Category: Economic Opportunity
COVID-19, Economic Opportunity, Health and Education, Policy Updates
by WREN Staff on Nov 20, 2020
Millions of people across the country are struggling to get by, including kids who aren’t getting enough to eat because their parents don’t have enough money for groceries and families that are behind on rent and could lose their homes. Programs intended to aid Americans struggling financially due to the ongoing coronavirus will expire at
Advocate Stories, COVID-19, Economic Opportunity, Health and Education
by WREN Staff on Oct 15, 2020
What is paid leave? Paid leave was the number one relief policy voters wanted in recent polling. Paid leave saves lives, and livelihoods, but what is it? Paid leave enables workers to take time to care for themselves or a loved one without risking their job or paycheck. We know that families and the nation
Advocate Stories, COVID-19, Economic Opportunity, News
by Deitra Matthews, Conservation Voters of S.C. on Oct 12, 2020
The phrase “energy poverty” may sound strange, but it’s a vivid reality for far too many here in South Carolina. Energy poverty is reached when a household can no longer afford to pay the full cost of its utility bills and is instead forced to make difficult and often unhealthy decisions. In our efforts with
Economic Opportunity, Research
by WREN Staff on Jun 10, 2020
Description: This brief aims to raise awareness and inspire action to close the gap and advance prosperity in South Carolina. It defines the gender and racial wealth gap; quantifies the gap in South Carolina; highlights some of the factors that create and perpetuate it; and offers high-level policy recommendations. Disclosures: Analysis conducted by Jessie
Economic Opportunity, Health and Education
by WREN Staff on Mar 4, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WREN Statement in Support of Paid Family Leave COLUMBIA, SC– WREN supports efforts to bring gender equity to the essential roles of working and caregiving. Paid leave would provide people of all genders with the ability to work and care for their families. This policy is essential to a healthy and functioning
Economic Opportunity, Health and Education, Policy Updates
by WREN Staff on Jun 4, 2019
The legislature adjourned the 1st regular session of the 123rd South Carolina General Assembly in May. While many of the state’s priorities for the year are left unfinished, WREN made progress in advancing issues affecting women, girls, and families, and successfully stopped a 6-week abortion ban for this year. The two-year session of the SC
Economic Opportunity, News, Policy Updates
by Megan Plassmeyer on Jan 15, 2019
WREN, alongside Representative Wendy Brawley, hosted a Statehouse gathering and press conference today to announce support of the Act to Establish Pay Equity. “Today is the day we make a pledge to do everything in our power to prevent gender and racial pay disparities,” said Representative Wendy Brawley. “I ask my colleagues and community members
Economic Opportunity, Policy Updates
by Ashley Lidow on Jan 8, 2019
South Carolina officials are proposing that very low-income parents and caregivers who qualify for Medicaid fulfill new reporting requirements to show they are working at least 80 hours a month or participating in job-training or volunteer activities. If they do not, they face the loss of their health coverage. The state is seeking a Section
Economic Opportunity, Policy Updates
by Ashley Lidow on Jan 4, 2019
As the 2019 Legislative Session approaches, we are watching closely to see what bills are introduced in the South Carolina legislature. A bill to ratify the ERA was prefiled (introduced prior to the official start of session) by Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter. So what is the ERA? ERA stands for Equal Rights Amendment and it would
Economic Opportunity
by Anna Brannigan on Nov 16, 2018
For one of our recent Facebook Live Fridays, we were joined by Faith Adedokun from the Network for Southern Economic Mobility (NSEM). She and Courtney Thomas went live to discuss economic mobility in the Upstate. NSEM is a group of Southern communities, formed in order to bring cities together and figure out how to move