In an inclusive economy, all Washingtonians would have access to economic security and the opportunity to prosper. Even though Washington’s economy is growing, progress isn’t reaching everybody. Income inequality is increasing, and too many people are still struggling to make ends meet – even those who work full time. This is especially true for many workers and families of color, who have long faced greater barriers to opportunity than their white neighbors – the result of historically racist policies and practices.

Even with a strong economy and low unemployment rates, many households in Washington struggle to meet basic needs. Fortunately, poverty reduction programs remove obstacles that make it harder for families to get and keep jobs and help them grow their incomes over time. 

Washingtonians must take bold action to confront the serious threat that air pollution poses to the health and well-being of communities from Longview to Walla Walla. But meaningful action can only be achieved and sustained if people and communities – especially people of color, rural communities, and other populations that are often overlooked by lawmakers and initiative campaigns – are rightfully included in developing solutions to this threat from the very beginning.

In recent years, Washington state has made important strides in investing in public education and early learning. In the coming years, these changes will be put to a crucial test: Will they help children, especially children of color, surmount the barriers to quality K-12 learning and lifelong achievement?

In an inclusive economy, everyone – including the youngest among us – would have the means to have a lifetime of economic security. Yet this is not the case for many children and families in Washington state. Financial security and stability remain out of reach for many families, especially for families of color. Thirty percent of all households and 50 percent of households headed by people of color do not have enough savings to cover basic expenses for three months in the case of a sudden job loss, medical emergency, or another financial crisis – let alone enough resources to save for their own future and the future of their kids.