Sydnor Chief Executive Officer
Will Petrik Director of Policy & Advocacy
Howard Executive Administrator
Rohnesha Horne Director of Community Partnerships & Programs
Danielle Nadia
The Rise Together Innovation Institute is on a mission to empower Franklin County residents to rise above structural racism and poverty. Through innovative solutions and collaborative efforts, we harness the collective power of people and systems to achieve equity for all. Our goal is to restructure systems, empower self-sufficiency, and eliminate poverty to reimagine a stronger future for our growing region.
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In December 2023, RISE released our 2023 Poverty Snapshot Report, in collaboration with Scioto Analysis and with support from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, which put a spotlight on the hardships Franklin County residents are facing daily. One of the startling facts we learned from the report is that the report revealed child poverty cost Franklin County $5.2B in lost economic activity
We encourage you to visit our website at www.rtiico.org to read our full Poverty Snapshot Report to learn more about our research. POVERTY SNAPSHOT REPORT PRESS CONFERENCE
Our CEO, Danielle Sydnor, shared details of our 2023 Poverty Snapshot Report at our December Press Conference. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us and participate. Click below to read coverage.
Most of us do whatever it takes to build a better life. We hustle and sacrifice to put food on the table and provide for our families We should all have the opportunity to live a good life and pursue our dreams.
But today, 63,000 children in Franklin County live in poverty. This harms children and their chances of success and costs us all. When kids grow up in a state of uncertainty and stress, it's like throwing a wrench in the gears of their growth and development Studies show kids living in households with low incomes are more likely to struggle in school, deal with health issues, and get tangled up in the criminal legal system down the road.
This future isn’t predetermined We can build a better future for our kids When families have financial stability, children get better grades, live healthier lives, and bring in more income over their lifetime It's not rocket science, really When parents have room to breathe and a foundation of stability, their kids have the support they need to thrive. When we, as a society, help parents afford the basics and prioritize the health and well-being of children, we all benefit
During the pandemic, federal lawmakers came together and did just that They enacted policies – including the expansion of the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit – that helped families keep food on the table, reduce credit card debt, and boost their financial security According to a survey conducted by the Brookings Institution, 70% of parents said the Child Tax Credit payments helped them better manage higher prices
While these federal policies were temporary, they show that federal lawmakers have the power to enact policy solutions that reduce stress, provide relief and stability, and give families some peace of mind.
Lawmakers in Washington don’t agree on much these days, but they have an opportunity to pass a bipartisan proposal that would build a better future for our children. The proposal called the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024, would help millions of families afford basic necessities by expanding the Child Tax Credit On Wednesday, the US House passed this legislation with broad bipartisan support, underscoring its crucial role in supporting American families.
The bill would helproughly 16 million children from families with low incomes, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). CBPP estimates that a single parent with two kids making $13,000 annually as a part-time home health aide would see their credit double (a $1,575 increase) in the first year. That’s a little more money to pay the rent and keep food on the table.
While the latest proposed expansion isn’t as impactful and inclusive as the expansion of the Child Tax Credit during the pandemic, it will make a difference in the lives of thousands of children in Central Ohio and millions of children across the nation We hope these critical policies can be adopted as soon as possible
Today, 4 of the 10 most common jobs in the Columbus metro area don’t pay enough to feed a family of three without food assistance. Too many of our neighbors don’t have enough resources to make ends meet That’s why RISE Together is looking into big ideas to expand economic stability and foster more equitable access to opportunity in Central Ohio. Oneofthebigideaswe’relookingintoisaguaranteed incomepilotprogram.
Will Petrik, Director of Policy & Advocacy, with RISE Together is joining a 6-week “Sprint” to learn more about guaranteed income pilots across the country. We are joining leaders from Franklin County, the City of Columbus, research and policy leaders, national partners, and Motherful, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of single Moms. At RISE Together, we’re excited to learn more about best practices for developing a Guaranteed Income pilot program, how to build support for a pilot, and how to craft a research and evaluation plan to determine whether the program has an impact on children and families.
All of us should have opportunities to pursue our hopes and dreams. But corporate price gouging is making it harder for parents to buy groceries, fill up their cars, and heat their homes. The good news is many residents in Franklin County are eligible to get money back or reduce their tax liability if they file federal income taxes by April 15th. In 2023, an estimated 89,475 households in Franklin County received the Earned Income Tax Credit and got an average refund of $2,560. This took the stress off workers and parents and made it easier to pay for basic necessities. Check out our blog post, “Get Your Refund Today: Everything You Need to Know About Tax Credits,” to see if you might be eligible for a refund.
We need your help to make sure our neighbors get financial relief from rising costs that they deserve RISE Together estimates that over 24,000 households did not claim the EITC for tax year 2022 That’s roughly $62 million being left on the table that could help children, adults, and families in Franklin County afford necessities and improve their well-being The blog shares ways you can help spread the word and move more of that money to workers and families in Franklin County.
The purpose of the Poverty Innovation Summit is to bring community stakeholders to the table and expand their thinking about who in our community is experiencing poverty, as well as co-create policy to implement innovative ideas towards pathways of economic self-sufficiency for Franklin County residents
Last summer, we hosted 125 attendees at our annual Poverty Innovation Summit This year, we plan to double it! Thank you to everyone who could attend and our speakers and sponsors who helped make this event possible.
On February 28, RISE Together Innovation Institute hosted an inaugural Black History Month program titled the RISE Together Intergenerational Mixer sponsored by Tito's The purpose of the event was to execute on our role as a convener by better connecting people across Franklin County Leading to enhanced relationships for the organization and building influence within various ages, sectors and demographics to further the work of our mission
The event host committee consisted of influential business leaders, stakeholders and elected officials who invited their personal network to attend the event RISE recognized individuals who are currently leading the way in intergenerational connections by awarding the following: Emerging Connector, Bridge Builder and Legacy Connector Finally RISE recognized inaugural board chair, Trudy Bartley. The evening concluded with three raffle winners taking home a limited edition, ART & Activism custom photobook
2023 was an impactful year for RISE Together and we are proud of the work we’ve been able to accomplish and we are looking forward to what’s to come this year.
We would like to give a special thank you to our team, our Board of Trustees, community partners, and donors it is because of your unwavering dedication to RISE Together, that we have been able to continue to do the work that we do Click here to read the full Annual Report ReadReport
We are excited to share that our new website is on the way! You can expect to learn more about the work we’re doing and there will be more opportunities for you to get involved. In the meantime, you can still visit our website at www.rtiico.org.
What if the idealized image of American society—a land of opportunity that will reward hard work with economic success is completely wrong?
Poorly Understood is the first book to systematically address and confront many of the most widespread myths pertaining to poverty.
in an effort to educate the community on how poverty can have a generational impact, we’ll be recommending a new book each quarter that we encourage you to read. If you have any book recommendations, please send them to our team at info@rtiicoorg
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