Underpin was founded by Halah Ahmad, a progressive policy expert, writer, researcher and strategist whose work has underpinned several local, state, and national policy change efforts across multiple organizations and states. Underpin partners with other researchers, organizers, or media and PR groups to meet the needs of its clients. Uplifting liberation movements and interconnected causes that center dignity and economic justice, Underpin mobilizes strategies of rigorous research, polling, narrative crafting, advocacy, and culture interventions to catalyze progressive wins.

Ahmad draws on particular expertise in narrative change as well as policy design in guaranteed income, public banking, affordable housing, tax credits, foreign policy on Palestine, and immigration. Ahmad previously served as VP for Policy at the Jain Family Institute, a social science research institute based in New York City, and as the US Policy Fellow for the Palestinian policy network Al-Shabaka. She received her Masters in Public Policy from Cambridge University as a Harvard-Cambridge scholar. She has conducted strategic policy research for government agencies and NGOs across the Global North and South. Her policy work, writing, and advocacy have been featured in The New York Times, Vox, the LA Times, The Hill, and USA Today, among other outlets.

 Underpin was founded by Halah Ahmad, a progressive policy expert, writer, researcher and strategist whose work has underpinned several local, state, and national policy change efforts across multiple organizations and states. Underpin partners with other researchers, organizers, or media and PR groups to meet the needs of its clients. Uplifting liberation movements and interconnected causes that center dignity and economic justice, Underpin mobilizes strategies of rigorous research, polling, narrative crafting, advocacy, and culture interventions to catalyze progressive wins.

Ahmad draws on particular expertise in narrative change as well as policy design in guaranteed income, public banking, affordable housing, tax credits, foreign policy on Palestine, and immigration. Ahmad previously served as VP for Policy at the Jain Family Institute, a social science research institute based in New York City, and as the US Policy Fellow for the Palestinian policy network Al-Shabaka. She received her Masters in Public Policy from Cambridge University as a Harvard-Cambridge scholar. She has conducted strategic policy research for government agencies and NGOs across the Global North and South. Her policy work, writing, and advocacy have been featured in The New York Times, Vox, the LA Times, The Hill, and USA Today, among other outlets.

 Underpin was founded by Halah Ahmad, a progressive policy expert, writer, researcher and strategist whose work has underpinned several local, state, and national policy change efforts across multiple organizations and states. Underpin partners with other researchers, organizers, or media and PR groups to meet the needs of its clients. Uplifting liberation movements and interconnected causes that center dignity and economic justice, Underpin mobilizes strategies of rigorous research, polling, narrative crafting, advocacy, and culture interventions to catalyze progressive wins.

Ahmad draws on particular expertise in narrative change as well as policy design in guaranteed income, public banking, affordable housing, tax credits, foreign policy on Palestine, and immigration. Ahmad previously served as VP for Policy at the Jain Family Institute, a social science research institute based in New York City, and as the US Policy Fellow for the Palestinian policy network Al-Shabaka. She received her Masters in Public Policy from Cambridge University as a Harvard-Cambridge scholar. She has conducted strategic policy research for government agencies and NGOs across the Global North and South. Her policy work, writing, and advocacy have been featured in The New York Times, Vox, the LA Times, The Hill, and USA Today, among other outlets.

Experience

Experience

Wisconsin “Uninstructed” and “Ceasefire First, Votes Next.”

Leveraged a primary election campaign to push for policy change and a ceasefire in Gaza utilizing careful messaging to a Democratic base. While the strategy yielded a successful vote outcome, more than doubling the target, it was insufficient to produce policy change. We recouped that strategy for a base-building effort by re-engaging impacted communities and supporters in a “pledge” campaign and media strategy. We increased grassroots capacity for electoral engagement, building a base for long-term organizing, and leveraged media to uplift demands for a ceasefire, ensuring the Gaza genocide was not erased from media coverage during the election frenzy.

Wisconsin “Uninstructed” and “Ceasefire First, Votes Next.”

Leveraged a primary election campaign to push for policy change and a ceasefire in Gaza utilizing careful messaging to a Democratic base. While the strategy yielded a successful vote outcome, more than doubling the target, it was insufficient to produce policy change. We recouped that strategy for a base-building effort by re-engaging impacted communities and supporters in a “pledge” campaign and media strategy. We increased grassroots capacity for electoral engagement, building a base for long-term organizing, and leveraged media to uplift demands for a ceasefire, ensuring the Gaza genocide was not erased from media coverage during the election frenzy.

