I am so proud to say that this new year marks 25 years for the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI). We’ve spent this time building a strong foundation for winning and protecting progressive policy and, especially over the last several years, rooting our work in the experiences of Black and brown residents sidelined by racism and economic exclusion. That bedrock strength positions us to stand steady against the dangerous forces bearing down on the District today, and it has made us clear-eyed about a fundamental fact: To achieve a healthy economy and democracy where all can thrive, we must end racialized poverty and inequality and secure DC statehood.
These are big goals and, yes, right now they may feel like distant dreams. American democracy is under attack. Wealthy, powerful actors are pillaging our institutions and destroying many of our systems to enrich themselves. What is now painfully obvious to many—that extreme inequality gives the wealthy undue power over our politics and economy and makes both unstable—is backed up by robust research.
This undue power is stripping millions of people of food and health care to redistribute public dollars to the wealthy.
It has opened the door to masked guns-for-hire in our communities, committing violence against our neighbors.
It’s put DC in the cross hairs of Trump and congressional Republicans, who want to dismantle our right to self-govern, even as we’ve never been allowed the full rights of citizenship or protections of statehood.
This basic failure of American democracy makes the District’s road ahead that much more perilous. But I know this: DC is stronger than any threat we face.
We’ve met cruel policies with the unwavering resolve of our communities. Residents are organizing like never before, protecting their neighbors, protesting, and flexing into civic engagement at new levels. All of us are fighting for change at the national and local level, not giving into despair. We’re fighting for a better future in which all people and families belong, all communities are valued and protected, and the hard truths of racial and economic injustice have been learned.
As the executive director of DCFPI, a 23-year resident, and a mom raising children here, I find this is deeply hopeful. Social change movements are, in fact, built on shared dreams for the future.
The antiracist, thriving DC I want my kids and all kids in DC to experience is my call to fight for things like affordable, quality child care and housing for all, good pay and guaranteed income and jobs, and the de-concentration of wealth. And, we’ve got all the evidence in the world, as well as lessons from impacted communities, showing us that this is how we end poverty and inequality. It’s the road to widely shared opportunity. It’s the way we’ll achieve equitable growth and stable democracy.
Over our 25 years, DCFPI has been part of victories that shore up and expand family budgets, get people housed, reverse racist policies, and ensure workers are paid fairly. We’ve advocated for the inclusion of all residents in basic needs programs—no matter their immigration status. We’ve made sure that DC raises revenue from those benefitting most from the economy. And last year, we led the charge in calling for DC to reject massive tax cuts for wealthy people and corporations, which allowed shared resources to fund robust, poverty-reducing tax credits.
This year, we’ll hold the line as we forge ahead for more progress. DCFPI will dig in with community partners to restore health care for immigrants and those cut from Medicaid, reject cuts to local cash supports for struggling families, keep our promises to early educators and expand child care affordability, invest in affordable housing and ending homelessness, and tax wealth.
We’re standing with community to build an economy that works for everyone, from the bottom up and the middle out, and to fight for DC’s full autonomy through statehood. Our dreams for a racially- and economically-just DC are not lost as long as we fight for them.
I’ll leave you with a quote from Octavia Butler, who said, “There’s no single answer that will solve all our future problems. There’s no magic bullet. Instead, there are thousands of answers—at least. You can be one of them if you choose to be.”
I am grateful to be in community with every one of you as we continue to dream and work for a future of collective liberation. Our foundation is strong. Together, we can be the answers to the problems we face and build an economy and democracy that enables all to live to their fullest.
