Economic Justice

Ames Cluster

Status Date: 9/4/2010
 
Purpose:  The Economic Justice Team works on issues that impact the ability of an individual or group of citizens to live and work in Ames in a financially sound and dignified way..
 
Current Efforts:
 
  • Working with DMACC, Iowa Workforce Development, Des Moines AMOS Cluster, and local employers on developing and implementing a labor market intermediary to provide a bridge from the community to training to a full-time, full-benefit, living wage job for the chronically under or unemployed.  This is based on the Project Quest (http://www.questsa.com) model in San Antonio, Texas.  See also the Workforce Development AMOS issue team.  
  • Collaborate with and support the Iowa Christian Alliance (ICA), Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (ICCI), Iowa Child and Family Policy Center (ICFPC), and Iowa Catholic Conference (ICC) to cap predatory payday loans at 36%.

Successes:

  • Lobbied successfully for
    • An increase in the minimum wage
    • An expanded Earned Income Tax Credit, which is considered an important complement to the increase in minimum wage.
    • A 21 % cap on the finance charges on car title loans.

Contact Persons:     

Jan Flora

mailto:floraj@iastate.edu

515.451.9693

 

Danelda Allen

mailto:daneldaa@earthlink.net

515.232.4849