SEED gave people the dignity to make their own choices, the ability to live up to their potential and improved economic stability going into the turmoil of the pandemic.

Former Stockton, Calif., Mayor Michael Tubbs, regarding the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) program, which gave randomly selected residents $500 a month for two years without any contingencies, and the benefits that the program produced over those two years. An independent study of the program found the participants were mostly spending the money on basic needs, which improved the participants’ financial, physical and emotional health. (NPR — March 4, 2021)