As a nonprofit that has advocated for women and families for two centuries, EMPath will not stand idly by for the advancement of any policies that will harm families

In response to the 2024 Election results, Kim Janey, former Mayor of Boston and president & CEO of Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath) – a 200-year-old national nonprofit dedicated to dramatically improving the lives of people living in poverty – issued the following statement:

“As an organization that has been led by women, for women, since 1824, EMPath's commitment to protecting and strengthening policies for women and families is unwavering. While there is a tough road ahead, we will never stand idly by and allow the advancement of policies that will harm families, particularly Black and brown families and immigrant families.

“We know poverty is a policy choice. We see the dangerous impacts of discriminatory policies firsthand with the families in our programs who are working to climb the economic ladder. Families are forced to make impossibly difficult choices, having to choose between paying for diapers, food, housing, transportation, childcare, and life’s other necessities.

“We remain determined in our work to support women and families, to advance racial justice and equity, and to closing racial wealth gaps. Essential to this is having more women, particularly women of color, in leadership and elected office. While there was important progress during this election at the state and local level, this progress is long overdue and simply isn’t enough.

“Our voices and our work to disrupt poverty will be critical in the months and years ahead. Hand-in-hand with our partners, we will continue to advocate for bold action at all levels of government – local, state and federal – to ensure we protect and strengthen policies that center families – regardless of race, religion, immigration status, gender identity, and zip code. This will bring us closer to a world where all of us can live out the American dream.”

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Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath) is a 200-year-old organization that dramatically improves the lives of people living in poverty. Because creating economic opportunity is multifaceted, EMPath's approach is too. EMPath offers a unique combination of direct services; a learning network of human services organizations; and research and advocacy for what works. This “virtuous circle” allows each part of the organization’s work to inform what it knows, does, and shares with others to seed systemic change. To learn more, visit empathways.org.