Civic Engagement

Economic Development

Education

Government

Health

Law Enforcement / Criminal Justice

Civic Engagement Economic Development Education Government Health Law Enforcement / Criminal Justice

Policy Platform

Cover page of a policy platform document for the New Hampshire Center for Justice and Equity, April 2024.

This Policy Platform further defines the foci for our Public Policy work, providing direction for the issues that we will focus on in our “Inform and Educate” efforts.

We understand that successful policy change requires collaboration and cooperation, and we will lead when we need to and offer our support when that is the best approach. While recognizing the interconnectedness of these issues, we organize these policy priorities by sector, understanding the interdependencies and intersections across sectors.

A woman in a grey coat voting at a poll booth with a ballot box in a room with empty tables and chairs.
Silhouette of six raised hands waving.

Civic Engagement

Policy happens for people who participate, so NHCJE will focus on efforts to STRENGTHEN VOTING RIGHTS.

  • The 2022 midterms showed the largest disparity in election participation between White voters and voters of color since 2006, in every state but Hawaii.¹ Making it as easy as possible to register to vote is important to counteract efforts to restrict voter eligibility, limit majority-minority voting districts,² and dismantle protections of the Voting Rights Act.³ In addition, the cost burden for voting, including taking time off of work during polling hours, is felt more by communities of color.⁴

  • Increased access to mail-in ballots works to increase election participation, evidenced by record-breaking voter participation during the 2020 cycle.⁵

  • In NH, about 8% of the population speaks a language other than English at home, but there are no requirements that voter registration and other election materials are available in languages other than English.⁶ In addition, voting can be difficult for people with disabilities, and many places do not employ technologies to allow full participation in the voting process.⁷

Blurred cityscape view through tree branches with a prominent domed building in the background.
Black and white dollar sign symbol

Economic Development

An inclusive economy is one in which all people can thrive regardless of race or ethnicity, so NHCJE will focus on efforts to CLOSE THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP.

  • Home ownership is one of the most common ways to build generational wealth. In NH, home ownership rates are 29% among Black people and 39.9% among Hispanic people, compared to 73.5% among White people.⁸

  • NH’s minimum wage is $7.25/hour, making it the only New England state below $13.67/hour.⁹ According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, a single person with no children (the category with the lowest living wage) needs to make $23.58 in NH.¹⁰ This is acutely felt by communities of color who, compared to White populations, make $0.70-$.80 for each $1.00.¹¹

  • Many families are unable to find affordable childcare options.¹² The average annual price of center-based infant care was over $15,000 in 2022.¹³ Affordability issues are starker among low income households, which are disproportionately communities of color.¹⁴

  • Having a diverse workforce has been shown to improve profitability, efficiency, and innovation.¹⁵ Despite that, there are many threats to employers who want to focus on DEI efforts.¹⁶

A teacher assisting students in a classroom, with students reading and writing at their desks.
Black and white illustration of a graduation cap with a tassel.

Education

Equity in public education means all voices can be heard, all perspectives can be shared, and all abilities can be met, so NHCJE will focus on efforts to FOSTER BELONGING IN EDUCATION.

  • A strong public education ensures that everyone feels safe and welcome. Schools can focus on this in many ways, including by ensuring that antidiscrimination rules are enforced and by hiring diverse faculty and staff. Students of color have better educational outcomes when they have teachers from a similar racial background.¹⁷ While over 10% of the state’s population come from communities of color,¹⁸ NH’s educator workforce is 98% White.¹⁹

  • Some educators are uncomfortable teaching content that addresses justice or equity issues,²⁰ and many feel legally limited due to the state’s “divisive concepts” classroom censorship law.²¹ It is important to protect a teacher’s ability to teach a true history of the state and nation.

The front of a historic government building with large stone columns and classical architecture.
Icon of a classical Greek or Roman temple with pillars and a triangular pediment.

Government

The effects of government decision-making can impact communities for generations, so NHCJE will focus on efforts to REALIZE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY IN INFRASTRUCTURE.

  • Access to efficient and clean energy is important for economic, health, and environmental reasons. Families who do not own their own home, who are more often from communities of color, often cannot take advantage of opportunities to modify energy choices and realize these benefits.

  • Harms resulting from the location of industrial sites like asphalt plants²² disproportionately impact communities of color, who endure higher incidences of negative health outcomes tied to the warming environment²³ and the toxins in it.²⁴

  • 99% of NH workers over 16 years of age commute to work by car or truck,²⁵ in part because there are few options for reliable public transportation. Those using public transportation in NH spend 115% more-time commuting. People of color are twice as likely as White people to rely on public transportation.²⁶ Reducing the costs for transportation by making NH less car-dependent can allow for more economic opportunity, widening the areas and types of employment available.

A healthcare worker in blue scrubs walking down a hospital corridor pushing an infant incubator, with other medical staff visible in the background.
Icon of a stethoscope

Health

Communities of color have disproportionate negative health outcomes, so NHCJE will focus on efforts to ELIMINATE RACIAL HEALTH DISPARITIES.

  • Having health insurance coverage reduces morbidity and mortality. Medicaid is a critical type of health insurance for thousands of people in NH and is particularly important for communities of color.²⁷𝄒²⁸ Protecting Medicaid coverage is critical for financial stability and wellness

  • The current healthcare workforce in NH is insufficient to meet the current and anticipated needs of the community.²⁹ An emphasis on cultural competence is necessary to ensure appropriate care for an increasingly diverse population in NH.

  • Almost 40% of working-age adults report skipping medical care or prescription drugs due to cost.30 The inability to get care due to cost is particularly difficult for lower-income families, many of whom are from our communities of color.

Abandoned courtroom with green curtains, paintings, and wooden benches.
Black and white illustration of a balance scale with two empty pans.

Law Enforcement /Criminal Justice

Racial disparity in the criminal justice system is well documented in the United States, and New Hampshire mirrors many of those issues. To improve this, NHCJE will focus on ADDRESSING THE DISPARATE IMPACTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND LEGAL SYSTEMS.

  • Publicly available data for the state’s incarcerated populations are sparse on racial demographics.³¹ Furthermore, efforts to include racial data on state-issued identification have fallen short.³² Without these data, it is difficult to identify problems and implement solutions.

  • Bail reform has been important to ensure equity for populations with varying abilities to afford bail amounts for similar charges. NH’s bail reforms have had positive outcomes.³³ Ensuring that these reforms are not rescinded is important.³⁴

  • People of color are overrepresented among NH arrestees for possession of marijuana, despite similar rates of usage across racial groups.³⁵ Efforts toward legalization of marijuana³⁶ include expungement of some criminal records, which can help address this disparity.³⁷

Download the Policy Platform:

Cover page of the New Hampshire Center for Justice and Equity Policy Platform, April 2024, with the organization's logo and introductory text.

Full Document

Policy platform infographic from New Hampshire Center for Justice & Equity, featuring sections on civic engagement, economic development, education, government, health, and law enforcement, with policy priorities listed for each sector.

One-Pager

A policy platform document from the New Hampshire Center for Justice & Equity outlining key sectors such as Civic Engagement, Economic Development, Education, Government, Health, and Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice, with icons and policy priorities for each sector.

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