Hosted By: Douglas County
Douglas County has partnered with community agencies to present a screening of the award-winning documentary, “It’s Basic,” which looks at pilot programs that test the effects of giving people an extra $500 to $1,000 monthly with no strings attached. The event will be 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, a the Eudora High School auditorium, 2203 Church St.
When 2020 presidential hopeful Andrew Yang proposed to give every American $1,000 in monthly income, it helped bring the issue of Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) to national light. By then, several U.S. cities had already begun GBI pilot programs in which they provided $500 to $1,000 per month to a select group of people for one year.
“It’s Basic” looks at several of these pilot programs that test the effects of giving everyday people extra cash with no strings attached. The film presents an unbiased account of the benefits, criticisms, and outcomes of giving unconditional money to people in need and examines whether Basic Income pilot programs eradicate child poverty and level the racial playing field through community-centric solutions.
This concept has been up for discussion many times throughout history. With commentary by Michael Tubbs, the founder of Mayors for Guaranteed Income, and interviews with program recipients and participating mayors across the country, the real-life challenges of trying to get by daily are at the heart of the film.
Following the screenings, a panel of local leaders will discuss insights from the film, address the impact of poverty on families in Douglas County, and explore local initiatives aimed at establishing a guaranteed income program.
The event is open to the public at no cost. Refreshments will be available. The events are organized by the Douglas County Community Health Plan’s Anti-Poverty workgroup, which includes Douglas County, United Way of Kaw Valley, Eudora School Foundation, LiveWell Douglas County and Engage Douglas County.
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