campaigns nonetheless aimed at what is emerging as the latest front in the country’s civil rights struggle: the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on communities of color. The Covid-19 racial disparity in infections and deaths is viewed as the latest chapter of historical injustices, generational poverty and a flawed health care system. The epidemic has hit African-Americans and Hispanics especially hard, including in New York, where the virus is twice as deadly for those populations. So in the...

Louisiana Republicans Follow Trump’s Lead, Kill Emergency Mail-In Voting Plan by C.C. Campbell-Rock for The New Orleans Tribune In response to COVID-19 Louisiana’s presidential primary and general elections have been set back for a second time. The presidential preference primary is rescheduled for July 11. Local general elections have been reset for August 15. And in the middle of the deadly corona virus pandemic that has killed more than 1,200 Louisianans, has resulted in more than 23,000 COVID-19 cases and has impacted the lives of every resident in the state with mandatory stay-at-home orders, business and school closures, historic unemployment rates, along with good measures of uncertainty and fear, Republicans on the state Senate & Governmental Affairs Committee on April 15 killed Gov. John Bel Edwards and Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin’s bipartisan proposal to expand voting hours and mail-in ballot options for upcoming elections. They are clearly following Trump’s...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. Information about COVID-19 and its symptoms and guidelines to prevent infection, plus the latest updates from the federal government. COVID-19 testing sites. https://ready.nola.gov/incident/coronavirus/resources/#testing Text COVIDNOLA to 888777 to receive alerts from the City of New Orleans. Louisiana 211. Dial 2-1-1 for health and human services available in the state. Louisiana Department of Health. www.ldh.la.gov/coronavirus. Information and the latest updates from the state about COVID-19. A hotline has been set up at 1-855-523-2652....

Proposed Louisiana legislation addresses redistricting, voting by mail and purging inactive voters BY DAVID JACOBS | THE CENTER SQUARE MARCH 12, 2020 Guest columnist Melissa S. Flournoy called recently for a vision for Louisiana’s future “that is inclusive and equitable and lifts families out of poverty and on a pathway to prosperity.” Featured Image: Registrar of Voters Jared Andrews discusses the ease of early voting at the satellite voting location at the Denham Springs – Walker branch library. File Photo | The News Read the article on The Livingston Parish News...

Five bills introduced aimed at shaping Louisiana redistricting BY JULIA ARENSTAM MARCH 10, 2020 The 2020 census surveys haven’t quite made it to Louisiana yet, but five bills introduced in the state Legislature aim to shape Louisiana’s redistricting policies. The “2020 Election Integrity Package,” put up by various state representatives, is backed by nonprofits Fair Districts Louisiana and the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice. Baton Rouge area Reps. Barry Ivey, a Republican, and Ted James, a Democrat, have also signed on to two of the bills, which mostly come from Democratic legislators. Ivey is the only Republican sponsoring a bill in the package and is the sole author of a bill that would create a public redistricting website. “I am excited to bring HB 565 that will provide a portal where the people of Louisiana can engage and stay informed throughout the redistricting process. The purpose of transparency is...

Wellness Among Women BY SYDNI SANDERS, THE SOUTHERN DIGEST MARCH 10, 2020  “A Different World: Conversations Around Collegiate Women’s Wellness” was hosted by a group of organizations in the University Event Center on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 7 pm. Beta Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Alpha Tau Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., along with the Association for Women’s Students of Southern University and the Collegiate 100 Black Women of Southern University joined together to promote, sponsor, and organize the events and food for the night. The event was also powered by the Maxine Firm, a nutrition and wellness firm dedicated to the prevention of chronic diseases directly related to nutritional practices. The event also featured guest speakers and alumni such as Dr. Gia Landry Tyson, MD; Dr. Kourtni Atkins Luster, FNP-BC, Nicole Scott RN MSN, and Dr. Maria Shantell Williams, who came to speak...

