Washington Economic Justice Alliance
ABOUT
WHO WE ARE
Alliance Members
POVERTY IN WA
Information about poverty in WA, the need for the plan.
10-YEAR PLAN
Let’s work together to create a Washington where everyone can thrive.
About
No one person or entity can end poverty alone. That’s why we’re working together. The Washington Economic Justice Alliance is a multi-sector collaboration responsible for implementing the 10-Year Plan to Dismantle Poverty.
The Alliance is led with the expertise and dedication of people with lived experience of poverty, state agencies and tribal partners, and organizations serving communities across Washington.
Explore the full list of active alliance members.
At the center of our work is the expertise of Washingtonians who have lived experience of poverty. Our 10-Year Plan to Dismantle Poverty is built on the insights and experiences of those who have lived through poverty and inequality. By drawing on their unique perspectives, we can co-create meaningful solutions and influence policy, programs, and funding decisions.
State Senators and Representatives partner with the Alliance to craft laws and budgets that have the potential to reduce poverty and drive meaningful change.
The Alliance works with government and tribal partners to create and oversee programs aimed at enhancing the well-being of Washingtonians and tribal nation members. These leaders are dedicated to advancing the 10-Year Plan’s strategies for reducing intergenerational poverty. They focus on developing and implementing strategies that address the root causes of poverty and promote sustainable solutions for future generations.
Community organizations and businesses within the Alliance play a critical role in addressing poverty and inequality locally. They provide vital supportive resources, and services to those experiencing economic need, and many advocate for necessary policy and program change across all levels of government.
The Economic Justice Team, housed in DSHS, coordinates the Alliance to implement the 10-Year Plan to Dismantle Poverty. They serve as the connective tissue, staffing the Alliance’s groups.
the alliance ignites change through:
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Radical Collaboration
Meaningful change occurs when people and groups align towards shared goals.
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The Alliance partners with people who have lived experience of poverty, community and tribal partners, and agencies to inform priorities and advance policy, program, and funding recommendations with the Governor and Legislature.
Experts with Lived Experience
The 10-Year Plan is grounded in the wisdom and experience of people experiencing poverty and inequality. As experts in their own lives and the users of state systems, Washingtonians with lived experience are uniquely positioned to co-create solutions and inform policy, program, and funding decisions.
Community Organizations
Community organizations are trusted institutions among residents and hubs for resources, services, and advocacy. With intuitive, boots-on-the ground knowledge of the people and communities they serve, the Alliance’s community partners – local service organizations, workforce development councils, businesses, advocacy groups, and philanthropy – are essential partners in informing solutions and urging action to address poverty and inequality.
Tribal and State Partners
Tribal and state agencies oversee human service programs serving millions of Washingtonians experiencing economic hardship every year. The tribal nations and state agencies involved in creating the 10-Year Plan set agendas and create strategic plans that offer opportunities for alignment to address the multidimensional ways poverty plays out in people’s lives and create accountability to outcomes.
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Evidence Based Solutions
Data, research and real-life stories ground community-led solutions.
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Aligned & Sustained Action
Taking action together builds momentum and creates change.
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Learning & Accountability
A commitment to always learn, improve and be accountable maintains trust.
The Alliance partners with people who have lived experience of poverty, community and tribal partners, and agencies to inform priorities and advance policy, program, and funding recommendations with the Governor and Legislature.
Experts with Lived Experience
The 10-Year Plan is grounded in the wisdom and experience of people experiencing poverty and inequality. As experts in their own lives and the users of state systems, Washingtonians with lived experience are uniquely positioned to co-create solutions and inform policy, program, and funding decisions.
Community Organizations
Community organizations are trusted institutions among residents and hubs for resources, services, and advocacy. With intuitive, boots-on-the ground knowledge of the people and communities they serve, the Alliance’s community partners – local service organizations, workforce development councils, businesses, advocacy groups, and philanthropy – are essential partners in informing solutions and urging action to address poverty and inequality.
