Bridging the Divide Toward an Inclusive Economy
Gary Cunningham, Senior Advisor to the New School’s Institute on Race, Power, and Political Economy
Stewards across the country are imagining, inspiring, and building a movement to thrive together. Through their actions and words, they are making the case for an equitable and thriving future in their communities and bringing others into the work. Gary Cunningham’s story is one of helping people bridge divides to see that we all have a shared stake in our future.
“You have to start from where people are at, not from where you want them to be,” is Gary Cunningham’s advice for taking a first step toward finding a shared vision. “If we’re going to change the dynamics of inequity, then we’re going to have to be able to talk to people who disagree with us from across the aisle.”
As senior advisor to the New School’s Institute on Race, Power, and Political Economy, Gary brings decades of experience and insights for bridging divides and a personal passion for generating equitable opportunities and fostering an inclusive economy.
"You have to start from where people are at, not from where you want them to be."
- Gary Cunningham
Born to a single mother, Gary was raised in North and South Minneapolis. At the age of 10, he witnessed the protests and riots of 1967, spurred by long-standing racial inequities in housing, education, and health care. Then and now, Gary credits his family with helping him see that for big changes to be made, we have to talk with each other in a way that brings people together.
“I was raised to believe that I could use my skills and abilities to make a difference for others,” Gary said. “That was the ethos of our family. I hope I have imparted those values to others in my family so we can carry on, because the work is never done.”
One of the major issues Gary has championed in his work is the concept of Baby Bonds, an innovative government policy pioneered by Dr. Darrick Hamilton, Director of the Institute on Race, Power, and Political Economy. Baby Bonds is a wealth-building program focused on developing assets, with the goal of reducing the racial wealth gap and fostering economic equity. Similar to how Social Security has transformed financial security for people in retirement, Baby Bonds would help provide financial security at the beginning of adulthood. This ensures that every child, particularly those born into low-income families, has the financial foundation needed to build wealth throughout their lives.
The funds from Baby Bonds can be used for significant wealth-building activities, such as buying a home, starting a business, going to college, or maintaining the money in a savings or retirement account. The idea is to empower individuals with the means to achieve economic security and independence.
“Baby Bonds, in their ideal form, would be for all children, creating a universal foundation of economic opportunity,” Gary explains. “But as states take on the program, they’ve had to make tough decisions about how to allocate limited resources, leading to a focus on children from low-income families.”
Gary has been a strong advocate for this policy and has often highlighted the successful implementation of Baby Bonds in Connecticut as an example of how bipartisan support can be achieved for economic justice initiatives. Connecticut became the first state to introduce Baby Bonds by focusing on the positive impact they could have on all communities, regardless of race or location. “We started by focusing solely on racial wealth,” Gary said. “It wasn’t getting a lot of uptake because we were preaching to the choir.” However, by expanding the conversation to include the broader aspirations of all Connecticut citizens, the initiative gained significant traction.
Gary often cites Connecticut’s approach as a model for how Baby Bonds can be framed to appeal to both urban and rural communities, demonstrating that this policy is not just about racial economic justice but about enhancing economic opportunities for all low-income families across the state. The Connecticut Baby Bonds program, which invests $3,200 on behalf of each baby born into a family covered by the state’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program, has inspired similar legislation in other states, including Washington, D.C., and California.
“Why did Connecticut do it? In part because they were able to bridge the divide between urban and rural constituents to say, hey, this is good for all our kids,” Gary said. Looking ahead, Gary takes heart in the bridges he and others have built that will fuel the hopes and dreams of tomorrow’s citizens.
About Gary Cunningham
Gary L. Cunningham is a prominent leader in economic and racial justice, renowned for his transformative leadership and commitment to creating equitable opportunities. Gary’s career spans over three decades across philanthropy, healthcare, public policy, and education sectors. He is a recognized expert in entrepreneurship, job creation, racial wealth equity, housing, and economic development, making him a sought-after thought leader in building an inclusive economy.