In May, Circles USA announced the launch of a new coalition of Cliff Effect policy specialists and practitioners. Following the cohort’s first, successful online convening last month, the 12-partner cohort will meet at Nashville’s Martha O’Bryan Center in August with an aim to reach consensus around national priorities for a live convening in Washington, D.C., in 2025.
Beyond the Cliff Coalition partner organizations include:
Circles Salt Lake and Circles Central Florida, local chapters of Circles USA
Colorado Benefits Cliff Collaborative, comprised of Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), CrossPurpose, Innovate+Educate, Spur LLC, and TorchTech
Episcopal Community Services of Philadelphia
Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont
Hennepin County Office of Workforce Development
Onondaga County Department of Social Services
Springfield WORKS
Tennessee Alliance for Economic Mobility, an initiative of Martha O’Bryan Center in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Human Services
Vermont Department for Children and Families
Workforce Development Council of Seattle King County
In addition, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath) will serve in an advisory capacity.
To build momentum and increase visibility on the Cliff Effect issue, The Martha O’Bryan Center partnered with Ascend at the Aspen Institute in June to offer a panel discussion on the Cliff, featuring a national, state, and local champion in the effort to mitigate the cliff.
Ascend at the Aspen Institute is a catalyst and convener for diverse leaders working across systems and sectors to build intergenerational family prosperity and well-being by intentionally focusing on children and the adults in their lives together. Ascend hosts monthly Action + Impact sessions that highlight new ideas and efforts to collectively advance two-generation (2Gen) approaches and systems change locally and nationally. [Source]
Keith Barnes, Senior Director of the Beyond the Cliff initiative at the Martha O’Bryan Center, led the June conversation showcasing the best practices, strategies, and data of leaders tackling the Cliff Effect in their communities. Representatives from Circles USA, the Colorado Department of Human Services, and Episcopal Community Services of Philadelphia participated in the event. With 102 attendees from across the country, CUSA was honored to share our experience from the past 25 years, our latest suite of Cliff Effect educational resources, and key responses our chapters currently offer to mitigate the Cliff.
Since April, the Beyond the Cliff Coalition has met monthly online to share knowledge and resources while building relationships and processes to support this potent collaboration. Circles USA representatives in the coalition include executive director Kamatara Johnson; Michelle Crawford, executive director, Circles Salt Lake; and Lynette Field, executive director of Poverty Solutions Group, parent organization for Circles Central Florida.
From Michelle: “Being a part of this coalition has been incredibly rewarding and eye-opening. Working together with such a diverse group of passionate individuals and organizations, all focused on addressing the Benefits Cliff Effect, has provided me with new perspectives and insights. The collaboration and shared commitment to finding solutions has not only strengthened our collective efforts but has also personally inspired me to deepen my understanding and advocacy.
“Looking ahead to the in-person convening in August,” she continues, “I am excited about the opportunity to engage in more dynamic and meaningful conversations. I hope to build stronger connections, exchange innovative ideas, and develop actionable strategies that will further our mission. This gathering will be a pivotal moment for us to align our goals, enhance our impact, and continue making a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by the benefits cliff.”
Lynette shares, “It is encouraging and inspiring to collaborate with innovative organizations across the country. There have been several promising pilot programs in different cities and regions over the last few years that provide this Coalition with evidence that it really is possible to eliminate the benefits cliff. I look forward to the in-person gathering as we begin to line out our policy strategy. This will be invaluable to both Circles USA and all our local chapters”.
“When it comes to ending the Benefits Cliff,” adds Kamatara, “we have to join our forces and resources to make some serious headway. This partnership not only expands our local chapters’ capacity to impact the Cliff, we also hope to create a movement at the state and federal level to begin the end of the Cliff. This in-person gathering in August will be a major step forward as we prepare for all we can do in 2025 to end the Cliff for good.”