Make One City Possible

Everyone should have the opportunity to be an effective citizen, worker, family member, or partner in their children’s education. Although our area has the highest number of college graduates too many of our citizens possess low literacy levels.

• 1 in 5 D.C. adults lacks a high school diploma
• 1 in 3 D.C. adults cannot read a newspaper or a map

Without resources, it is impossible to significantly improve lives.

Restoring $1.2 million to adult literacy will strengthen the workforce and promote economic development for the city.

Within 18 months following completion of an adult basic education program, learners achieve significant annual wage gains. Higher wages help sustain the local economy and research has shown that a parents’ literacy level, especially a mother’s, is one significant factor in determining whether or not children will succeed in school and graduate from high school.

A literate citizenry can improve our whole community and achieve the goal of Making One City Possible.

On January 24th, WAMU 88.5, a local affiliate of NPR, aired a story called, “Breaking the Cycle when Dropping Out Runs in the Family” featuring two Academy of Hope learners, Saundra Walker and Grace McMillian, mother and daughter respectively.

Hear and read their stories here and learn the top five reasons dropouts identify for leaving school.

Ari Weisbard, DC Employment Justice Center

For many low-wage workers, it’s not a hypothetical question.

Businesses routinely refuse to pay the correct hourly wage, dodge taxes by misclassifying workers, refuse to pay workers earned overtime, and make employees work “off the clock.” More than 2 out of 3 low-wage workers experienced at least one type of wage theft in the previous week according to a 2010 survey of 4,000 workers in low-wage industries. The estimated average amount of wages stolen annually? $2,634 out of total average earnings of $17,616. That’s like an extra 15% tax on the poorest workers!

As Mayor Gray prepares his budget, one of the most effective investments he can make in DC’s economy is to beef up enforcement of basic wage and paid leave laws designed to protect workers from wage theft.

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Today, the Fair Budget Coalition of the District of Columbia, composed of over 75 organizations and 20 community members, launches its

MAKE ONE CITY POSSIBLE CAMPAIGN.

To participate in the Campaign, email makeonecitypossible(at)gmail.com.

With your support, we urge the Mayor, Deputy Mayors, and Agency Directors who are currently drafting the District’s Fiscal Year 2013 Budget to Make One City Possible by investing in policies and programs that

CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO LIVE AND WORK IN THE DISTRICT.

To create opportunities for people to live in the District, the new budget will have to include funding for affordable housing, homeless shelters, disability assistance, health insurance, and crime victim assistance. Additionally, coordination among government agencies can improve opportunities without additional cost.

Learn more about programs and policies that “create opportunities for people to live.”

To create opportunities for people to work in the District, the new budget will have to include funding for adult education and literacy, childcare, and supports for homeless families. In addition, better policies could improve work opportunities without additional cost.

Learn more about programs and policies that “create opportunities for people to work.”

We also recommend ways for the District to raise revenue as an option for the
FY13 Budget.

Find out about upcoming Campaign activities.

Thank you for your personal interest in the well-being of our City and all its
residents.

“The Fair Budget Coalition fights for a just and inclusive District of Columbia through advocacy and organizing and by advancing budget and public policy initiatives which reflect the interdependency of the District’s community and economic development systems.”