Welcome to Real Solutions, a special 8-episode podcast series from the Othering & Belonging Institute featuring people leading efforts across the country that show what bold policy solutions would move the country towards belonging and wellbeing for all people.
The othering of people who have already been marginalized is a false solution claiming to respond to real problems. Think of messages like, "Your rent is too high, so the government should deport immigrants." "You’re worried about your kids’ future, so trans kids should lose their rights." These are real problems but false solutions. Real problems deserve real solutions.
By creating space to discuss promising policies from around the country, the podcast aims to make visionary policy voices widely accessible and foster conversations about real solutions among advocates, policy makers, and other agents of change. This podcast is co-hosted by OBI's Eli Moore and Richard Aviles.
Listen to Real Solutions on your favorite podcast platform, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, ListenNotes, PocketCasts, PodChaser, Boomplay, Amazon Music, and others. Prefer video? You can also watch Real Solutions on YouTube!
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EP 1: Real Solutions Podcast Launch!
In this premiere episode of our Real Solutions podcast series we hear from 10 leading advocates from organizations around the country fighting for a fair and just society! In the three-part conversation, the speakers delve into three critical questions:
In a moment of such dramatic attacks on communities and public institutions, why not just focus on defense? What is the power of putting forward real solutions even when it may feel impossible to achieve them? What are real solutions and what values do they need to embody? What ‘north star’ vision of the future do they move us towards?
Guests include: Christina Livingston, ACCE; Gordon Mar, NUHW; Ivan Luevanos-Elms, Local Progress; Irene Kao, Courage California; Jane Kim, Working Families Party; Lucas Grindley, Next City; Rithika Ramamurthy, Climate & Community Institute; Saqib Bhatti, Action Center on Race & Economy; Sara Hudson, Nonprofit Quarterly; Tony Samara, Right to the City; Zach Lou, California Green New Deal Coalition
EP 2: Baby Bonds
Over 13 million Americans have zero or negative wealth, and vast racial inequities in wealth persist. Baby Bonds are a way to ensure every young adult has some wealth to invest in their future. Baby bonds are publicly funded trust accounts established at birth for children, particularly those from low-wealth families. Upon reaching adulthood, beneficiaries can use the funds for purposes such as education, homeownership, or entrepreneurship.
Connecticut was the first state to create a Baby Bonds wealth building initiative. In this episode, we hear from two guests. One is David Radcliffe, who was the policy director for the Office of Connecticut State Treasurer, where he championed implementation of the first-in-the-country “Baby Bonds” program. David grew up in a small factory town in the Appalachian foothills of western Pennsylvania. David is now the State and Local Policy Director with the New School’s Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy.
And the second guest is Amit Khanduri, Director of Programs at the Georgia Resilience & Opportunity (GRO) Fund, where he leads efforts to narrow wealth inequality in Georgia — including through GRO’s Baby Bonds program. In Georgia, an accelerated baby bonds program has launched where young adults receive an investable lump sum (“Baby Bond”), a $500/month guaranteed income, and financial advising services.
EP 3: Crisis Response
Coming Nov. 12!