Winning labor rights in the South means changing state laws By Carly Berlin- January 13, 2020 In early 2017, Pamela Bourgeois got into a car accident on Chef Menteur Highway in New Orleans East. The jaws of life rescued her from the passenger seat, and she suffered a broken collarbone and a torn meniscus that put her out of work. That’s when she realized how little support she would receive from her employer as she got back on her feet. She met a maze of bureaucratic obstacles caused, in part, because her home state of Louisiana prevents its cities and parishes from determining their own paid-leave policies and minimum wage floors. At the time of the accident, Bourgeois was employed by the Volunteers of America as a food service worker in a New Orleans charter school. Her classification as a part-time employee meant that though she was working upwards of...

Governor Edwards creates panel promoting 2020 US Census By KATC News Posted at 3:29 PM, Dec 18, 2019 Governor John Bel Edwards has signed an executive order to create a panel to promote the 2020 US Census. The executive order created the Louisiana Complete Count Committee (LCCC) to help raise awareness of the 2020 Census. According to the Governor’s Office, the advisory panel is made up of community, government and business leaders who represent the diverse populations of communities across the state. “It is vital that every Louisianan participate in the 2020 census, which provides us an opportunity once every 10 years to take a snapshot of our population in order to make the best decisions possible to better serve our citizens, determine congressional representation and that we are in the best possible shape to receive our share of federal resources as they are made available,” said Gov. Edwards. “This...

How Voter Outreach to Communities of Color Propelled Gov. Edwards to Runoff Victory By Editor December 3, 2019 Democrats have a formula– a recipe for success in Louisiana elections. Demographer Greg Rigamer explains. “You need, as a Democrat, to win 90% of the African American voter and a third of the white vote,” Rigamer said. And African Americans need to account for at least 30% of the votes cast. “That’s been the formula that has held true for every every race since really 2003,” he added. That’s when Democrat Kathleen Blanco was elected Governor. Rigamer worked on that campaign and has consulted for pretty much every candidate– Democrat and Republican– to win a major Louisiana race since then. So, it wasn’t much of a surprise when the Edwards campaign brought him on to address disappointing turnout in the primary among Democrats’ key demographics. In October, about a quarter of the electorate...

Ground Game: How a Diverse Patchwork of Grassroots Leaders and Volunteers Came Together to Re-elect the Only Democratic Governor in the Deep South By Lynda Woolard – November 26, 2019 THE POWER COALITION Grit and power are the two words Ashley Shelton, Executive Director of the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, attaches to the team of people who work alongside her. She is quick to point out that it was the organizers, the boots on the ground, who deserve the credit for boosting voter turnout. The Power Coalition has field offices in Shreveport, Alexandria, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Houma, and Jefferson Parish/West Bank. This year, more than $80 million was spent on a governor’s race. Yet, for a fraction of that, Shelton’s coalition continued on its path to building a permanent infrastructure of black-led organizations that work at scale to turn out the best candidate for the issues that matter...

How did Democrats win Louisiana? With classic progressive populism John Bel Edwards is conservative on abortion and guns, but he energized the base – and white moderates – with Medicaid By Chris Kromm Published on November 20, 2019 | The Guardian In the weeks running up to Louisiana’s closely watched governor’s race, President Trump and the White House went all-in to deliver a Republican victory. The president’s son, Donald Trump Jr, headlined a rally for Republican candidate Eddie Rispone in early October, and Vice-President Mike Pence visited the state twice. President Trump himself made three trips to Louisiana on Rispone’s behalf, begging his followers in his final stop: “You’ve got to give me a big win, OK?” While Trump’s appeal among deep south white people, especially in rural areas, spurred the president’s 20-point victory in Louisiana in 2016, his team’s aggressive stumping did little for Republicans in 2019: Democratic incumbent...

Our Executive Director Ashley Shelton Joins Talk Louisiana to Discuss the 2019 Elections  ...

Louisiana Early Childhood Advocates Are Celebrating a Big Win for Little Kids By Lisa G. Klein, Ph.D. for Alliance for Early Success Early childhood advocates are celebrating a big win for little kids. We provided our lead ally, Louisiana Policy Institute for Children (LPIC), with a full range of Alliance supports to make early childhood a top priority during their legislative session and this year’s state elections. LPIC received: An ongoing grant for legislative advocacy and to make early childhood a priority with all candidates in the gubernatorial and legislative races A one-time supplemental grant to engage grass roots advocates through the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, who received part of the funds National technical assistance (TA) support on campaign strategy, Op-Ed development, and for a statewide poll to assess voter attitudes on early childhood education So,what happened? The incumbent governor, who ran on a campaign with early childhood...

