PRRAC Grant Reports: Miscellaneous

Research products of completed projects are available from PRRAC. Bracketed italicized identifiers [e.g. F301] are PRRAC's internal project numbers, used here to match grant descriptions with research products.

Short reports on the research work and updates on the advocacy work this research has supported regularly appear in PRRAC's bimonthly newsletter journal Poverty & Race -- the relevant issues of P&R are noted at the end of each project description. Send PRRAC a self-addressed, stamped envelope for copies of these articles.

+ The Labor/Community Strategy Center undertook research on the history and implementation of racially discriminatory transit planning in the Los Angeles region. This work supports their litigation against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, based on Title VI and 14th Amendment arguments (with the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund as counsel). Concomitant organizing work involves creation of a bus riders' union.
[F305] Grant amount: $9,000.
Contact: Eric Mann, Labor/Community Strategy Center, 3780 Wilshire Blvd., #1200, Los Angeles, CA 90010, 213/387-2800.
See articles in Poverty & Race, Vol. 5, No. 6; Vol. 7, No. 2.

+ Robert Brischetto, of the Southwest Voter Research Institute, and Richard Engstrom, of the University of New Orleans, experts on voting rights, conducted a study of the impact of cumulative voting systems on minorities. In cooperation with the Hispanic Research Center at the University of Texas--San Antonio, exit surveys were completed in 16 of 26 local Texas jurisdictions that adopted cumulative voting in the preceding three years to settle voting rights cases, mostly involving Hispanic voters, and held special elections on May 6, 1995. The purpose of the interviews was to find out how people of different ethnic groups voted, as well as to measure voter turnout and the degree of racially polarized voting and coalition formation in these elections. This study is of critical importance in showing how well and under what conditions modified at-large systems work to resolve the problem of minority vote dilution, how well voters understand the election system and what educational approach would be helpful, and how well cumulative voting produces proportional representation.
[EM102] Grant amount: $1,000.
Contact: Robert Brischetto, Worden School of Social Science, 180 Jones Beach, Lakehills, TX 78063, 830/612-3643.
See article in Poverty & Race, Vol. 4, No. 5.

+ The Food Research and Action Center expanded its Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project (CCHIP) to examine the relationship between hunger and poverty. The standard CCHIP survey instrument (used in seven states to date) was modified to help redefine the federal poverty line and advocate for changes in the Food Stamp program that will produce higher benefits for poor people. Columbus and a rural Ohio site were the focus for this research.
[F127] Grant amount: $10,000.
Contact: Jim Weill, FRAC, 1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, #540, Washington, DC 20008, 202/986-2200.

+ The Women's State-wide Legislative Network of Massachusetts researched the impact of state budget cuts, focussing on low-income women and women of color. Research was carried out by Randy Albelda of University of Massachusetts-Boston and Chris Tilly of the University of Lowell. The results were used in public education and organizing activities for their Glass Ceilings Project.
[F229] Grant amount: $10,000.
Contact: Linda Johnson, Women's State-wide Legislative Network of Massachusetts, 37 Temple Pl., 3rd flr., Boston, MA 02111, 617/426-1878.
See articles in Poverty & Race, Vol. 3, No. 5; Vol. 3, No. 6; Vol. 4, No. 6.

+ The Michigan League for Human Services, in conjunction with the Wayne State University Center for Urban Studies, researched the impact of the state's welfare cuts, in particular elimination of General Assistance -- with highly disproportionate impact on minorities. The research documented the population and communities affected by program reductions and eliminations; the impact on former recipients, private community agencies, selected business establishments, and utility and medical service providers. The findings were used to provide technical assistance to other advocacy groups and to develop recommendations for future direction and role of state government in social welfare and health programs.
[F212] Grant amount: $9,000.
Contact: Beverley McDonald, Michigan League for Human Services, 300 N. Washington Sq., #401, Lansing, MI 48933, 517/487-5436.
See articles in Poverty & Race, Vol. 2, No. 5; Vol. 3, No. 5; Vol. 4, No. 5.

+ Marlene Kim and Ken Grossinger undertook research on the working poor to assist labor, human service and community organizations develop strategies to organize low-wage workers and provide them with economic relief, mainly through programs for which they are eligible but receive no benefits (food stamps, Medicaid, general assistance, housing assistance). Data from the US Census Survey of Income and Program participation are being used.
[F231] Grant amount: $8,440.
Contact: Prof. Marlene Kim, Rutgers Univ. Dept. of Labor Education, Ryders Ln. & Clifton Ave., New Brunswick, NJ 08903, 908/932-8208; Ken Grossinger, SEIU, 1313 L St. NW, Washington, DC 20005, 202/898-3223.
See article in Poverty & Race, Vol. 5, No. 1.

