Popular political rhetoric often suggests an "up from the bootstraps" approach to economic security. When it comes to the real issues affecting our communities, though, individual hard work is not enough to solve inequality.
Where are the policy proposals around true economic security for all groups? Where is the acknowledgement of the gaps in our safety nets? Where is the commitment to African-Americans and other communities of color, which face the most dire intersections of economic and social disinvestment we've seen in generations? Where is the recognition that investing in women improves outcomes for entire communities?
The health of our city - and our nation - depends on us answering these questions and making real investments, instead of getting lost in that political rhetoric.
These are not Democratic or Republican issues. These are human issues.
We must recognize that our institutions have systematically, and viciously diminished opportunities for African-American communities in particular. Poverty breeds the conditions for violence - and that includes state violence.
Recent, tragic killings of black men by police are perhaps the most dramatic examples, but the disproportionate incarceration rates these men face is an ongoing form of violence in itself.
And black women and children feel the effects of that violence. (See University of Texas at Austin Asst. Prof. Christien A. Smith's insightful piece published earlier this month, "Slow Death: is the trauma of police violence killing black women?")
How can children dealing with this level of trauma excel in school? How can women ensure their own economic security if their families are constantly under siege?
The United Nations reports that increasing women and girls' education contributes to higher economic growth, accounting for half of the economic growth in OECD countries over the past 50 years. More than half that growth stems directly from girls having access to higher levels of education and narrowing the education gap between men and women.
Women are more likely than men to work in vulnerable, low-paid, or undervalued jobs. But this is bad for business: Companies with three or more women in senior management functions score higher in all dimensions of organizational effectiveness.
Many of our grantee organizations understand the need to address these critical issues.
Demoiselle 2 Femme equips black girls with the math, science and engineering skills they need to pursue careers in the growing STEM sector. In addition to community organizing and direct action work focused on improving outcomes for African-American communities, Assata's Daughters empowers black girls, providing them with leadership opportunities. EverThrive Illinois works throughout the state to increase families' access to health services and healthy lifestyle options, focusing much of its resources on assisting black families on the city's South and West sides. And UCAN's Phenomenal Woman program helps boost the self-esteem of young black women in and around North Lawndale, which has one of the highest incarceration rates in Illinois.
These organizations serve as examples to all of us in offering solutions to our city's most critical challenges.
So instead of getting lost in the rhetoric, let's stay focused on the issues that truly matter, and on the communities that most need our investment.