Black voter turnout powers Edwards’ win By Matt Doyle for the Louisiana Radio Network Published on November 18, 2019 African American voter participation jumped six percent from the primary to the run-off, a major reason why Governor Edwards will be returning to office for another four years. The Power Coalition was at the center of that effort, and Executive Director Ashley Shelton says the group knocked on over 298,000 doors, sent 375,000 text messages, and made over 350,000 phone calls. “We did a lot of work, and we kind of changed our approached as well from the primary to the run-off and really went old-school,” says Shelton. JMC Analytics says voter turnout in 70% black precincts was up 13% over the primary, compared to just 1.5% in 70% white precincts. Shelton says this year’s minority turnout will help keep minority priorities in the conversation in Baton Rouge, regardless of party affiliation....

2019 Elections Are A Wrap By Gaby Goldstein, Co-Founder & Political Director at the Sister District Project Published on November 17, 2019  The 2019 elections are now truly a wrap. Here are a few thoughts about Democratic state level success this year, and why we have to keep the momentum rolling into 2020. Louisiana What a night in Louisiana. First off, we’re so proud of Sister District candidate Tammy Savoie. While the outcome of her race wasn’t what we’d hoped, she had the bravery and tenacity to run in a district where Republicans had gone unchallenged for many cycles. And she significantly outperformed Clinton’s ‘16 numbers, closing the gap and laying the foundation for future Dems (up and down the ticket) to succeed in the district. This is how long-term strategy works — we have to invest in a multi-cycle time horizon, and broaden the definition of success beyond just wins,...

The battle for voting rights in the age of mass incarceration Ex-prisoners are getting their voting rights back. But the backlash has already started. By Rosemary Westwood Published on November 15, 2019 by Vox Shauntelle Mitchell waited in her local polling station in Slidell, Louisiana, and contemplated leaving. The October primary election would be her first time voting in years — her criminal record had prevented her from casting a ballot since 2011. This year, re-registered and finally free to vote, she felt nervous. “All eyes was on me,” Mitchell, 43, recalled. “I started to walk out, because I felt people was looking at me, and I was like, ‘Why go through the whole process to walk away? You came here to vote, to try to make a difference, even if the candidate you picked does not win.’” She stopped herself and turned around. “I stood my ground and voted.” Mitchell’s vote...

Urban Louisiana churches working to increase voter turnout in governor’s race By Mark Ballard Published on November 11, 2019 by The Advocate Recent polls say Saturday’s election for governor is a toss-up. As neither candidate has been able to make significant headway among voters of the other party, the winner will be the one who gets more of his base to the polls. Republican Eddie Rispone, an electoral neophyte with lots of money, is looking to President Donald Trump and television advertising to energize enough Republican and rural voters to pull him across the line. Incumbent Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards hired another consultant to get his core supporters, particularly African Americans, to the polls. He’s been attending churches with minority congregations and black legislators have been organizing. State Rep. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, organized a get-out-the-vote rally at the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union in Baton Rouge on the day before early voting...

Community groups offering free rides to the polls By WDSU Community Team Published on November 4, 1029 by WDSU The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice and Step Up Louisiana are offering voters rides to the polls every day during Early Voting Week. The bus pickups will follow a city council district-by-district plan each day, Monday, November 4 – Friday, November 8, with special stops also scheduled on both Saturday, November 2, and Saturday, November 9. The buses will pick up voters at the locations and times listed below, take them to the nearest Early Voting location, and bring them back to the original pickup spot. Here is the full schedule: •District A–Monday, 11/4 o9:00AM: Hollygrove Multipurpose Senior Center, 3300 Hamilton St, New Orleans, LA 70118 •District B–Tuesday 11/5 o11:00AM: New Zion Baptist Church, 2319 Third Street, New Orleans, LA 70113 o2:00PM: New Hope Baptist Church, 1807 Reverend John Raphael Jr. Way,...

Political Experts: Voter turnout will determine the governor’s race  ...

