Meet some of the Madison Forward Fund (MFF) participants. Each person shares their personal experiences with guaranteed income and how it has affected them, their family, and their community. While each story is unique, the collective narrative is powerful; the ability to have a basic level of financial stability provides autonomy, dignity, and freedom. Their stories highlight an all-too-familiar pattern. Many families in Madison face hurdles that make it impossible to thrive—whether due to illness, injury or disability, working low-wage jobs, or needing to reduce hours to care for family members. But these stories also demonstrate the potential power of basic income policies. Guaranteed income from MFF helped each of these people to overcome systemic barriers and access opportunities that otherwise would have been closed off to them and their children. When families have the freedom to succeed, our communities and economies can truly thrive.
We want to thank each of these recipients who volunteered to tell their story (some names have been changed). Your voices are powerful! Each contributes to the collective story of the guaranteed income movement and the hope for economic justice in Madison and beyond.
Mai Kaw
“This is humanizing. I don’t feel stuck. That is a huge, huge mental break. I feel like I am alive. I am proud to be a mom, and I am proud to be American.”
Vanessa
"I'm the only one in my firm that doesn't have a degree. Being in school and being an active student is really a huge part of why I got this job. [MFF] opened so many doors."
Elector
“It feels good to have some type of security to fall back on. You can rely on that. It gives me strength and power, and to be told, ‘You can do it.’ That’s huge.”
Donye
“Everything I earn goes towards my child. [With MFF], it’s one less bill I have to pay. Diapers, wipes. I already got food stamps but that runs out pretty fast.”
Bresha
“Guaranteed income has definitely brought down some of my stress.”
Marisol
"Before, my kid didn't get new clothes for the new year, and didn't get a backpack, nothing. But this year it was like a miracle. The first payment came right when the new school year was starting. The first deposit I got, we ran to the store and got stuff for school, and we were both really excited."