Guaranteed income in Chicago, first female Navajo leader, first new Black bank in 20 years

Michelle Ailport | Posted on February 15, 2023 |

Photo: Tyger Ligon / Unsplash (CC0)

In this edition of Squirrel News, Chicago and other cities test guaranteed income programmes, women head key positions of the Navajo Nation and a new Black bank is established in Ohio.

Guaranteed income programme piloted in Chicago-area

Starting in December 2022, $500 grants were sent to more than 3,000 people who qualify for the new programme.

Source: The New York Times

California households given $500 a month with no strings attached

More than 12,000 people are expected to receive money from universal basic income-like experiments in California.

Source: CalMatters

Navajo Nation selects historic female leadership

Crystalyne Curley is the first woman to be Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council, among other firsts for the government.

Source: Source NM

US’s first new Black bank in 20 years established in Columbus

Adelphi Bank, whose name pays homage to a 1920s Black-owned bank, raised almost $25 million in startup capital, turning to local investors in Ohio.

Source: Next City

Hedgerows help farmers improve soil, biodiversity

Farmer-to-farmer education in California drives efforts to rehedge farms, which helps control pests, improve soil and more.

Source: Civil Eats

Track-Chair Program helps people with disabilities “hike” in Colorado

Action Trackchairs, all-terrain wheelchairs, are being piloted in Staunton State Park in Pine, Colorado.

Source: KUNC

New technology helps treat severe epilepsy

More people are becoming epileptic seizure-free thanks to new treatments, such as electrodes and laster, addressing drug-resistant epilepsy.

Source: NPR

Unions turn to women to fill gaps in trade industries

Nonprofit TradesFutures is helping pay for childcare in New York and Wisconsin, as part of a larger effort to recruit and support tradewomen.

Source: The 19th

Foster programme hopes to keep Indigenous children in their community

Simply Smiles’ 8-acre Children’s Village on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota aims to support Indigenous foster children and train foster parents.