Power Coalition for Equity and Justice to Co-Host Candidate Forum at UL-Lafayette By Daion Brewer Published on October 5, 2019 for News 15 LAFAYETTE, LA— With early voting for statewide and local elections already underway, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice will partner with the UL-Lafayette College of Liberal Arts to host a forum for candidates who are running for House Districts 31, 43, and 45, in Harry L Griffin Hall, Room 147, on Rex Street, on the campus of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. Wednesday, October 2, the people of Lafayette will get a chance to evaluate candidates who are running for three local legislative representative seats at an event hosted by the region’s flagship university. The candidates will address several topics, including criminal justice reform The forum will run from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Children and families are welcome. For more information, visit www.powercoalition.org. Read the article on...

Candidates in local elections to answer audience questions at SU Town Hall tonight By Mykal Vincent Published on October 2, 2019 by WAFB 9 BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – The Southern University System will host a Town Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union on campus. Candidates for the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Senate, State Representative, East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court and more have been invited to participate. After candidates introduce themselves and their respective platforms, they will take questions from the audience. Community partners for this event include: 100 Black Women of Baton Rouge, the La Capitale Chapter of The Links Inc., and the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice. On-campus partners include the Student Government Association, Political Science Association, NAACP and the Alpha Tau Chapter of Delta Sigma...

2019 Get Out & Vote Campaign launching this weekend By KATC News Published on September 6, 2019  The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ), VOTE, and other partner organizations will hit the streets across Louisiana as they begin their Get Out & Vote effort. On Saturday, September 7, the organizations hosted launch event at their VOTE office, located at 110 Travis Street, Suite 140, in Lafayette. The campaign’s plan is to engage in a variety of community outreach efforts, including knocking on doors, calling voters, and holding events and candidate forums in order to get the word out about voting and to increase voter turnout. Get Out & Vote’s goal is to foster long-term civic engagement in communities that have traditionally been ignored by the political establishment. The group will also encourage people to pledge to become Power Voters. PCEJ considers Power Voters those who: 1) Vote in every election, education...

Report: State preemption laws disproportionately hurt women, people of color By Michael Isaac Stein Published on Monday, May 8, 2019 by The Lens State laws that prevent local governments from making their own rules on issues like affordable housing and minimum wages are especially detrimental to women and people of color. That’s according to a new report from the Partnership for Working Families, a national coalition of advocacy groups. The report uses Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Colorado as case studies on these so-called “preemption laws.” In Louisiana, state law prevents cities from passing higher minimum wages and requiring a minimum number of work leave days. The report says that because women and people of color are more likely to work in low-wage jobs, they are disproportionately impacted by these policies. “What’s real is that we know the folks that ultimately bear the brunt of this are women and, in particular, women of color,”...

State laws that prevent local governments from making their own rules on issues like affordable housing and minimum wages are especially detrimental to women and people of color. That’s according to a new report from the Partnership for Working Families, a national coalition of advocacy groups.  The report uses Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Colorado as case studies on these so-called “preemption laws.”  In Louisiana, state law prevents cities from passing higher minimum wages and requiring a minimum number of work leave days. The report says that because women and people of color are more likely to work in low-wage jobs, they are disproportionately impacted by these policies....

Thursday, April 2nd: Royce Duplessis, Peter Robins-Brown, Mark Ballard, Jason Baumann By Jim Engster Published on Monday, May 2, 2019 by WRKF 89.3 tate Representative Royce Duplessis and Peter Robins-Brown, Communications Director for the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice on House Bill 422, which would repeal the state preemption of local  control of minimum wage and family and sick leave policies. Mark Ballard, Capitol Bureau Chief for the Advocate, notes that social issues remain vibrant in the Legislature and Ballard assesses the Louisiana Senate reaction to Attorney General Bill Barr’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee of which John Kennedy is a member. Jason Baumann of the New York Public Library reflects on the 50 year anniversary of the historic Stonewall uprising. Read and listen on WRKF 89.3...