+# The Labor Project for Working Families developed a database and clearinghouse of information on work and family issues related to unions (model collective bargaining contract language, innovative programs, research, legislation, articles). The information is being used as an outreach tool to unions to advocate for more policies and benefits for working families.
[C102] Grant amount: $2,900.
Contact: Netsy Firestein, Labor Project for Working Families, IIR, 2521 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94720, 510/643-6814.

+# AGENDA (Action for Grassroots Empowerment & Neighborhood Development Alternatives) surveyed (using youth surveyors) some 500 South Central Los Angeles youth on public policy issues, inter-ethnic tensions, surrounding conditions, and produced a report and recommendations on youth policies, as derived from youth themselves.
[C106] Grant amount: $5,000.
Contact: Anthony Thigpenn, AGENDA, 2826 S. Vermont Ave., #11, Los Angeles, CA 90007, 213/730-4950.

+* Brett Brown and Kristin Moore of Child Trends undertook a reconnaissance of federal income security program data sources to determine coverage of race/ethnicity and income variables. Research assessed the extent to which responsible departments have complied with legislative and statutory mandates specifically related to each source. The report is being used as part of a broader advocacy project - involving parallel PRRAC-commissioned federal- and state-level reconnaissance studies in the areas of education, health and housing -- to create data collection and dissemination systems more useful to advocates.
[FDR104] Grant amount: $18,750.
Contact: Kristin Moore and Brett Brown, Child Trends, 4301 Connecticut Ave. NW, #100, Washington, DC 20008, 202/362-5580.

+ The [NY] State Communities Aid Association undertook "Reforming and Simplifying New York's Child Support System," following up on its successful research/advocacy project to get the state to pass an Earned Income Tax Credit. Russ Sykes, SCAA's Deputy Director, as the newly appointed Chair of the NY State Department of Social Services Welfare Reform Task Force, will be well positioned to implement the study's recommendations.
[F308] Grant amount: $9,500.
Contact: Russ Sykes, SCAA, One Columbia Place, Albany, NY 12207, 518/463-1896.
See articles in Poverty & Race, Vol. 5, No. 3; Vol. 6, No. 2.

+ The National General Assistance Working Group, a network of some 40 research, advocacy and service providers, prepared a handbook summarizing research on state cuts in general assistance: "Welfare Reform and the Forgotten Population: The Impact of General Assistance Cutbacks on Single Adults and Its Implications for National Policy." Included are research studies from Michigan, Hamilton County (OH), Cuyahoga County (OH), Pennsylvania, Illinois, Philadelphia and Chicago. The summary supported advocacy efforts to include single adults in the welfare reform and job development agenda.
[EM103] Grant amount: $600.
Contact: Molly Bougearel, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, 220 S. State St., #1910, Chicago, IL 60604, 312/663-0960.

+ The California Budget Project, Alabama Arise, the North Carolina Budget & Tax Center, Voices for Illinois Children & The [Texas] Center for Public Policy Priorities have been commissioned to participate in PRRAC's State Data Reconnaissance Project, which seeks to improve the quantity, quality, relevance and dissemination of data on the impact of income maintenance (as well as health, housing and education) programs on low-income and minority beneficiaries. Each state organization has produced data reconnaissance studies in these four areas and is undertaking advocacy work to remedy defects uncovered. The state-level project will be integrated with PRRAC's parallel Federal Data Reconnaissance Project.
[CADR103, ALDR103, NCDR103, ILDR103, TXDR103] Grant amounts: Varied.
Contacts: Jean Ross, California Budget Project, 921 11th St., #502 Sacramento, CA 95814, 916/444-0500; Kimble Forrister, Alabama Arise, PO Box 612, Montgomery, AL 36101, 334/832-9060; Dan Gerlach, North Carolina Budget & Tax Center, PO Box 27343, Raleigh, NC 27611, 919/856-2158; Jerry Stermer, Voices for Illinois Children, 208 S. LaSalle, Chicago, IL 60604, 312/456-0600; Diane Stewart, Center for Public Policy Priorities, 900 Lydia St., Austin, TX 78702, 512/320-0222.
See article in Poverty & Race, Vol. 7, No. 4

+ = Completed Project
* = PRRAC-Commissioned Project
# = Project funded under PRRAC/Applied Research Center California Community Research Initiative

