UP3 Comcast Newsmakers interview

Recent interview for Comcast Newsmakers for the Cluster Outreach Center's UP3 Initiative:


 http://comcastnewsmakers.com/2014/10/14/pottstown-cluster/

PCRC Fundraising Dinner UP3 Speech

On Friday evening, October 17, the Cluster held the annual fundraising dinner.  I spoke to the guests to explain in more detail the UP3 Initiative and a copy of my speech is below:

Good evening,

 Two years ago the Cluster outreach center planted a seed; a seed that grows today as the UP3 Initiative, Understanding Poverty to Plan and Persevere, and it needs your continued support for the expansion of its roots to become more meaningful and life sustaining for the Pottstown community. The seed represents the work of Dr. Ruby Payne, an expert in the field of poverty to grow a successful, creative, and unduplicated program in the community with focus on the outreach center’s mission to move individuals from dependence to productive self-sufficiency.  Dr. Ruby Payne’s work focuses on the importance of mutual respect and understanding of people who live in economic poverty, struggling to survive.

Two years ago I became a Bridges out of Poverty certified trainer. Bridges out of Poverty, written by Dr. Payne, provides an understanding to higher-income individuals to bridge the gap struggling to understand the culture of economic poverty such as, and we’ve either heard or wondered - “Why do the poor pay their cable bill and not the rent? Why do they buy steak and seafood with food stamps? Get their nails done? Not get a job?”  And I’m going to ask you to hold that for a minute. 

Bridges out of Poverty uses tools to ultimately grow mutual respect for people who are paralyzed in the “tyranny of the moment.”  “Tyranny of the moment,” is the experience of people living in economic poverty that is focused on simply surviving the pressing needs of today demanding immediate responses and leaving no opportunity to think about tomorrow.  Poverty becomes self-perpetuating, in part, because people cannot get out of crisis mode long enough to plan for the future. 

I am also a co-facilitator for Getting Ahead in a Just Getting By World, a series of 16-workshops to investigate poverty alongside people who are the experts – those living in poverty in Pottstown. Poverty is not defined exclusively as material poverty but also as a “poverty of being.” 

The first exercise within minutes of starting the first workshop, the co-investigators collectively create a Mental Model of Poverty.  Each of the four mental models of poverty that have been drawn, as we are currently in the fourth series of workshops, includes the words Isolated, Worthless, Garbage, Suicidal, Guilty for not providing for my children, Stuck, and Scared, to name a few.  Think for a minute about what that feels like for someone. 

No one chooses or dreams of a life like this.  So let’s go back to the questions of why someone struggles to pay their rent but buys cigarettes, cell phones, and cable – these are all symptoms of a bigger problem, but more importantly a coping mechanism, an escape.  If I can go outside and smoke, I can have a minute.  If I can watch a show or play a game on my phone, I can escape and be immersed in another world.  If I have someone who is interested in me and I feel depressed and unworthy, I am going to hang onto that.  I want to feel better. 

“Poverty of being” is a major part of the brokenness that low-income people experience in their relationship with themselves.  Low-income people often feel they are inferior to others, existing in social isolation with little, if any, meaningful relationships.  Dr. James Comer, an educator once said, “No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship.”  This can paralyze the poor from taking initiative and from seizing opportunities to improve their situation, thereby locking them into material poverty.

Both Bridges and Getting Ahead incorporate the work of Dr. Payne, have a similar focus, and began as the outreach center’s UP3 Initiative – Understanding Poverty to Plan and Persevere for both the community and the individuals living in it.

            The initiative is not a single focus towards people receiving public assistance, struggling to find employment learning to write an acceptable resume or practice interview skills but rather a holistic approach for all members in the community to mend the divide for mutual respect and understanding for the true reality of struggle that exists – and not simply economic poverty resulting from only a person’s behavior and choices.  Poverty is a collective deficit maintained by community conditions, exploitation, and economic/political structures.  In communities where you have a “fair shot” and access to a well-paying job, good education, good healthcare, fair credit, transportation, affordable childcare, and affordable housing, one would have an easier time getting out of poverty.

            For three hours every week for 16 weeks, a group of amazing people come together in a safe space to share a meal, support one another, and think abstractly, as one graduate described, “The group is similar to when I was younger and people would ask what I wanted to be when I grow up… Getting Ahead gave me the opportunity to remember my passion and goals before life happened. I now have goals again and hope to reach stability with the tools and resources learned.”  Getting Ahead breeds hope and nurtures the soul to empower each of the members and graduates to persevere through the obstacles of life knowing they have support through each other and the outreach center.    This is especially true when graduation comes, and no one wants the groups to end. 

