Exploring Basic Income in a Changing Economy Teach-Out

Now that you’ve engaged with experts on basic income and reflected on your own opinion, you can act. You’ve heard in this Teach-Out that basic income is an emerging idea, especially in the United States. The best thing you can do today is share your opinion, stay in the loop, and prepare to be an advocate.

Share your viewpoint: Because basic income is an emerging idea, the best action you can take is to grow awareness by sharing your opinion. Share this Teach-Out with someone who might be interested, write your thoughts to family or friends, and bring the topic up in conversation.

Stay in the loop: As we come to understand more about basic income and it potentially becomes part of policy, stay in the loop to be an active part of the conversation. You might sign up for a newsletter on the resources below, set a search engine alert, or mark your calendar to remind you to revisit the latest on basic income.

• Basic Income Lab
• Y Combinator
• Economic Security Project
• Basic Income Demonstration (Stockton, CA)
• Poverty Solutions at University of Michigan
• Basic Income Earth Network

Prepare to be an advocate: As basic income continues to be a potential part of policy for your area, you can participate. Follow these five steps to prepare yourself as an advocate for your opinion in basic income.

Five Elements of Effective Advocacy

1. What is your goal? The most important step in any advocacy strategy is clarifying your goal. Here is where you can use your opinion formed earlier in this Teach-Out.
2. Who are the key decision makers? Click here to identify your Senators, and click here to identify your Representatives.
3. Can you identify a champion? This is a person who is inside the process, and who will advance your goal internally. You might consider connecting with an expert or someone who is already working on poverty solutions or economic issues.
4. Can you build out a coalition? Who are the other people or organizations that are interested in basic income share your goal? You may find them by sharing your opinion or looking for local organizations.

What is your message? You have your opinion from earlier. How can you and your coalition share this message? Who should you share it with?