Together, Progress is Possible

Arkansas

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s deep impact in the South, Arkansas Community Organizations, Rock AR Vote, and the University of Central AR Center for Community and Economic Development have joined the SouthStrong initiative by SEAP. This partnership aims to drive an equity-centered, people-first approach to the pandemic’s challenges, focusing on the region’s historical issues of limited worker protection and structural racism.

Florida

Engage Miami, a nonprofit engaging in year-round community organizing, issue advocacy, and voter turnout, received SEAP’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) Community Outreach grant. The organization used the funds to help community members understand the impact of ARP dollars in Miami-Dade and advocate for increased housing and economic relief.

“We were able to build on the budget advocacy and education efforts that we’ve led at the county-level since 2018.”

Georgia

SEAP partnered with Deep Center to assist in story collection about the impact of youth fines and fees on families across Georgia. We also connected Deep Center and Berkeley Law Policy Advocacy Clinic to advance this effort. Through these efforts, fines and fees were abolished in Chatham County.

With SEAP’s microgrant and toolkit, SOWEGA Rising and Georgia ACT won $5 million for housing and energy and secured funds for summer and after school programming in Southwest Georgia. Acres of Ancestry used a SEAP microgrant to support a series of events that highlighted the work of BIPOC artists.

Kentucky

The University of Louisville, Kentucky Equal Justice Center, Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, and Centre Collegehave united with the SouthStrong initiative by the SEAP. This collaboration aims to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact in Kentucky, focusing on an equity-centered response. Their commitment is crucial in addressing the state’s socioeconomic disparities and ensuring equitable access to public resources for Kentucky’s most affected communities.

Louisiana

SEAP partnered with the Committee for a Better New Orleans to commit local leaders to spending American Rescue Plan funding equitably. As a result, the New Orleans City Council unanimously passed the ARP Model Resolution, drafted by SEAP.

Mississippi

One Voice Mississippi and the Mississippi NAACP partnered with SEAP to ensure state leaders’ American Rescue Plan spending reflected the needs of Mississippi families. To help organizations in this work, SEAP co-produced a toolkit specific to Mississippi.

North Carolina

Families First in Cabarrus County used a COVID-19 Vaccine Community Outreach grant from SEAP to help fully vaccinate more than 200 Hispanic parents. It is now helping youth to receive the vaccine.

SEAP partnered with the NC Budget and Tax Center to survey households in Rocky Mount on priorities for American Rescue Plan funding. Legal Aid and other local partners used survey results to communicate these priorities to city leaders.

South Carolina

The Lowcountry Rural Housing Task Force invested a SEAP microgrant to study its five counties’ housing needs. The group engaged with housing providers, nonprofits, and local governments at community fairs and organized five housing data walks.

Tennessee

SEAP provided the Student Basic Needs Coalition (SBNC) with a grant to expand its chapter network and advance its agenda of ensuring all students have an equitable college experience that leads to graduation. With the grant, students from the SBNC met with elected officials in Nashville and got policy passed to reduce food insecurity at public universities.

Virginia

Virginia Organizing, Piedmont Housing Alliance, ReEstablish Richmond, and The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis joined the SouthStrong initiative by the SEAP. This collaboration addresses the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact in West Virginia with an equity-centered approach, focusing on overcoming the region’s socioeconomic disparities and structural challenges. Their involvement ensures equitable access to public resources and supports the state’s most vulnerable communities during these challenging times.

West Virginia

In 2022, the West Virginia Student Basic Needs Coalition achieved a significant milestone. The coalition successfully introduced a bill proposing the establishment of a basic needs office within student services at colleges. This initiative is crucial, aiming to provide essential resources and guidance for students navigating their college experience.

“We’re so proud of our amazing student leaders and all they have accomplished this year. Thank you all again for your support of their work. This opportunity has allowed us to amplify students’ voices and help them make their visions a reality.”