Transcript Real Economic Impact Tour Activities - Model

State of the REI Tour Address
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
November 3, 2010
Johnette Hartnett, Ed.D.
Real Economic Impact Tour
Mission
REI Tour is a national movement in 100 cities
dedicated to:
• Improving economic lives;
• Building disability inclusive communities of
practice; and
• Promoting economic and social justice.
Real Economic Impact Tour
Activities - Model
• Increase access
•
Free tax preparation and asset
strategies – audio conference series,
monthly grantee calls, Mayor’s
Academy, financial ed, IDAs,
Webinars, legislative advocacy.
• Create new partners
•
REI Tour Workgroups, Asset
Summits, Benefit Trainings, BEST
Clubs, corporate employee resource
groups, private sector sponsors.
• Test innovative
solutions
•
Use of Video Phones/deaf tax; social
media/communication; video
contests; self tax preparation;
private sector opportunities.
REI Tour 2005-2010
Individual Significant Outcomes
Taxpayers with Disabilities
• 694,402 free returns prepared
• $73.6 million in EITC (($800 less in EITC than taxpayer with
no disability, IRS 2010)
• $663.8 million in refunds
• 52% of taxpayers with disabilities used a paid preparer in
2008 compared to 66% in 2007 (IRS 2010)
• Providing new skills, volunteer opportunities
• Promoting community integration
• Increasing knowledge and awareness
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
REI Tour 2005-2010
System Outcomes
40 + national partners
713 Community-Based partners
New legislative presence Capitol Hill
TaxWise® VITA Software Adds Disability Question
IRS develops internal disability initiative (yearly trainings)
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
IRS Wage and Investment Research 2007, 2010
FDIC’s Money Smart Program in Braille – new curriculum
U.S. Treasury Bank on Program
REI Tour 2005-2010
System Outcomes
• New federal partners – Administration on Families and
Children, Administration Developmental Disabilities, (ADD);
Office Community Services (IDAs): Substance Abuse Mental
Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), VA, Small Business
Administration, and others.
• Convening new local/state/federal partners (Social Security
Administration; Vocational Rehabilitation; Department of
Labor, OneStops; Veteran Groups; Department of
Agriculture)
• Key national partners – United Way Worldwide, One
Economy, National Community Tax Coalition,
REI Tour 2005-2010
System Outcomes
NDI and REI Tour’s Building Communication
Channels




600% increase of Facebook fans
40% increase in Twitter followers
91% increase in visitors to our blogs
American Dream Video contest leveraged 700
direct relationships – disseminated message to
150,000 target constituencies
New Reality
Growing Poverty not Prosperity
• 43 million Americans living in
poverty
• 13 million children < 18
• 54 million people with
disabilities
• > 50% of people reporting
income poverty report disability
(Fermstad, 2009)
• People with disabilities 2 to 5
times more poverty (She &
Livermore, 2009).
• 65% of long-term poverty (> 1
year) are people with disabilities
 40% of people accessing food
pantries on SSI, SSA or SSDI
(Feed America 2010)
 61% increase homelessness since
2007
 $16,366 Median income
taxpayers with disabilities
(compared to $32,028) IRS 2010
 Taxpayers with disabilities
received roughly $800 less in
EITC than non-disabled (IRS
2010)
 37% less likely to have
savings/investment compared to
51% with no disability
Next Generation of Work
Given the Changing Economy
Is it possible to recapture the American Dream?
• Jason Traslow Adams - Epic of America 1931 – Created concept of
American Dream
What kind of economy do we want? Two economies in the US - one
production and consumption - the other based on finance (FIRE economy
– finance, insurance and real estate).
Need to restructure - reindustrialize TECI – transportation, energy,
community infrastructure of US – become most energy-efficient and
least energy dependent nation
• Eric Janszen, The Post Catastrophe Economy (2010) Founded iTulip.com
Next Generation of Work
Given the Changing Economy
• Concentration of wealth during 1928 and 2008 (1% of
population paid 23%) requires a reorganization of the
economy so the broad middle class has enough buying
power to rejuvenate the economy.
Robert B. Reich, After-Shock (2010)
Next Generation of Work
Given the Changing Economy
•
•
•
•
Economic crisis requires innovation and investment.
Need shift from consumption to investment.
US 6th in the world in innovation and ranked #52 math and science
Requires retraining for new jobs and government funding for research
similar to WWII
• Currently 80% of income for American corporations (like Coca Cola)
coming from global markets
• Trends – will be outsourcing not only technical but service jobs whatever
can be done cheaper will be outsourced
Fareed Zakaria, How to Restore the American Dream – Time Magazine
November 2, 2010 (send suggestions www.gps.com )
Next Generation Questions
REI Tour 2005 -2011
How do we provide taxpayers
with disabilities access to
tax and asset building
services?
Why is it important?
What are the gaps?
REI Tour 2011 -2020
What will the field look like by
2020?
How will the field build
inclusive scale and
sustainability?
What role(s) will
transportation, energy,
communication,
technology and education
play?
Next Generation Questions
• What is the future of VITA/Asset Development
field?
• What are the market conditions or factors
contributing to the slow rate of VITA pick-up in
2010? (1% growth in 2010 compared to 10% growth
in the 2000’s)
• What does moving to scale mean for non-profits?
for VITA?
Next Generation Questions
• What interventions, intermediaries, systems and
infrastructures will accelerate the process?
• What funding is needed for each stage?
• Who are the partners and stakeholders needed?
• How can we share our platforms with each other?
• Who is the VITA market?
• How well are you adapting to market preferences? Use of
technology, different languages, seniors, youth, disability?
• How are you responding to the evolving market forces?
• What is the future of VITA and asset building work given
decreases in “civic market” investors?
Immediate Steps for
Restoring the Dream
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Develop cohesive business case across diverse groups – united voice
Identify new research and funding opportunities
Create strong Washington, DC presence and legislative messages
Produce research data
Engage private sector – demonstrate value – build business case
Serve on boards (public and private) introduce work
CNN Fareed Zakaria suggest the following:
• Do something unique – customize your services for broader application
• Go local – what are you doing that cannot be outsourced?
• What services are you providing that are indispensable?
Send ideas to www.gps.com