Read previewAround the time that Kenneth McQueen received his first guaranteed basic income payment, he started rollerskating. McQueen was a participant in Creative Rebuild New York, a guaranteed basic income pilot for artists across the state. Previous participants have told BI that they used their basic income to pay rent, afford groceries, drop second jobs, pay down debt, and support their families. Basic income improved McQueen's mental health, encouraged entrepreneurshipPrimarily, basic income gave McQueen "peace of mind," he said. AdvertisementMcQueen isn't sure what will happen next, but he's grateful for the way basic income helped his career and mental health.

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Persons: —, Kenneth McQueen, McQueen, — McQueen, Dr, Diana Pearce, Stavros Niarchos, GBI, It's, Maura Cuffie, Peterson, I'm Organizations: Service, Rebuild, Business, Alliance, Creative Rebuild, Mellon Foundation, Tides Center, Ford Foundation, America Locations: Harlem, York, hoodies, tote, New York