In Their Own Words

Concerned citizens on what’s at stake in the budget debate

  • “When you have a key that you can put in the door, it gives you a chance to control your destiny.” —Veteran Almon
  • “Head Start is the reason my daughter is alive. The reason my family is intact. The reason I can still smile at my daughter’s beautiful face each morning.” —Amanda
  • “How we treat those most vulnerable in our society is a test of who we are as people.” —A Mother
  • “Without federal aid and federal grants, I would not be the woman, I would not be the citizen, I am today.” —Kayla
  • “The EITC has given me more dignity.” —A Mother
  • “The people I work with don’t believe anyone will listen to them, because they are old and poor. I am asking for help. Because I am listening.” —Ebenezer
  • “I really didn’t have a direction in my life and when I went to YouthBuild, they gave me … the leadership skills and taught me how to advocate for myself and in the process I went to college.” —Jamie
  • “Our goal is to help women and their families live violence-free lives and break the cycle of violence forever. Without federal funding we would be unable to help these women and their children.” —Jan

Click on a state for personal stories and key datapoints