Today we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., minister, activist, and political philosopher, who played a vital role in shaping civil rights reforms of the 1960s. January is also National Poverty Awareness Month, a time to reflect on those less fortunate. Though Dr. King’s life was cut short on April 4, 1968, and the political winds of change shifted course from a focus on poverty to an emphasis on the Vietnam War, the lasting currents of his work still run through the discourse surrounding anti-poverty efforts today. Debates over Universal Basic Income have reemerged — including in Harris County — as have policy discussions surrounding affordable housing and a higher minimum wage. Following the lead of several major cities throughout the nation, Harris County is implementing an innovative pilot program called Uplift to offer guaranteed basic income for nearly 2,000 households in 10 zip codes throughout the region.
Read moreABA Profile of the Legal Profession: A Closer Look at Civil Legal Aid
On November 30, 2023, the American Bar Association released its fifth annual Profile of the Legal Profession. This free report, a 140-page compilation of statistics and trends about lawyers, judges, and law students, includes sections on demographics, wages, law schools, judges, pro bono work, women in the profession, legal technology, lawyer well-being, and lawyer discipline. One additional chapter — a review of civil legal aid in the United States — is the feature we wish to explore in today’s blog post.
Read moreLifting Native American Culture and Voices
The Friday after Thanksgiving is National Native American Heritage Day, although it is perhaps more commonly thought of as Black Friday, a coincidence that some have rebuked, as it links a reverent celebration of Native peoples and culture with the start of the holiday shopping season and the busiest most consumer-driven day of the year. Some have suggested alternatives to the rampant consumerism of the day: acknowledge native land, explore the many digital exhibits available online at the National Museum of the American Indian, or lift up indigenous voices by learning more about the continuing struggle to give Native Americans equal access at the ballot box. Review the links provided within.
Read morePrison Banned Books Week 2023
The inaugural Prison Banned Books Week led by PEN America launched on October 25, 2023. The campaign was introduced to spread awareness of censorship in prisons and how censorship uniquely affects people who are incarcerated, many of whom are part of an already statistically marginalized community.
Read moreTrans Day of Visibility
via Adobe
March 31st marks Transgender Day of Visibility which is observed “to raise awareness about transgender people.” “It is a day to celebrate the lives and contributions of trans people, while also drawing attention to the poverty, discrimination, and violence the community faces.” Too often, trans people are only mentioned in the media due to some form of violence or harm being committed against them. Transgender Visibility Day is an opportunity for people to “re-focus on celebrating the lives of transgender people, empowering them to live authentically, while still acknowledging that due to discrimination, not every trans person can or wants to be visible.”
Read more