RWJF

The Supreme Court just underscored what the Constitution has promised: every child born in America belongs here. Today’s decision is a victory for everyone in this country who believes America’s promise belongs to all people born in this nation. And even as we celebrate this hard-fought victory, we must remain vigilant. The fact that this case reached the Supreme Court makes clear just how cowardly, ambitious, and calculating the campaign to reject America’s history as a nation of immigrants truly is. Birthright citizenship was a clear answer to the dehumanization of slavery: a constitutional amendment to affirm rights that cannot be stripped away. Those driving this effort are not trying to win a case – but win the future. They are not waging a constitutional fight – they are waging a moral one. And we must answer. We are grateful and encouraged by many RWJF grantees who answered the call and won this case for generations past, present, and future. Partners like the ACLU Foundation and the Legal Defense Fund, the co-litigators on the case, as well as members of the Asian Law Caucus, the Democracy Defenders Fund, and others, fought this battle on behalf of families across the country. But they cannot fight alone. We in philanthropy must protect and support those who are protecting and supporting America’s highest moral calling. Whether we know it or not, we are all democracy funders now.  And we must use our voices and resources in every community and every state to stop America’s slide into dictatorship. Getting to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right is possible when built upon a thriving democracy where we all experience security, freedom, health and wellbeing. We commit to continuing – and growing – our support for those building this future now. 

The Supreme Court upheld voting rights in Mississippi in Watson v. RNC, affirming states' ability to count mail-in ballots received in the days after Election Day. In rural communities and for military and overseas Americans, where mail service can be unreliable and distances are long, postmark deadlines help ensure that voters are not hindered. The Court made clear that federal law does not prohibit states from adopting these policies. Today’s ruling also helps many voters who rely on the flexibility of a grace period, including voters with disabilities, the elderly and working families. The impact of this decision extends well beyond one state, allowing grace periods in roughly 30 states and territories to remain intact. In partnership with organizations within Mississippi and across the country, #RWJF will continue to fight for a stronger democracy and healthier populations. Inclusive voting policies and stronger civic participation are directly linked to better health outcomes, including lower rates of uninsured residents, lower infant mortality and higher mental wellbeing. While voting rights were protected in Mississippi today, the state is still one of 25 states without a functional statewide citizen initiative ballot process, which is a tool voters across the country have used to advance Medicaid expansion, minimum wage increases, redistricting reform, and paid leave when their legislatures refuse to act. Today was a step forward, but there's more road ahead.

For too long, the evaluation process has extracted knowledge rather than supporting community led learning. monique liston, phd, mpa, ryt of Ubuntu Research & Evaluation, LLC is championing a different approach. She views evaluation as an opportunity to share radical imagination and dream of more just futures. We discussed evaluation of RWJF Community Power investments in housing justice and how funders can support communities in defining success on their terms. I’m deeply grateful to Dr. Monique for sharing insights that deepened my understanding. Explore the lessons: https://rwjf.ws/miZJTV

America’s 250th anniversary should be a time to honor every community that has contributed to this country’s success. I say this as proud Iranian who left my home in Tehran due to political upheaval. Here in America, I soon realized the dominant narratives about immigrants distorted my community’s experiences. Colonialism, “othering,” and stereotypes made us targets for discrimination, exclusion, and hate crimes. With RWJF's support we partnered with Matt Jaber Stiffler who directs the Center for Arab Narratives to counter those toxic narratives and build solidarity with those who share our struggles.    Researchers have a role in building belonging by collaborating with us in non-extractive ways. That begins with trust and acknowledging how events in our home countries and those in the United States are interconnected, and taking steps toward repair.      Here’s a place to begin>> https://rwjf.ws/PRWqdz

In a devastating 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court stripped Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from 350,000 Haitians and Syrians, likely ending their ability to live and work legally in the U.S. The ruling in Mullin v. Doe also jeopardizes TPS protections for one million people from other nations, who fled humanitarian disasters, wars, and political collapse to seek safety and opportunity here. People with TPS are our neighbors, coworkers, friends – and even our caregivers. Approximately 50,000 TPS holders work in hospitals, assisted living facilities, and homes, providing older adults and people with disabilities essential, life-sustaining services. For many Americans, TPS holders are family. Nearly 400,000 children who are U.S. citizens have parents with TPS, and many families may now be torn apart. “We know the fear of an uncertain future. The question before the court is not only a legal one, but a moral one,” noted Viles Dorsainvil, a Haitian TPS holder, a pastor, and a plaintiff in a related case. Sadly, the legal and moral arguments did not convince the Court’s conservative supermajority. It ruled that federal courts generally lack authority to review TPS termination decisions made by the Department of Homeland Security – even if those decisions were rendered, as the plaintiffs claimed, without following a lawful process. It further ruled that the plaintiffs did not establish that the government was driven by racial animus. Against the backdrop of 17 months of statements, press briefings, and policies that paint TPS holders (and immigrants more broadly) as less than human, it's hard to imagine that racial discrimination is not in play. The ruling also runs counter to the reality that DHS moved to terminate TPS with little regard for ongoing humanitarian crises in TPS holders’ home nations. In Haiti and Syria, gang and militia violence, political instability, and hunger persist, and the U.S. State Department still warns Americans against travel to either nation. The decision makes deportation imminent for Haitian and Syrian TPS holders. It will have cascading impacts on many other TPS holders, especially those from Burma, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen, who currently retain TPS pursuant to court orders. RWJF stands in solidarity with TPS holders and their families across the country, and we honor their courageous organizing and advocacy. The words of Jose Palma, the executive director of National TPS Alliance (an RWJF grantee) ring true: “Although not unexpected, this decision represents another obstacle in our journey toward equal rights in the United States. Like others, we are reading the opinion and consulting our lawyers. But two things are clear right now: First, this decision will harm communities and families in real and unnecessary ways. Second, we will not stop fighting for equal rights.” The hard, necessary work of living up to our founding ideals continues. #HealthEquity #TPS #SCOTUS #PublicHealth

Listening to those with lived experience leads to policies that actually work for everyone. And that's the heart of real democracy. And it's exactly when some are trying to erase certain communities from research and keep the status quo in place. Healthcare researchers: Which communities do you proudly partner with to make sure their voices shape the evidence?

How are deliberate efforts to undermine health equity affecting your ability to conduct honest, inclusive research? When certain voices are pushed out of research, they’re pushed out of democracy. Inclusive, community-engaged research is one of our strongest tools for truth, accountability, and justice. Mona Shah and Kristine Andrews, PhD show how inclusive research can help us ensure policy reflects the realities of all communities, not just the most powerful. https://rwjf.ws/nS1syD