Category: Uncategorized

In 2020, numerous Ohio leaders, including those in Columbus and Franklin County, declared racism a public health crisis, committing to address systemic inequities. Since then, initiatives such as Columbus Public Health’s Center for Public Health Innovation have implemented programs like the “Vax Cash” incentive, a flavored tobacco ban, and the establishment of the Office of Violence Prevention to tackle disparities in health and safety. This article from The Columbus Dispatch examines how, despite changing political climates, public health officials remain dedicated to promoting racial equity and addressing the long-term impacts of systemic racism on community health.

This article by the Statehouse News Bureau examines a provision in Ohio’s proposed budget that would allow the state to force the closure of underused public school buildings and require districts to sell them to charter or private schools at below market value—something school leaders like Canton Superintendent Jeff Talbert call unfair to local taxpayers. While Governor DeWine argues the measure addresses districts hoarding buildings to block competition, critics say it disregards community investments and essential space needs for specialized programs.

This article examines how a recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis indicates that over 3 million individuals could lose access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits under a Republican-backed bill passed by the U.S. House. The legislation proposes stricter work requirements and shifts a portion of SNAP funding responsibilities to states, potentially adding $14 billion annually to state budgets. Critics argue that these changes would disproportionately affect low-income families, while proponents claim they promote fairness and fiscal responsibility.

This Reuters article examines the U.S. Supreme Court’s 4-4 split decision on May 22, 2025, which effectively blocked the creation of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School in Oklahoma—the nation’s first proposed taxpayer-funded religious charter school. The tie, resulting from Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s recusal due to potential conflicts of interest, upheld the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ruling that the proposed school violated the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause by promoting religion through public funding. While advocates for church-state separation celebrated the outcome, supporters of religious charter schools expressed disappointment and indicated plans to continue their legal efforts.

This article by the FrameWorks Institute explores the challenges in conveying the fragility of democratic institutions to the public. It identifies three main obstacles: the tendency to equate government solely with current leaders, the belief that American actions inherently define democracy, and the abstract nature of concepts like authoritarianism, which can feel disconnected from daily life. To bridge this gap, the article suggests linking these abstract ideas to people’s lived experiences of uncertainty and powerlessness, thereby making the threats to democracy more tangible and relatable.

This article from the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) details how the House’s budget reconciliation bill drastically cuts critical supports like Medicaid, SNAP, and the Child Tax Credit, which disproportionately harms low-income families and communities of color. According to CLASP, the bill redirects these funds to expand immigration enforcement—allocating $45 billion for agencies like ICE—and to extend tax breaks favoring the wealthy. The organization criticizes the bill as prioritizing mass deportation and economic inequality over the needs of vulnerable Americans.

At ACS, we don’t just build tools—we refine them. When we find new approaches that help organizations, we integrate them into our resources. ACS has updated its Crisis Communication Worksheet with a reminder to REFOCUS: a powerful, step-by-step mindset tool designed to help leaders pause, regain perspective, and communicate with purpose when the pressure is on. It’s not just about managing the moment—it’s about leading through it. This addition reflects ACS’s ongoing commitment to evolving and improving our tools based on real-world experience! Check out the updated Crisis Communication Worksheet here!

The ACS What to Watch 2025 Update is a critical follow-up to ACS’ Winter 2025 Newsletters: What to Watch: Part 1 and What to Watch: Part 2, confirming that many of the threats we previously identified have materialized; the Trump administration’s aggressive rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, major changes to education policy, and increasing restrictions on reproductive healthcare—developments that particularly impact women and marginalized communities. The Update also highlights recent legal challenges and court rulings that have temporarily blocked some of the most extreme measures. Read more here!