FairRecovery.org Press Releases
News Release: Expiration of Long-Term Unemployment Insurance Leaves Racially-Disparate Void
August Fact Sheet – Race Recovery Index new!
July Fact Sheet – Race-Recovery Index.pdf
June Fact Sheet – Race-Recovery Index.pdf
May Fact Sheet – Race-Recovery Index.pdf
April Fact Sheet – Race-Recovery Index.pdf
RACE-RECOVERY INDEX – March 2010
Race-Recovery Index Charts April Unemployment and Federal ARRA Contract Awards, By Race
FairRecovery.org Media Briefing Audio Transcript!
ARRA/Stimulus at One Year Has Racially Inequitable Impact; Those Most in Need Benefit Least
Hardest Hit States Receive Fewer Stimulus Funds
New Data Tracks Federal Dollars for Advocacy, Action
FairRecovery.org follows money trail to communities most in need
For Release
June 25, 2009
Jobs continue to disappear at an alarming pace, 345,000 just last month, while four states with some of the nation’s highest unemployment rates — Michigan, South Carolina, California and Nevada — are getting fewer stimulus funds than sparsely populated states relatively unscathed by the economic meltdown.
New tracking on the allocations of recovery dollars shows that Montana, Wyoming and Vermont have received higher per capita allocations than states suffering double-digit joblessness.
Factor in the explosive 14.9% jobless rate among African Americans, and 12.7% among Latinos, compared to 9.4% for the general population and the meltdown sounds more like a full-grade depression.
This data is showcased on FairRecovery.org, a multimedia website focused on research, advocacy and action in response to the unprecedented economic recovery spending. Staffed by a team of economists, demographers and legal experts, the initiative is following the trail of billions of federal dollars to determine if the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is easing the economic crisis for those hardest hit. The team will unveil the new site, tools, resources and data about stimulus spending and its potential impact on communities suffering depression-era economic challenges across the country on Thursday June 25 at 1:00 p.m. EST in a multi-media webinar.
john powell, Executive Director of the Kirwan Institute and a leader of the Fair Recovery project says the site offers analysis to place facts and figures in context. “We’re telling the story behind the story looking at which communities and groups are suffering the most, what funds are being delivered and the impact on communities devastated by unemployment, foreclosures, bankruptcy and persistent racial disparities,” powell says. “This is the largest restructuring since the Depression and the recovery offers a real chance to address the persistent inequities plaguing marginalized communities.”
“Race remains a significant factor in determining who gets access to what in this country and communities of color continue to suffer substantial disadvantages,” said Dennis Parker, Director of the ACLU Racial Justice Program. “Our nation’s civil rights laws prohibit stimulus funds from being disbursed in a way that creates or exacerbates racial inequality, so it is crucially important to ensure that these funds are used to promote equal opportunity for all Americans. The resources contained in this website provide a roadmap for ensuring that all citizens have access to economic recovery and sustainability.”
Juhu Thukral, Director of Law and Advocacy for The Opportunity Agenda, adds that economic recovery must benefit all Americans. “Even before the current economic downturn, different groups experienced starkly different levels of opportunity, and there is real reason to believe that the current crisis is affecting some communities far more severely than others. A one-size recovery does not fit all. Fairrecovery.org is a forum for advocates, policymakers, business leaders and officials to share ideas and solutions for an economic recovery that is transformative and prepares us for the challenges of a global economy.”
Media Contact:
Kathy Baird
Director of Communications
Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity
The Ohio State University
(614) 292-8766
