Texas state lawmakers went home for the summer without passing a ban on #guaranteedincome. In @elpasomatters.bsky.social, UpTogether CEO @jgerena.bsky.social wrote about why this victory matters. Read his op-ed 👇

UpTogether's Ivanna Neri joined @urbaninstitute.bsky.social's Mary Bogle at the BIG Conference in Washington, D.C. to present the findings of our work in Austin. They discussed the role of research in moving from a guaranteed income pilot to a policy adopted by the City of Austin.

1/ How We're Growing the Guaranteed Income Movement - Even When It's Hard Something big just happened in Texas, and it deserves all the headlines. Community-led efforts beat back a bill that would have banned #guaranteedincome across the state.

“We all came together to hear our stories together and make our voices heard together. I feel like that’s what unity is,” said Tina Acosta, an UpTogether member from San Antonio. @everytexan.bsky.social @economicsecurity.us

Ashleigh testified at the Texas statehouse against harmful anti-guaranteed income bills. Because of the advocacy of Ashleigh and our other members are partners, the bills did not pass. @everytexan.bsky.social @economicsecurity.us

1/ 🚨 BREAKING: Texas families and advocates just stopped a bill that would’ve banned #guaranteedincome in the state. Here’s how community power beat back big money lobbying—and why it matters. 🧵

Bills to ban guaranteed income in Texas did not pass this session, thanks to advocacy from UpTogether, @everytexan.bsky.social and @economicsecurity.us. We can keep investing in Texas families! blog.uptogether.org/community-or...

"This isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet — it’s about children going to bed hungry, seniors skipping meals, and working families falling through the cracks."

While millions of families struggle to afford food, rent, and child care, the House just passed a tax bill that gives even more to the wealthiest—while slashing support for those most in need. This isn’t about fiscal responsibility. It’s about choices.

"If we trust and invest directly in people and their abilities, who are facing financial hardship, they're more than capable to be able to identify goals and figure out what they need to do to be able to find success in their lives." - UpTogether CEO Jesús Gerena

The House Ways & Means tax plan gives permanent tax breaks to the wealthy, with $105 billion going to households making over $1 million. Low-income families could face eventual tax hikes, alongside cuts to #Medicaid and #SNAP. @brendanvduke.bsky.social explains: www.cbpp.org/blog/how-hou...

When @krqe.com in Albuquerque wanted to find out how that city’s new guaranteed income pilot would impact participants, they turned to UpTogether. We wish Albuquerque well on this initiative and look forward to celebrating the results.

Big news: State lawmakers are coming together to push for #guaranteedincome across the country. We're excited to see leaders advancing this conversation and committing to economic mobility for all.

What an inspiring morning at Austin City Hall on Tuesday! We gathered for a powerful event to explore the findings of the Urban Institute’s evaluation on the impact of cash transfers — the work that led to the creation of the Family Stabilization Grant Initiative! @vanessaforatx.bsky.social

Marrio Fitzgerald...said Tuesday that the initiative helped him pay for sports & other extracurricular activities for his children. "It comforted me to know that I would be able to make it to the next month.” #guaranteedincome

In partnership with Oakland Thrives, City of Oakland and @mayorsforagi.bsky.social, we helped distribute $500 a month to 600 families for 18 months — no strings attached. Now, the results are in! Visit our website to learn more: hubs.la/Q03jpPSV0

Currently listening to the results being released by @uptogether.bsky.social from the Oakland guaranteed basic income pilot. It was $500/mo for 18 months. Awesome to see that recipients were 44% less likely to experience homelessness compared to the control group, worked more, and kids got more As!

We're glad to see @reprashida.govpeeps.us recognizes the tremendous benefits of direct cash investments and how granting choice on how these investments are spent plays in ensuring economic security and creating a sense of community for all people in the U.S.

Great to see #guaranteedincome take off in Columbus! UpTogether is proud to partner on the Ohio Mothers Trust initiative with Rise Together and Motherful.

As part of the Illinois Cash Coalition, UpTogether was proud to join forces at the state capitol to advocate for a statewide guaranteed income. Read more about our work in Illinois: blog.uptogether.org/illinois-gua...

This is important legislation to support families. It would: - Provide a baby bonus of $2,000 for the month an eligible child is born - Increase the CTC’s value from $2,000 to $6,360 for newborns, $4,320 for children age one to six, and $3,600 for children age six to 17.

Great to see #guaranteedincome become part of the public discourse in the mayoral race in the country's largest city.

🚨 "Work hard, and you’ll succeed." Meritocracy is a fairy tale that ignores systemic barriers. Success isn’t just about effort—it’s about access, luck, and who gets a head start. #MeritocracyMyth #NarrativeChange

There aren't enough hours in the day for a minimum wage worker to get out of poverty, let alone get on a path of buying a home or building wealth. Stagnant wages means extracting wealth from workers so the rich and corporations can get richer. #MythOfMeritocracy #TheBigLie #TimeForChange

Help send UpTogether, Center for Effective Philanthropy and @schottfound.bsky.social to @socapglobal.bsky.social to share the concept of shifting away from transactional giving to investments that build long-term community wealth and power! Vote here: hubs.la/Q03fCJJ50

"What if everyone could live a life that they loved?" UpTogether's Jess Ridge gave a presentation on guaranteed income and the importance of investing in people at @busph.bsky.social this afternoon. Link to event: publichealthconversation.org/conversation...