THE LAPOLITICS Q&A Louisiana Power Coalition’s Peter Robins-Brown   LaPolitics: For readers who are unfamiliar, tell us a little about the Power Coalition and its’ efforts.  Peter Robins-Brown: “The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice is a statewide civic engagement table that works to shift power back to the people by fighting for policies that lift up Louisiana’s families. We also work with our coalition members to educate voters, increase voter engagement, and provide a support structure for community activism and voice.” One of the big bills that the Coalition is working on local control. Why is this bill critical to your group’s efforts?  As part of the Unleash Local coalition, we are supporting grassroots organizing across the state to educate voters about HB422, sponsored by Rep. Royce Duplessis. Currently, the state of Louisiana bans cities and parishes from setting many of their own local economic standards, including minimum wage and...

By Forgiving Warrants and Fines, Communities Give People a Fresh Start Sometimes a suspended driver’s license stands in the way of a desperately needed job. By Keith Griffith Published on April 9, 2019 by Yes!  Izell Mayes drove without a license for about 20 years, the result of unpaid traffic tickets, missed court dates and compounding fines that seemed impossible to pay off. Still, the 45-year-old plumber and father had to take his children to school and get to work. When he was eventually pulled over, it meant arrest and more fines. The worst experience came on a family vacation to a Six Flags amusement park in Texas, when a Louisiana state trooper pulled him over and hauled him away in handcuffs in front of his kids for driving on a suspended license. Afraid of other complications, Mayes avoided court dates, and the bench warrants piled up. Eventually, he owed nearly $23,000. Everything...

Coalition launches campaign to increase minimum wage in Louisiana By Terry L. Jones Published on March 11, 2019 by The Advocate Labor organizations, non-profit groups and some small business owners have joined forces to take yet another run at convincing state legislators to overturn a 1999 state law that bars local governments from setting their own minimum wages. The goal of the Unleashed Local campaign that was launched on Monday is to clear a path to increase the minimum wage in Louisiana. Louisiana is one of five states that doesn’t set a minimum wage, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The other states are Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. In the absence of a statewide standard, Louisiana employers must pay their employers at least $7.25 an hour, the federal minimum. A coalition of grassroots groups and leaders have been lobbying state leaders for at least the past five years to lift families out...

Around the World Day of Social Justice, we should consider why cities pay poverty wages, and why 28 states can preempt local efforts to raise the minimum wage. This week, the United Nations noted a World Day of Social Justice, focused “on guaranteeing fair outcomes for all through employment, social protection, social dialogue, and fundamental principles and rights at work.” Here in the United States, one of the world’s richest countries, raising the minimum wage is the most directly effective measure we can take to guarantee fair outcomes by combatting poverty and economic insecurity. In recent years, many states, counties, and cities across the country have decided to go that route. Unfortunately, many others are handcuffed when it comes to raising their minimum wage. In 28 states, including Louisiana, local governments are “preempted”—that is, banned—from setting their own minimum wage (23 states also preempt local governments from setting their own...

Academics, activists, philanthropists and journalists convened on the uptown campus this weekend alongside celebrities, comedians and local musicians for the first-ever Unrig the System Summit, a place to cross the country’s partisan lines to address today’s most pressing political issues.  The summit, which ran from Friday, Feb. 2, through Sunday, Feb. 4, was organized by Represent.Us, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization launched in 2012 in response to the rise of super political action committees (PACs). “This weekend is our precious opportunity to build our own community of reformers, who conduct the latest research on election reforms, develop policies for better ethics enforcement and pass government corruption laws in our hometowns,” said Charlotte Hill, who hosted the weekend’s welcome plenary in the Lavin-Bernick Center with Kulpreet Rana, chair of the Represent.Us board....

Influencing Complex Systems Change The Management Assistance Group (MAG) is one of NPQ’s go-to sources of information about social justice movements. MAG works with a number of the networks that are moving some of this nation’s most difficult issues. MAG has come to believe there are five elements that are critical to advancing a thriving justice ecosystem. This is the fourth in a special five-part series, in which MAG and NPQ invite you to contribute to the evolution of what these elements mean in practice. Let’s start something! By Natasha Winegar, Susan Misra and Ashley Shelton Published on May 3, 2017 in Nonprofit Quarterly For many nonprofits, there is little new about trying to move the needle by seeing the big picture, understanding all the pieces, addressing root causes, or influencing institutions and structures. What is different about this moment in time—a time of sustained racism, xenophobia, police brutality, sexual violence, war,...