Wisconsin “Uninstructed” and “Ceasefire First, Votes Next.”

Leveraged a primary election campaign to push for policy change and a ceasefire in Gaza utilizing careful messaging to a Democratic base. While the strategy yielded a successful vote outcome, more than doubling the target, it was insufficient to produce policy change. We recouped that strategy for a base-building effort by re-engaging impacted communities and supporters in a “pledge” campaign and media strategy. We increased grassroots capacity for electoral engagement, building a base for long-term organizing, and leveraged media to uplift demands for a ceasefire, ensuring the Gaza genocide was not erased from media coverage during the election frenzy.

Research-driven Consensus Building to Pass Policy: Extending the Colorado Child Tax Credit

In previous work from founder Halah Ahmad, this effort analyzed an already-passed Child Tax Credit in Colorado and its limited impact and implementation relative to its intent, leaving over 65,000 of the lowest-income kids out of a major cash benefit. Political will was not a barrier given a Democratic governor and state senate and assembly. However, unclear obstacles persisted in blocking a more inclusive policy, as political leaders’ perceptions were mired in notions of administrative difficulty, high cost and unsustainability. Through rigorous engagement of key stakeholders and clarification of these barriers with timely analysis and briefings, Ahmad, along with JFI research associate Jack Landry, supported a coalition of cash advocates in effectively passing the policy expansion with the guarantee of support from the governor.

 

Research-driven Consensus Building to Pass Policy: Extending the Colorado Child Tax Credit

This text will be a few-sentence long version of Halah’s bio. It will then also mention that Underpin works toward helping progressive politics through a certain framework/theory of change [anchor linking to that part of the About page]. In the bio, when projects Halah has worked on are mentioned, hyperlinks will link to anchor links on the About page about those projects.

Research-driven Consensus Building to Pass Policy: Extending the Colorado Child Tax Credit

This text will be a few-sentence long version of Halah’s bio. It will then also mention that Underpin works toward helping progressive politics through a certain framework/theory of change [anchor linking to that part of the About page]. In the bio, when projects Halah has worked on are mentioned, hyperlinks will link to anchor links on the About page about those projects.

Narrative change needs in guaranteed income advocacy: Advising a network of foundations focused on dismantling structural and systemic racism

As the political climate for cash assistance or guaranteed income has evolved in recent years, more philanthropic interest exists to solve fundamental narrative change barriers related to social safety net policy writ large. However, organizations focused heavily on implementation of programs, research, or narrow issue advocacy often lose track of their theory of change for shifting narratives and mental models on those policies. We provided an advising session to walk through the components of communications and messaging campaigns, as well as the connection between incremental policy change and narrative change.

Narrative change needs in guaranteed income advocacy: Advising a network of foundations focused on dismantling structural and systemic racism

As the political climate for cash assistance or guaranteed income has evolved in recent years, more philanthropic interest exists to solve fundamental narrative change barriers related to social safety net policy writ large. However, organizations focused heavily on implementation of programs, research, or narrow issue advocacy often lose track of their theory of change for shifting narratives and mental models on those policies. We provided an advising session to walk through the components of communications and messaging campaigns, as well as the connection between incremental policy change and narrative change.

Narrative change needs in guaranteed income advocacy: Advising a network of foundations focused on dismantling structural and systemic racism

As the political climate for cash assistance or guaranteed income has evolved in recent years, more philanthropic interest exists to solve fundamental narrative change barriers related to social safety net policy writ large. However, organizations focused heavily on implementation of programs, research, or narrow issue advocacy often lose track of their theory of change for shifting narratives and mental models on those policies. We provided an advising session to walk through the components of communications and messaging campaigns, as well as the connection between incremental policy change and narrative change.

LA County Report series on public banking

In the case of the Los Angeles Public Bank, through her work at the Jain Family Institute, Ahmad provided a template for meeting nuanced and timely needs of grassroots advocacy efforts. Leveraging the capacity of researchers across two organizations and bringing in practitioner experts, Ahmad oversaw a six-part report series on housing, energy, small-business, and democratic governance possibilities enabled by a publicly-owned municipal financing institution. The series required working closely with advocates in direct conversation with city leaders to provide necessary research and analysis that ultimately enabled the funding of an RFP to develop the public bank’s business plan.

