Creating an Economy That Works for Everyone.

• Wage Gap: Significant wage gap between high-paying government/tech/medical jobs and lower-wage service sector jobs.

• Rent Burden: 22-26% of renters are considered "rent-burdened" (spending more than 30% of their income on rent).

• Median Net Worth: Significant disparity in median net worth between different racial and ethnic groups.

• Small Business Failure Rate: Higher failure rate for small businesses in low-income areas.

• Predatory Lending: High interest auto loans, credit cards & payday loans were designed to keep poor Americans poor. Once you assume the debt it is near impossible to climb out.

Many in SWVA have directly experience corporations taking advantage of them and promising them more than they deliver. It's a story all too familiar everywhere in the country now. For example, my brother was promised PTO for the birth of his second child, but was fired when he attempted to use it. The CEO called his wife to promise! Corporations will always take advantage due to their profit incentive needs.

With new leadership in our district, the Americans of SWVA would now have a voice to fight these struggles and respond in a way that will reduce costs, put more dollars in your pockets, more money flowing through your communities, and protect your economic future. I have been doing for corporations for 5 years, let me do it for you.

Some Strategies for Meaningful Change:

These strategies need to be systemic and address the root causes of exploitation, not just the symptoms.

• Living Wage & Worker Protections: Advocate for a living wage, paid sick leave, and stronger worker protections. Support unionization efforts.

• Affordable Housing Initiatives: Implement policies to increase the supply of affordable housing, such as inclusionary zoning, rent control, and public housing investments.

• Financial Literacy & Asset Building: Provide financial literacy training and asset-building programs to help residents build wealth. Bring back the Trade Guilds

• Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs): Support CDFIs that provide loans and technical assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs in underserved communities.

• Progressive Taxation & Corporate Accountability: Advocate for progressive tax policies that ensure corporations pay their fair share. Close tax loopholes and hold corporations accountable for their actions.

• Community Land Trusts (CLTs): Support CLTs that provide permanently affordable housing and community ownership.

• Cooperative Business Models: Encourage the development of worker-owned cooperatives and other cooperative business models such as community owned grocery stores, highlighting local items.

• Local Procurement & Supply Chain Development: Prioritize local procurement and support the development of local supply chains to create economic opportunities for residents.

• Equality Initiatives: Implement racial equity initiatives to address systemic racism and discrimination in the economy.

• Community Ownership & Control: Empower communities to own and control their own resources and businesses.