The Ahlquist Agenda

The Ahlquist Center for Policy, Practice & Innovation

The Ahlquist Center for Policy, Practice and Innovation is the policy and advocacy arm of Brightpoint, a distinguished child and family service organization in Illinois. The Center advocates for robust, antiracist, equitable policies and social supports that create social capital, economic mobility, and systems designed to ensure children, families, and communities thrive.In this podcast, we invite you to take an inside look at how we think about policy: why it matters, how it impacts youth, families, and communities in Illinois, and what you can do to help. 

  1. 08/29/2022

    Upset the Setup: Breaking Barriers Recap

    In this episode, we recap our annual Breaking Barriers event and further explore the connections between neglect and poverty. The episode features our two guests from the event: Alex Kotlowitz, an award winning author and journalist who focuses on the needs of under-resourced communities, and Michael Tubbs, the former mayor of Stockton, CA and a leader in the universal basic income movement.  You'll also hear from Children's Home & Aid CEO Mike Shaver on why the Ahlquist Center is taking on povery as a core tenet of its work. Episode Resources: Our President and CEO Michael Shaver wrote a letter to the editor of the Chicago Tribune about the links between child maltreatment and poverty, which you can view here.   Alex Kotlowitz’s first book, There Are No Children Here, won the Carl Sandburg prize for its story of two brothers growing up in Chicago’s Henry Horner housing project. Alex’s most recent book, An American Summer: Love and Death in Chicago, looks at the human toll of gun violence on the South Side of Chicago.    Michael Tubbs recently released his memoir, The Deeper the Roots: A Memoir of Hope and Home, which is available in bookstores everywhere. The documentary Stockton on My Mind, about Tubbs’ term as mayor of Stockton, is available to stream on HBO Max or for purchase on other digital sites.   This 2017 study connects an increase in the minimum wage to a decrease in child maltreatment cases.   The 2020 study that discussed the link between refundable tax credits and entry to foster care can be viewed at this link.    The most recent study exploring SNAP policy and its impact on the child welfare system can be viewed here. To learn more about Brightpoint, visit our website at http://www.brightpoint.org

    12 min
  2. Helping Families Through Lower Taxes

    03/17/2022

    Helping Families Through Lower Taxes

    On today's episode, we revisit a key policy to help lift families out of poverty: the expansion of the Earned Income Credit and the creation of a Child Tax Credit. We're joined by State Senator Omar Aquino of the 2nd Senatorial District and Senate champion of this legislation. We talk about what this policy means for families and communities and what you can do to help. Episode Resources To easily let your state elected officials know that you support an expanded Earned Income Credit, visit our petition website. As Senator Aquino mentioned, you can learn more about the Cost of Living Refund Coalition and their work by visiting their website at www.economicsecurityil.org or by going to Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Our prior episode on this topic was called: Money, Money, Money: Expanding the Earned Income Credit, and can be listened to here.   The Center for Tax Budget & Accountability recently released a report on the fiscal impact of an expanded Earned Income Credit and Child Tax Credit in Illinois. An executive summary can be viewed here, and the full report can be viewed at this link.    Children’s Home & Aid recently moderated a panel discussion on why we need to expand the Earned Income Credit and create a Child Tax Credit in Illinois. You can view media coverage on the event here, and a full recording of the discussion is available on YouTube.    In Chicago and want to join us for a rally in support of this proposal? We’ll be at Daley Plaza on Monday, March 21st at 10 AM. More details can be found here, and you can add the event directly to your calendar here.  To learn more about Brightpoint, visit our website at http://www.brightpoint.org

    17 min

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About

The Ahlquist Center for Policy, Practice and Innovation is the policy and advocacy arm of Brightpoint, a distinguished child and family service organization in Illinois. The Center advocates for robust, antiracist, equitable policies and social supports that create social capital, economic mobility, and systems designed to ensure children, families, and communities thrive.In this podcast, we invite you to take an inside look at how we think about policy: why it matters, how it impacts youth, families, and communities in Illinois, and what you can do to help.