Michigan groups working for social justice are marking a milestone this week: the 60th anniversary of the Economic Opportunity Act.

The law is the landmark legislation spearheading President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty. Signed into law in 1964, it was an attempt to tackle poverty in the United States through a series of programs to improve access to health care, food and educational support initiatives.

Brian McGrain, executive director of Michigan Community Action, an organization birthed from the Economic Opportunity Act, shared what his members are doing to observe the 60th anniversary.

"All of the members are drawing attention within their own communities to the work they do, and I think that's what's most important," McGrain explained. "I think all of my members would say again, they are the local response to poverty. They are controlled by the local elected, local community members, local partners."

Community Action Agencies are located in 99% of American counties. They have 1,000 local organizations, most of which are nonprofit and some are units of local government.

Community Action programs, such as Head Start, provide essential early education and nutrition to children of low-income families. The Job Corps gives vocational training to young adults, while VISTA mobilizes volunteers in anti-poverty initiatives across the nation.

Denise Harlow, CEO of the National Community Action Partnership, described the strategy as "person-centered," placing individuals and families at the core of their executive board.

"A third of the board are persons who are democratically selected from low-income communities, because all communities deserve to have a voice in their future," Harlow emphasized.

Harlow added in the 60th year of the Economic Opportunity Act, they are highlighting the effects of what Community Action agencies and those involved with them have been able to accomplish.

Supporters of a new wage equity law in Massachusetts say it will help close the state's gender and racial wage gap. Starting next year, companies with more than 25 employees must disclose a salary range for all posted positions.

Kimberly Borman, executive director of the Boston Women's Workforce Council, said wage transparency not only benefits women and people of color, who are often paid less than their coworkers, but their employers as well.

"If you never put out there what you can pay, you're going to get a lot of people who are kicking the tires and then you may like them and you get to a point you can't hire them because you just don't have the money," she said.

Borman said the new requirements build on a 2016 law that prohibits wage discrimination based on gender. Massachusetts is now the eleventh state to mandate pay transparency.

The new law also requires larger companies to share their federal wage and workforce data with the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to help identify where wage gaps remain. In Greater Boston, a 2023 report found the gender wage gap was 21 cents, and for Black women it was 54 cents. Borman says the new law will help Massachusetts remain competitive with other states and better able to recruit and retain top talent.

"So, we're losing good talent because they don't believe that they're going to be paid fairly or be promoted to the positions that they should be promoted to and earn the kind of money that they need to stay in this city," she continued.

Borman said a recent survey by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce found one in four residents ages 20 to 30 plans to leave the state in the next five years due to the lack of job availability and high housing costs.


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New Yorkers could see relief from medical debt if several national proposals move forward.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed a new rule to eliminate medical debt from credit reports. Studies show medical debt does not predict whether a person can pay down a debt.

An Urban Institute report finds more than 740,000 New Yorkers have medical debt.

Ursula Rozum, health care campaign lead for the group Citizen Action of New York, said the change can remove the punitive aspects of medical debt.

"What we're talking about is relief for the 15 million Americans that have medical debt," Rozum pointed out. "As well as people who we know are skipping care or delaying care 'cause they're scared of the debt and what impact it would have on their lives."

Vice President Kamala Harris is supporting the bureau's proposal while considering other ways to cancel medical debt. Congressional Republicans such as Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., oppose the proposed change. Several House GOP members signed a letter to the bureau saying its proposed rule can negatively affect credit access and affordability for all consumers.

New York passed legislation prohibiting medical debt from being reported to credit agencies but it has not stopped medical debt disparities.

Christine Chen Zinner, senior policy counsel for the advocacy group Americans for Financial Reform, said communities of color often have the highest medical debt rates for many reasons.

"Black and Latine families are more likely to have jobs without access to health insurance, and so that would drive up medical debt," Zinner explained. "There's also been disparate health treatments for these communities."

Other causes for medical debt include growing facility fees. While New York passed legislation to reform the fees, studies show they are a bulk of what patients pay for. Between 2004 and 2021, facility fees grew 531%, surpassing professional fees for certain emergency department services.

As the Inflation Reduction Act marks its second anniversary, Ohio communities are seeing changes spurred by investments in clean energy and infrastructure.

The federal climate package, including funding in the act, has injected billions into regions like Appalachia, aiming to revive local economies by transitioning former coal areas into clean energy hubs.

Dana Kuhnline, senior program director for the nonprofit ReImagine Appalachia, noted the investments are making a difference in the region.

"Communities across the Ohio River Valley region of Appalachia are beginning to reimagine themselves as leaders of a new clean economy," Kuhnline explained. "And see their place in a more prosperous, sustainable, and equitable future."

The progress in the Ohio River Valley reflects broader trends in Appalachia, with projects like Ohio's Fox Squirrel Solar and Oak Run sites playing a significant role. The initiatives, supported by the Inflation Reduction Act, are contributing to reduced carbon emissions and creating union jobs, which could provide a boost to local economies.

Kuhnline pointed out it is just the beginning, with additional incentives and programs expected to encourage further growth.

However, the continuation of the efforts relies on sustained federal support. While the legislation has set the stage for economic transition in Ohio and Appalachia, there is concern about maintaining momentum. Kuhnline underscored the need for ongoing investment to ensure communities can continue moving toward a cleaner, more prosperous future.

"Incredible things happen when Ohio communities and Appalachian communities have the funds and the capacity to put their visions into action," Kuhnline contended. "A lot of times, you know, we have the ideas, we have the people, folks are ready to work. We just need that catalyst that makes this possible."

She added there is hope the Inflation Reduction Act will lead to lasting economic improvements in the region. Projects like Cleveland-Cliffs' $575 million Middletown Works facility demonstrate the potential effect of the investments. However, Kuhnline stressed, the long-term success of Ohio's clean energy efforts will largely depend on continued federal commitment.