LA County Report series on public banking

In the case of the Los Angeles Public Bank, through her work at the Jain Family Institute, Ahmad provided a template for meeting nuanced and timely needs of grassroots advocacy efforts. Leveraging the capacity of researchers across two organizations and bringing in practitioner experts, Ahmad oversaw a six-part report series on housing, energy, small-business, and democratic governance possibilities enabled by a publicly-owned municipal financing institution. The series required working closely with advocates in direct conversation with city leaders to provide necessary research and analysis that ultimately enabled the funding of an RFP to develop the public bank’s business plan.

LA County Report series on public banking

In the case of the Los Angeles Public Bank, through her work at the Jain Family Institute, Ahmad provided a template for meeting nuanced and timely needs of grassroots advocacy efforts. Leveraging the capacity of researchers across two organizations and bringing in practitioner experts, Ahmad oversaw a six-part report series on housing, energy, small-business, and democratic governance possibilities enabled by a publicly-owned municipal financing institution. The series required working closely with advocates in direct conversation with city leaders to provide necessary research and analysis that ultimately enabled the funding of an RFP to develop the public bank’s business plan.

Underpin poll October 2024

While much polling has been conducted on support for a ceasefire in the past year, several polls on voter sentiments either overlooked specific policy proposals that could move constituents to support candidates for public office, or failed to test messages that could motivate action amid a debilitating political environment, where demobilization and disengagement further threatens progressive movements alongside systemic democratic repression. Underpin conducted a unique poll of strongly pro-Palestine voters in 6 swing states; schedule a call with us to hear more about the results and messaging findings, including on priority progressive issues of reproductive rights, racial justice, and climate justice.

Underpin poll October 2024

While much polling has been conducted on support for a ceasefire in the past year, several polls on voter sentiments either overlooked specific policy proposals that could move constituents to support candidates for public office, or failed to test messages that could motivate action amid a debilitating political environment, where demobilization and disengagement further threatens progressive movements alongside systemic democratic repression. Underpin conducted a unique poll of strongly pro-Palestine voters in 6 swing states; schedule a call with us to hear more about the results and messaging findings, including on priority progressive issues of reproductive rights, racial justice, and climate justice.

Underpin poll October 2024

While much polling has been conducted on support for a ceasefire in the past year, several polls on voter sentiments either overlooked specific policy proposals that could move constituents to support candidates for public office, or failed to test messages that could motivate action amid a debilitating political environment, where demobilization and disengagement further threatens progressive movements alongside systemic democratic repression. Underpin conducted a unique poll of strongly pro-Palestine voters in 6 swing states; schedule a call with us to hear more about the results and messaging findings, including on priority progressive issues of reproductive rights, racial justice, and climate justice.

Our Approach

Our Approach

At Underpin, we prioritize a grassroots-centered progressive approach, focusing on long-term power-building to foster sustainable change.Our mission is to provide values-forward consulting that drives progressive policy change. Our commitment is to support and empower organizations and individuals who are working toward a more equitable and just society. We know that transformative change requires collective action, and we are committed to working closely with progressive movements, clients and partners to both achieve their goals and to help build a more just and equitable society.

Illustration of a globe with picket signs coming out across the world, arrows point outward with labels of types of work underpin supports: research, polling, narrative crafting, organizing strategy, advocacy for progressive wins, cultural interventions and building movement momentum. The top of the image says "where can we underpin and support your work?"

As a BIPOC-led organization, we place historically and systemically disadvantaged groups at the center of our analysis.

At Underpin, we prioritize a grassroots-centered progressive approach, focusing on long-term power-building to foster sustainable change.Our mission is to provide values-forward consulting that drives progressive policy change. Our commitment is to support and empower organizations and individuals who are working towards a more equitable and just society. We know that transformative change requires collective action, and we are committed to working closely with progressive movements, clients and partners to both achieve their goals and to help build a more just and equitable society.

As a BIPOC-led organization, we place historically and systemically disadvantaged groups at the center of our analysis.