Thank you to Monarch Foundation for investing in families through the Bridge Project. “This approach is protecting moms and babies; it’s also investing in the future workforce. It’s pro-life, it’s pro-family and it’s pro-dignity.”

Great column! "By combining guaranteed income with wealth-building strategies, the state is pioneering a comprehensive approach that could revolutionize how we tackle economic inequality and create opportunities for future generations."

How do we “pull ourselves up by our bootstraps” without boots? Wealth isn’t just hard work—the rich stay rich through luck, inheritance & rigged systems that leave others behind. #MythOfMeritocracy

Our economy should work for everyone, not just the wealthy! Over the next few months, we’ll break down how it operates — and what a more just future could look like. #EconomyForEveryone

On Tuesday, a coalition led by UpTogether, @everytexan.bsky.social and @economicsecurity.us testified against HB 530, a harmful proposed bill in Texas that would prohibit municipalities from enacting guaranteed income programs. 1/

🚨 TODAY: Texas lawmakers are holding a hearing on #HB530 – a statewide bill that would ban #guaranteedincome. At a time when families face high costs, banning a proven tool that gives people the flexibility to afford necessities, finish school, or start businesses would set Texas behind. 🧵

We join America Forward in expressing our deep concern regarding the Department of Education’s sweeping staff cuts this week and planned actions to eliminate the Department altogether. 1/

The plan to slash food aid is a deliberate policy choice that punishes hard-working people who are already facing rising costs. We should be investing in families, not taking away food to give tax cuts to the wealthy. @tcfdotorg.bsky.social

UpTogether CEO, Jesús Gerena asked the California Assembly to pass a bill expanding the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) to include children up to 17 by 2028. In his letter to lawmakers, Gerena urged: ✅ Include more families ✅ Lift the earned income requirement ✅ Make payments recurring

“We all have our struggles & we came to tell these lawmakers that this money has helped us create financial stability,” said Ruby Marroquin, who participated in our advocacy day in Austin with @economicsecurity.us and @everytexan.bsky.social. Read about the need to block HB 530. #guaranetedincome

Today, we joined @vanessaforatx.bsky.social, @uptogether.bsky.social, & Every Texan at the Texas Capitol for Texas Family Economic Security Day, where #guaranteedincome participants, advocates, & supporters shared how cash is transforming lives & can build a stronger Texas. #TXLeg

UpTogether, @economicsecurityproject.org and Every Texan are in Austin urging lawmakers to support #guaranteedincome and block HB 530, which would ban local governments from implementing such initiatives. Thank you, @vanessaforatx.bsky.social and UpTogether members from around Texas for joining us!

“I’m tired of calling this a pilot. We know it works." - Assemblymember Corey Jackson. Great to see California lawmakers looking to expand #guaranteedincome. We agree with Assemblymember Jackson that investing directly in people does work!

We applaud the MacArthur Foundation for stepping up to meet this moment, and hope others follow their lead. We are likely to see devastating impacts of federal funding cuts on so many people we serve.

"I feel treated like a human, instead of looked down on. And not having to jump through all these hoops to get some help has been huge." What a great story about the power of trusting and investing in families. #guaranteedincome

It’s unconscionable to fund tax breaks for the rich by stripping hardworking people of food and healthcare. We should be investing in families, not padding the pockets of the wealthy and corporations. www.cbpp.org/press/statem... @centeronbudget.bsky.social

“If we’re talking about supporting communities and community development, we actually need to have families not in survival mode, but actually at a place of wealth building." - Astar Herndon on UpTogether's investment in Illinois families.

Meet Ruta Ghebrewold, an artist, student and mom who is showing her daughters what’s possible when they set goals and work towards reaching them. In this podcast episode, Ruta shares her journey from Eritrea to Oakland hubs.la/Q035jh8j0

UpTogether is excited to launch a statewide direct cash initiative in Illinois. “We want to dispel the notion that cash is only a viable solution for Chicago." - UpTogether's Astar Herndon www.25newsnow.com/2025/02/11/l... #guaranteedincome

People know how best to meet their families' needs, as we see many participants in our UpTogether Illinois Community Fund use their investment on housing costs. #guaranteedincome

"It helped me buy coats for my kids--and I also fixed my car that I needed repairs on." - Bria, a member of the UpTogether Illinois Community Fund who's working two jobs & going to school. Bria shows us what's possible when we trust and invest in people. #guaranteedincome

Thank you, @katieporteroc.bsky.social for highlighting 50 years of #EITC & 10 years of #CalEITC, #YCTC, & #FYTC, which have put billions into the pockets of families, workers, & foster youth. As we mark these anniversaries, let’s recommit to investing in working families.

Through our UpTogether Michigan Community Fund, families are using $500 monthly investments to pay bills and get ahead. Read more about the impact: blog.uptogether.org/michigan-fam... #GuaranteedIncome

The findings confirm the UpTogether Approach of trusting and investing in people so they find their own pathways to get ahead. @centeronbudget.bsky.social