National ALICE Advisory Council

NATIONAL ALICE ADVISORY COUNCIL OVERVIEW The United Way ALICE Project is a grassroots movement committed to strengthening communities by improving the lives of ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) - our families, neighbors, and colleagues who work hard, earn above the federal poverty level, but not enough to afford a basic household budget. The United Way ALICE Project is partially funded and supported by the National ALICE Advisory Council, a body of corporate and national organizations convened to elevate ALICE’s voice to a national level. The Council is a forum for sharing experiences, developing best practices, and building innovative impact strategies to stabilize ALICE households and our broader economy. The National ALICE Advisory Council seeks to: • Stimulate national dialogue, raising awareness and consciousness of this important issue • Strengthen and unify organizations supporting ALICE • Inspire action (corporate policy, public policy, individual action) • Engage new entities, with varying perspectives, to strengthen the Project NATIONAL ALICE ADVISORY COUNCIL COMPOSITION Each entity that makes a financial contribution and public commitment to United Way and the ALICE population earns a seat on the National ALICE Advisory Council. The National ALICE Advisory Council seeks to be inclusive and representative of geographic, cultural, and ethnic diversity. Current members of the Council include: AT&T Atlantic Health System Deloitte WHAT’S INVOLVED Entergy UPS Johnson & Johnson Wyndham Worldwide Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation Membership on the Council is $25,000 per calendar year, which funds the development of the United Way ALICE Project nationally. The schedule of Council meetings shall be determined at the first meeting, which will be held in 2016 (details to be announced). QUESTIONS For more information contact Molly Rennie, associate director of the United Way ALICE Project, Molly.Rennie@UnitedWayNNJ.org or 973.993.1160, x113.  WHO IS ALICE? ALICE, an acronym which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, is a way of defining our families, neighbors, and colleagues (men and women) who work hard, earn above the federal poverty level, but not enough to afford a basic household budget. ALICE educates our children, keeps us healthy, and makes our quality of life possible. But these low-wage jobs, often in the service sector, do not pay enough for ALICE to live on. These families are forced to make tough choices, such as deciding between quality child care or paying the rent, which have long-term consequences for ALICE and our communities. The future success of our communities is directly tied to the financial stability of ALICE households. WHAT IS THE UNITED WAY ALICE PROJECT? The United Way ALICE Project is a collaborative effort to improve the lives of vulnerable, low-income ALICE households. Based on the overwhelming success of the research in identifying and communicating the needs of ALICE households, the Project has expanded from Morris County, New Jersey in 2009, to the entire state of New Jersey in 2012, to the national level in 2014 with Reports in six states representing one-quarter of the U.S. population. The partners in this grassroots effort are working together to give ALICE a national voice. WHAT DOES THE PROJECT DO? The United Way ALICE Project raises awareness about an essential but previously hidden part of our community. It also provides a framework, language, and tools for stakeholders to understand, measure, and ultimately implement changes that improve the lives of ALICE. With as many as one-third of the population in the United States living in an ALICE household, many public policy issues must be reassessed and the scope of current solutions be reconsidered. To inform the dialogue in the country about this growing crisis and how it affects us all, the United Way ALICE Project: • Produces Current Research: Through state Reports with regular updates and special subject reports, the Project provides the highest quality, unbiased data at the local and national level. • Leads a Learning Community: The vibrant ALICE Learning Community provides a forum for participants to learn from each other and share best practices. • Builds Action: Armed with knowledge, best practices, and community partners, the ultimate goal of the Project is to stimulate action that will improve the financial stability of ALICE families. WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING The 2014 launch of United Way ALICE Reports in California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, and New Jersey was a great success, garnering significant media and public attention. A few examples include: • David Cay Johnston, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist: “Our understanding of poverty is starting to undergo a transformation, thanks to new research...” • Miami Herald Editorial: “...the report’s findings are disturbing and should be a call to action.” • Andrei Cherny, Washington Post Op-Ed: “...the story of future elections will, in fact, come down to a single name – in this case, a female first name. No, it’s not Hillary. It’s Alice.” • U.S. Senator Cory Booker @CoryBooker “890,000 working #NewJersey households can't get by. #MeetALICE communities” LEARN MORE Download the reports at www.UnitedWayALICE.org