UP3 has been described by many as a God-send and with the receipt of applications being submitted for the next group to commence in February, and with your support, we can plant additional seeds to root in the community to continue engagement and empower its members.  I thank each and every one of you for your time in attending tonight to hear the tireless efforts of the Cluster outreach center and of the fresh and innovative Understanding Poverty to Plan and Persevere Initiative.  I am blessed to be a part of the Pottstown community, and more importantly to walk alongside, and empower people who live in economic poverty.  

Thank you!

This afternoon a former graduate of Getting Ahead came into the outreach center on the way home from work.  Lauren was at risk a month ago of becoming homeless with her family due to a  job loss of her recently disabled spouse.  She tirelessly applied for employment but was met with transportation and childcare barriers.  She applied at a local agency for a part-time job and was questioned extensively about her criminal background from years ago when she was much younger.  Lauren attributes her poor choices to craving acceptance and the relationships she built were with people engaging in a reckless lifestyle.  She went for a first, second, and third interview ending with a one-on-one with a local judge working within the agency.  Lauren described this meeting as anxiety inducing but felt confident she presented herself well and answered all questions honestly without hesitation.  A week later, she was offered the position. 

Lauren continues to struggle everyday to get caught up with rent and bills that have accumulated since her husband has no longer been able to work, however the light in her eyes is blinding.  She is  proud, happy, optimistic, and has repeatedly thanked her employer for giving her a chance.  I have no doubt her home is refilled with purpose and hope.  The outreach center is here for our neighbors who need to know someone cares and whose door is open on those dark days.  Lauren is on her own mission in moving from dependence to productive self sufficiency and the Cluster will continue providing regular support to her and her family. 

"I need this."  

School has begun and the fourth group of investigators for the fall/winter session of Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin'-By World commenced on Wednesday, September 3.  8 fabulous, intelligent women living in the Pottstown community are the force behind this group.  During their introductions, many shared attending this group has been the highlight in their lives in the previous week.  The isolation, hopelessness, and the struggle to at least make today a little better, is overwhelming.  Each wants a better life, one especially with more stability, but it eludes them every day from powers beyond their control such as family, community conditions, socioeconomic power, transportation, exploitation, and so on.  Within an hour or two of meeting, one woman proudly proclaimed she has finally met her family, a family with us.  She moved to Pottstown and in this first meeting, she took a deep breath of relief as tears fell from her eyes as she graciously thanked God for giving her a family.  A few of the women shared they have incarcerated children all from drug use and falling into the hands of the wrong crowd.  The heartbreak is palpable amongst these women who have tried unsuccessfully to pry their children from the malignancy of addiction. In the three hours of our first workshop, the women swapped phone numbers and expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to meet weekly through December. 

This is my fourth time facilitating and have not faltered from having the investigators beginning on day 1 solidified as a group with no additions... until today. Today the group grew to 10. 

This morning a woman who had been slated to participate ran breathlessly into the outreach center asking to speak with me.  She was picked up on Wednesday for court, unable to make it back by noon, and ultimately missed the first workshop. "Please?! I need this!"

Another woman called pleading for food after not eating for 3 days and in an unsuccessful attempt to connect with the caseworker, was bounced back to the receptionist when she then stated she was suicidal and can't do this life anymore.  I intercepted the call and immediately had her come to the outreach center to learn her despair is a direct result of her job. The consumer she cares for as a home health aide has been out of town for over a month, leaving her without an income and her food stamp benefits don't replenish until the 9th.  She is alone, knowing no one in Pottstown, and starving; both for food and a friend.  I gave her a synopsis of the workshops and extended a seat for her at the table.  Through exasperation, she accepted the application and will be returning early next week.  Additionally, she assured me she is safe and not in danger of harming herself nor others but struggles with the ups and downs of bipolar disorder that makes her feel "out of her head."  As she left she turned and said, "Thank you, I really need this."

It isn't always about money but rather time, specifically quality time and quality relationships.  In the words of James Comer, "No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship."  Mutual respect and understanding is the foundation of the outreach center's UP3 Initiative. I look forward to sharing the journey as we co-investigate poverty, focus on a future emphasizing stability, and build relationships essential to "getting ahead."