PRRAC Grantee Products and Final Reports

A Brief History of Transportation Racism in Los Angeles -- Intentional Discrimination and Strategies to Fight It in the Courts, in the Streets, and on the Buses, by Rita Burgos & Della Bonner (April 1996, 25 pp.), available ($12) from the Labor/Community Strategy Center, 3780 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010, 213/387-2800. [F305]

The Rise of Cumulative Voting (July 1995, 6 pp.), Texas Observer; Cumulative Voting as an Alternative to Districting: An Exit Survey of Sixteen Texas Communities, National Civic Review (Fall-Winter 1995, 8 pp.); Cumulative Voting at Work in Texas, Voting and Democracy Report (1995, 5 pp.). Articles, all by Robert Brischetto, are available from the author, Worden School of Social Science, Lakehills, TX 78063, 830/612-3643. [EM102]

Is Cumulative Voting Too Complex? Evidence from Exit Polls, by Richard Engstrom & Robert Brischetto, Stetson Law Review, Vol. XXVII, Winter 1998, pp. 813-33, available from Brischetto (see above item). [EM102]

Cumulative Voting and Latino Representation: Exit Surveys in Fifteen Texas Communities, by Robert Brischetto & Richard Engstrom, Social Science Quarterly, Vol. 78, Dec. 1997, pp. 973-91, available from Brischetto (see two items above). [EM102]

Glass Ceilings and Bottomless Pits: Women, Income, and Poverty in Massachusetts, by Randy Albelda & Chris Tilly (June 1994, 36 pp.), published by and available from Women's Statewide Legislative Network, 37 Temple Place, 3rd flr., Boston, MA 02111, 617/426-1878. $10 (inquire about bulk rates and low-income prices). [F229]

The Impact on Individuals and Communities of the Reduction in Social Services in Michigan in 1991-1992 (May 1993, 56 pp.), available from the Michigan League for Human Services, 300 N. Washington Sq., #401, Lansing, MI 48933, 517/487-5436. $10. [F212]

Welfare Reform and the Forgotten Population: The Impact of General Assistance Cutbacks on Single Adults and Its Implications for National Policy (October 1993, 12 pp.), published by and available from the National General Assistance Working Group, c/o the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, 220 S. State St., #1910, Chicago, IL 60604, 312/663-0960. [EM103]

Orders in the Court: The Failures of New York's Judicial Child Support System, prepared by Frederick Griesbach Associates, Research Consultants, & Russell Sykes of The New York State Communities Aid Association (September 1995, 31 pp.), available from SCAA, One Columbia Place, Albany, New York 12207, 518/463-1896. $7. [F308]

The Working Poor and Welfare Recipiency, by Marlene Kim (December 1995, 48 pp.), available from the author, Labor Studies Dept., Rutgers Univ. Ryders Ln. & Clifton Ave., New Brunswick, NJ 08903, 908/932-1747. [F231]

Final Report [on Labor/Work & Family Database] (August 1994, 2 pp.), available from the Labor Project for Working Families, IIR, 2521 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94720, 510/643-6814. [C102]

Youth Research Project Report (1994, 4 pp.), available from AGENDA (Action for Grassroots Empowerment & Neighborhood Development Alternatives), 2826 S. Vermont Ave., #11, LA, CA 90007, 213/730-4950. [C106]

A Review of Existing Federal Data on the Characteristics of Participants in Federal Income Support Programs, by Brett Brown & Nancy Snyder (October 1994, 58 pp, + App.), available from PRRAC. [FDR104]

An Examination of the Relationship Among Hunger, Poverty and Race, Using the CCHIP Measure of Food Insufficiency (n.d. [1966], 19 pp.), by and available (free) from the Food Research & Action Center, 1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, #540, Washington, DC 20008, 202/986-2200. [F127]

A Guide to Poverty & Housing Programs & Available Related Datasets in Illinois, by Robert Goerge, Mairead Reidy, Lisa Sanfilippo & Bong Joo Lee (April 1997, 62 pp.), available from Voices for Illinois Children, 208 S. LaSalle, #1580, Chicago, IL 60604. [ILDR 103]

A Review of Existing Alabama State Data on Income Support, by David Dawson & Stan Johnson (May 1997, 10 pp.), available from Alabama Arise, 207 Montgomery St., #810, Montgomery, AL 36102, 334/832-9060. [ALDR 103]

A Review of State Data Related to Poverty & Income Support Program Participation in Texas, by Marcia Kinsey (April 1997, 34 pp.), available from the Center for Public Policy Priorities, 900 Lydia St., Austin, TX 79702, 512/330-0222. [TXDR 103]

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