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June 28, 2024
The Raikes Foundation Responds To Supreme Court Decision Upholding Criminalization Of Homelessness
SEATTLE, WA – Today, the Supreme Court issued its decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, ruling that cities are permitted to penalize individuals for living unsheltered in public places even where no other options exist. Raikes Foundation Co-Founders Tricia and Jeff Raikes issued the following statement in response: “Criminalization is not the answer to our homelessness crisis. This decision will harm all individuals experiencing homelessness – especially the 4.2 million youth and young adults who experience it each year – by allowing the counterproductive penalization of homelessness. None of us should grow accustomed to our neighbors living unsheltered. We understand the feelings of frustration and concern that can lead community members and elected officials alike to turn to responses centered on criminalization. But criminalization only exacerbates the problem in the long term by increasing barriers to stable housing, employment, and access to services. This is especially true for young people, a population too often pushed into the shadows because of their social and economic realities. Criminalization was the preferred response to homelessness for decades and it has never worked. But we don’t just have to imagine an alternative response—there are proven solutions at work in Washington State right now to reduce youth and young adult homelessness. Without resorting to criminalization, between 2016 and 2022 the number of youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in the state fell by 40 percent. That progress came from coordination with schools, state agencies, organizations, and youth themselves to address the root causes, not the symptoms of this crisis. The Raikes Foundation remains steadfast in our commitment to preventing and addressing the crisis of youth homelessness and building a future where all young people have a safe, welcoming place to call home.” About the Raikes Foundation At the Raikes Foundation, we believe that when we work together and center the voices of young people, we can build a fair society for all. Our goal is to bring people together to break down barriers that prevent communities from thriving and to support solutions that allow all of us to determine a fair and just future for America. We make grants in four core areas: education, housing stability for youth, racial equity and democracy, and impact-driven philanthropy. Through our grants, we seek to redefine financial impact, support individuals, and promote community agency and solutions to build a more just and inclusive society where all young people have the support they need to achieve their full potential. To learn more about our work, visit https://raikesfoundation.org.June 21, 2024
The Raikes Foundation Announces Gini Pupo-Walker as New Director of National Education Strategy
SEATTLE, WA – The Raikes Foundation today announced the hiring of Gini Pupo-Walker as Director of the National Education Strategy. As Director, Gini will oversee the Foundation’s efforts to advance a K-12 and post-secondary public education system that works for every student. “Gini brings a wealth of proximate and systems leadership to our work for educational equity,” said Dennis Quirin, Executive Director of the Raikes Foundation. “I am confident that under her leadership, the Foundation will continue to make durable, transformative progress toward a public education system that supports economic prosperity, the health of our communities, and our democracy.” Gini comes to the Director role with more than 20 years of experience as an educator and advocate. Currently, she serves as Executive Director for the Education Trust - Tennessee, where she works alongside partners, students and advocates to increase educational opportunity and achievement for historically underserved students. “It is an honor to join the Raikes team, whose ethos and mission are tightly aligned to my own,” said Gini Pupo-Walker. “I’m eager to draw from my experience working across sectors to help advance the Foundation's ambitious goals to build more just and inclusive education systems for students and communities across the country.” Prior to her role at the Education Trust – Tennessee, Gini worked at Conexión Américas as the Senior Director of Education Policy and Programs, where she oversaw their education policy division, P-12 and post-secondary programs in Nashville, and programs for migrant students across the state. She also served as the Executive Director of Family and Community Partnerships for Metro Nashville Public Schools, and as a teacher at the high school and college level for over 10 years in Seattle, San Diego and Nashville. About the Raikes Foundation At the Raikes Foundation, we believe that when we work together and center the voices of young people, we can build a fair society for all. Our goal is to bring people together to break down barriers that prevent communities from thriving and to support solutions that allow all of us to determine a fair and just future for America. We make grants in four core areas: education, housing stability for youth, racial equity and democracy, and impact-driven philanthropy. Through our grants, we seek to redefine financial impact, support individuals, and promote community agency and solutions to build a more just and inclusive society where all young people have the support they need to achieve their full potential. To learn more about our work, visit https://raikesfoundation.org.