2023 POOR PEOPLE’S STATE OF THE STATE REPORT STUDY GUIDE

On January 9, the New York State Poor People’s Campaign released its 2023 Poor People’s State of the State Report. The report is an assessment of the state of poverty in New York state, exposing the interlocking injustices of systemic racism, poverty, militarism and ecological devastation.  

One goal is to get this report and its accompanying videos in front of Governor Hochul and other elected officials in order to stop the poverty violence that is hurting our people as well as to drive policy solutions. Another significant goal is to promote the report as a resource to further develop our understanding and the understanding of the communities in which we live, learn, work and worship. We need to have clarity about how deep, widespread and interwoven the interlocking injustices presented in the report are, how data is often not available, hidden or manipulated to cover up the facts, as well as the interlocking injustices that divide us and keep us poor.

To that end, this study guide encourages further study, discussion and collective understanding of these issues. What are the places and spaces where studying this report would help deepen collectivity, dispel false narratives and create greater understanding of what we face? Once we know the injustices we’re up against, the imperative is clearer that we come together, organize, build power and shift the narrative.  As Dr. King said, “The prescription for the cure rests with the accurate diagnosis of the disease.” We hope this report and study guide bring us all closer to that cure.

HOW TO USE THIS STUDY GUIDE

While this study guide can be used individually or with a partner, we also recommend that this study guide be used in group settings to collectively discuss the report’s findings, share ideas and experiences, and build community. If your group, organization or congregation meets regularly, this study guide could serve to steer a series of discussions over a period of time – either as one part of a longer meeting, or as a stand-alone meeting or series.

• Depending on time available, the study of the Poor People’s State of the State Report could be broken up in the following ways:

• More than six sessions, any size group: The study guide can be divided by section and by bullet points within each section to fit the number of sessions. Each or multiple sessions could include a deep dive into the data presented, finding parallel data for the communities engaging in the study and discussions highlighting the interlocking injustices.
• Five / six session study, any size group: Each session, a different section of the report is studied ending with a wrap up session discussion on the interlocking nature of the injustices.
• One or two sessions, any size group: after briefly discussing  the Introduction, the group could divide into small groups, with each subgroup studying one section of the report. We recommend identifying a facilitator and a notetaker for each subgroup. Then together, as a large group, each subgroup reports back, and facilitators encourage discussion particularly about the interlocking nature of the injustices. 

INTRODUCTION TO THE REPORT

1. Why is it necessary to understand the state of the state from the perspective of the 8.6 million New Yorkers who are poor or low-income?

2. Read the following passages from the introduction.

New York ranks first among all states in the nation in “extreme wealth” - accounting for over one-fifth of national wealth over $30 million - and has the greatest income inequality in the country. The average income of the top one percent is more than 62 times the average income of people in the bottom 90 percent.

…. interlocking injustices of systemic racism, poverty, militarism and ecological devastation, all of which have profound negative consequences for the 8.6 million poor and low-income New Yorkers. Together, they show the influence of a warped moral compass that promotes unbridled individualism, reactionary religious nationalism and the continuing hold of white supremacy.

What might this inequality say about how power is distributed and decisions are made in New York State?

SYSTEMIC RACISM

1. How does this report show that racism is not just an individual issue, but that it is systemic? 
   
2. How does systemic racism affect your life and your community?
   
3. Given the facts in this section, how is financial security more likely to be a generational issue for people of color? How does this impact the bootstraps narrative or the idea of the “American Dream”?

POVERTY

1. Looking at the first bullet point in the Poverty section, what stands out regarding the percentages and the actual numbers of who is poor in New York State?
   
2. What is the Supplemental Poverty Measure and why does it give a better indication of poverty than the Official Poverty Measure?
   
3. Study and comment on the Low-Wage Workers table on page 6. What does this say about our state? What might those percentages look like in your community?

MILITARISM

1. In looking at the chart on page 9, how does this massive allocation of our taxpayer dollars to the military make us less safe? What does Marybeth’s testimony tell us about that?

2. How might we challenge narratives of patriotism and exceptionalism that justify the bloated military budget?

3. How do you see militarism affecting your life and your community?

ECOLOGICAL DEVASTATION

1. How are Indigenous communities affected by human-made ecological devastation? How are poor communities and communities of color affected?
   
2. New York passed a Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act in 2019 that claims to lead the nation in climate goals. Based on what you read in the report, what changes do you think are needed for New York to show real leadership on climate and environmental Justice?

3. What examples of ecological devastation are you aware of in your city, county or region?