Poverty in America Today - Who Pays, Who Benefits: Tax Policy and Economic Inequality

​Tax policy is one of the most powerful and often overlooked tools for reducing poverty and advancing economic equity. From refundable tax credits to revenue structures that shape public investment, the tax code plays a critical role in determining who has access to opportunity and who is left behind.

​This panel examines how federal, state, and local tax policies intersect with poverty, race, and gender, and how policy choices can either reinforce inequality or serve as pathways to economic security. Panelists will explore the real-world impacts of tax policy on low-income families and communities, highlighting evidence-based strategies that reduce hardship, support work, and promote long-term stability.

​Through data, policy analysis, and lived experience, this conversation will move beyond technical debates to focus on what equitable tax systems can achieve and what it will take to center poverty reduction and dignity in future tax policy decisions.

​Join us for a timely discussion on why tax policy belongs at the center of the fight against poverty and how it can be leveraged to build a more just and inclusive economy.