As part of an effort to organize and mobilize supporters, we have begun a new outreach strategy in the state. Combining traditional outreach tools, earned media, and social media networking, we have started connecting advocates across Arkansas in a way we never have before. Our message is simple: Ask lawmakers to focus on kids’ issues now and during their upcoming campaigns.

We also spent considerable time this winter and spring promoting earned income tax credit uptake across the state. Far too often we hear stories of money left on the table after tax filings. Low-wage workers routinely fail to claim a tax credit they have earned. While very conservative House members want to reduce—and in some cases eliminate—the tax credit, we continue to push for permanent adoption of enhancements made to the earned income tax credit in the past three years.

Lastly, Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families once again marked Tax Day by raising awareness of what exactly our tax dollars do. From civil protection to early education, we engaged local Arkansas leaders to explain in their own words how tax dollars enhance our communities. While none of us likes paying taxes, we all must appreciate what our shared resources provide for ourselves and our communities. You can check out all of our Tax Day work at our AR Voices blog.

• Gathering EITC/CTC stories at free tax sites,
• Building a team of grasstops leaders to focus on national economic security issues, and
• Developing leaders within our communities to speak out against poverty.

The center worked to address poverty issues by advocating for a work-sharing program, better regulation of predatory lenders, safeguards for families in foreclosure, expanding the pool of those eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, benefits, and adjusting TANF benefits for inflation. In addition, the Interfaith Center’s budgetary work included advocating for a balanced approach by closing inefficient tax loopholes to generate new revenue while pushing for budget amendments related to safety net programs.

The focus of the General Assembly is slowly shifting to the budget, which is adopted every two years in Virginia. The money committees of the Virginia House and Senate recently released their respective budgets. While both budget plans improved upon the governor's original budget proposal, neither included significant forms of new revenue, fundamentally limiting the state's ability to restore funds to vital programs and services. On a positive note both budgets included full restoration of funding for the health care safety net, which had been decimated in the governor's proposal.

Both budgets also include the funds necessary to provide prenatal care to low-income legal immigrants, an issue the Interfaith Center has been pushing for, both with regard to policy changes and appropriate funding. However, due to an equal number of Republicans and Democrats in the State Senate, Democrats voted down the Senate budget, creating a stalemate. Political and policy negotiations are now underway among the senators.

Additionally, the Interfaith Center engaged its members and partner organizations on issues of poverty and hunger through an advocacy day, which brought nearly 325 members to Richmond, Virginia, to speak with their elected officials on these very important bills. The Interfaith Center also assisted with policy briefings for United Methodist, Jewish, and Presbyterian advocacy days. The Interfaith Center's local chapters have been hosting issue-specific events in their communities to educate community members about the debates taking place in Richmond.

Finally, the Interfaith Center has brought on a new CEO and president, Marco Grimaldo. Marco joins the Interfaith Center after working on poverty and hunger issues at the federal level for many years. He most recently worked at Bread for the World and the Alliance to End Hunger.

Despite challenging weather conditions the event drew 120 advocates, policymakers, and concerned residents to discuss strategies to cut poverty and expand economic opportunities for all Minnesota residents. The events were taped and will be shown on ICTV cable in Grand Rapids. The local cosponsors who made up the planning committee helped make the event a success and they formed great partnerships in the process.

On January 19 Nancy Maeker, executive director of A Minnesota Without Poverty, gave an overview of the group’s work and highlighted the theme, “We believe there is enough for all to have enough, if we all do our part.”

Desmond Brown of the Half in Ten campaign led a learning station at the event where advocates broke up into small groups to identify specific job-creation strategies. Discussions included expanding employment programs, improving access to child care and early leaning programs, and reforming the criminal-justice system to make it easier for formerly incarcerated individuals to gain access to jobs.

Brown also provided an overview of “Restoring Shared Prosperity,” Half in Ten’s recent report on cutting poverty and expanding economic growth, and he provided participants with a set of resources they can use in their state to help cut the U.S. poverty rate in half in 10 years.

Representatives of local organizations and coalitions led other learning stations on jobs, education materials, citizen engagement, and story collection.

A successful panel discussion featured two current state legislators (Tom Saxhaug and Tom Anzelc), two legislative candidates (Joe Gould and Pat Medure), and three District 8 candidates (Jeff Anderson, Tarryl Clark, Rick Nolan). All were part of the Democratic Farmer Labor party, but Republican legislator Carolyn McElfatrick also attended the event.

The event concluded with a call to action, which urged participants to remain engaged on the 2012 legislative agenda.

A Minnesota Without Poverty will build on the momentum of this event by producing a new “MN Church Ladies” video to promote the Legislative Commission to End Poverty recommendations and their 2012 legislative agenda.