Author: Sequaya

Sequaya was a recipient of the second round of the Magnolia Mother’s Trust, which began just after she lost her job during the pandemic as an in-home caretaker.

Front and Center: Two Years Since Receiving a Guaranteed Income, Sequaya Says the Investment Still Helps Her Family ‘Weather the Storm’

Front and Center is a groundbreaking series published by Ms. and created in partnership with the Magnolia Mother’s Trust (MMT), which aims to put front and center the voices of Black women who are affected most by the often-abstract policies currently debated at the national level. Sequaya first shared her story with Ms. in 2021 after receiving a year of guaranteed income, no strings attached. We checked in with her recently to see how she’s doing.

“I worked the entire time I had MMT. Most of the 2020 cohort did. You have to keep going because MMT is going to end, we’re not receiving it for a lifetime. Politicians could be focusing on so much more than worrying about whether or not someone’s being lazy. … One of my biggest principles before I had children was I never wanted to rely on government systems. But then you have kids and have to be an adult. Reality hits and you have no choice.”

Front and Center: Guaranteed Income Helped Me Survive the Pandemic and Find "Moments of Joy," Says Magnolia Mother's Trust Mom

Front and Center: Guaranteed Income Helped Me Survive the Pandemic and Find “Moments of Joy,” Says Magnolia Mother’s Trust Mom

Front and Center highlights the success of Springboard to Opportunities’ Magnolia Mother’s Trust, which this year will give $1,000 per month for 12 months to 100 families headed by Black women living in federally subsidized housing.

“Aside from just being able to survive and buy toilet paper and pay my bills, [guaranteed income] allowed me to—even at a very hard time—have moments of joy.”