Community invited to screenings of 'It's Basic,' a film that looks at programs where residents receive money with no strings attached

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.

There will be two screening events:

• Lawrence - Tuesday, Jan. 28, 5:30-8 p.m. at the Lawrence Public Library auditorium, 707 Vermont St., Lawrence.
• Eudora - Wednesday, Feb. 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Eudora High School auditorium, 2203 Church St., Eudora.

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 people extra cash with no strings attached. The 77-minute film presents an 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.

“Most of us remember a time when we were teetering on the edge of financial hardship or disaster,” said Kathy Smith, Vice President of Douglas County Initiatives, United Way Kaw Valley. “Many of our fellow Douglas Countians know that feeling right now. We know from our data partnership with United for ALICE that 40% of people in Douglas County are either struggling in poverty or just above it. At United Way of Kaw Valley, we have a responsibility to the community to explore solutions, especially those that preserve dignity and potentially create longer term stability. These documentary screenings and panel conversations are an open invitation to our community to explore together."

The events are open to the public at no cost. Refreshments will be available. Free child care will be offered at the event in Eudora.

The events are organized by the Douglas County Community Health Plan’s Anti-Poverty work group, which includes Douglas County, United Way of Kaw Valley, Eudora Schools Foundation, LiveWell Douglas County and Engage Douglas County.

LiveWell Douglas County Executive Director Ginny Barnard said it has been exciting to work with our community partners and take a deeper look at local data.

“I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone that paychecks don’t stretch far, but many may not realize that over 40% of households in Douglas County are struggling to afford necessities. One of the goals of LiveWell Douglas County is to encourage and inform public discussion around factors that impact health. We really want to listen to different perspectives and experiences to work towards communities where we all thrive.”