Tribal and State Partners
Tribal and state agencies oversee human service programs serving millions of Washingtonians experiencing economic hardship every year. The tribal nations and state agencies involved in creating the 10-Year Plan set agendas and create strategic plans that offer opportunities for alignment to address the multidimensional ways poverty plays out in people’s lives and create accountability to outcomes.
The Alliance combines numbers and research with real-life stories to gain a deeper and more accurate understanding of poverty in Washington state.
Our partnership with the Just Futures Coalition is investing in community-led definitions and measures of well-being to uplift policy, program and funding solutions that invest in the wealth and richness of Washington’s diverse communities.
The Alliance’s 10-Year Plan Action Tracker and “Being Well in Washington” data dashboard communicate actions and progress toward goals with the public. Data and actions will be routinely evaluated by our forthcoming Economic Justice Alliance Advisory Board, a forum for continuous learning, action and accountability to the 10-Year Plan.
Alliance Groups
From 2017 to 2021, the Washington State government created several groups to address poverty. The Alliance aligns these efforts under one umbrella, working together to create policy, programs and funding changes that will bring all Washingtonians to reach economic well-being.
Legislative-Executive Task Force
This task force was created in state law to coordinate Legislative Branch and Executive Branch actions on poverty reduction, as well as the WorkFirst program. Membership includes state senators and representatives from both major parties, as well as the Governor’s office and executive branch agencies.
The Community Advisory Council advises the Task Force.
Meetings are open to all. Join us!
Community Advisory Council
Formerly known as the Poverty Reduction Workgroup, the council is comprised of and is led by Washingtonians with lived experience of poverty and representatives from community partner organizations. They work with state agency staff to provide strategy guidance and accountability to the state leaders implementing the 10-Year Plan to Dismantle Poverty.
Express your interest in joining the Advisory Council.
Governor’s Subcabinet on Intergenerational Poverty
Friends of the Alliance
Friends of the Alliance are aligned individuals and organizations who share the Vision of the Washington Economic Justice Alliance. They play an essential role in fostering connections, amplifying impact, and championing the goals of the 10-Year Plan to Dismantle Poverty. They meet quarterly as a Community of Practice for colleagues across the Alliance to share learnings and best practices.
Become a Friend of the Alliance!
Aligned Initiatives
The Alliance partners community-based organizations, people with lived experience of poverty, tribal nations, and local governments who are implementing the 10-Year Plan to Dismantle Poverty.
Together, we’re testing & scaling innovative solutions to address the root causes of poverty.
Explore highlighted Aligned Initiatives.
Ambassadors
The Alliance Ambassadors are a group of experts with lived experience of poverty who work to amplify the reach, effectiveness, and sustainability of the 10-Year Plan’s strategies, directly contributing to the overarching goal of dismantling poverty in Washington State. They serve as liaisons, educators, advocates, and connectors within their communities.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to advance policy, program and funding changes that ensure every Washingtonian can meet their basic needs, fully contribute their talents, and pass well-being on to future generations.
Taking Aligned Action Toward Economic Justice
The Washington Economic Justice Alliance wrote the 10-Year Plan to Dismantle Poverty, and now we’re working to implement it by aligning initiatives across the state toward economic justice & well-being.
Law and Policy Development
We unite Alliance members to design and support legislative initiatives that make measurable, population-level advances toward ending poverty, based on the 8 Strategies of the 10-Year Plan to Dismantle Poverty. We time our efforts to align with the state budget and policy cycle.
Partnering with Community
We partner with community organizations to connect them with state and philanthropic resources so they can test and scale recommendations and strategies in the 10-Year Plan to Dismantle Poverty.
Learn more about our partnerships to pilot basic income and the community assembly model in Washington.
Statewide Alignment & Tracking
The Alliance measures our contributions and progress toward creating a Washington free of poverty where everyone can experience joy, belonging, and well-being.
