Fighting Poverty-Repost

The article below, referenced earlier this month, provides excellent points for reflection as we strive to help adults and their families move out of poverty. Read comments, which follow Reder's views, by "our own David Rosen on the issue,

As you read, please comment briefly, providing one example of how you implement new ways to accomplish the task before us!

Adult Basic Skills Programs: A Crucial Tool in Fighting Poverty, By Stephen Reder, Portland State University - "Innovative programs in both the public and nonprofit private sectors are exploring new ways to help adults, families, and communities move out of poverty. These include training and support for goal-setting, financial planning, “assertive engagement” in family stabilization, building “executive function” skills, family independence in economic development, and other innovations in life management."

Leecy

 

Comments

Leecy, I looked at the articles in the website, and particularly liked the one about people growing vegetables and trading with others in the neighborhood.

I believe that producers' and consumers' cooperatives, in general, are the best way to fight poverty. They can be simple partnerships all the way up to medium sized businesses. Often in poor communities there is an "underground" economy so that I, for example, can get a haircut from a neighbor, buy imported coffee that supports a coffee co-op in Nicaragua, and also donates some of the profits to clinics there, teach some English classes in people's homes, find someone to get me some groceries, etc. Swap meets are good examples of "grass-roots" enterprise. 

Anyway, I also think that this topic is worth incorporating into an ESL class, for example, and then seeking ways to help people initiate their own project.

Here is some information on the subject: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooperatives

http://www.fii.org/

The American idea of the “self-made man” is little more than a myth. In actuality, we all rely on a network of friends, family, and available resources to move ahead.

The Nuñez and Rodriguez families, based in East Oakland, California, know this first-hand. Through My Familia, a group they formed via the Family Independence Initiative (FII), they have started trading home-grown, seasonal fruits and vegetables with neighbors as a way to get to know them better, build a friendlier community, and make sure no food goes to waste.

“My dad always liked to grow vegetables in his back yard,” Diego Rodriguez says. “He has apple trees, an avocado tree, plums, lemons, onions, garlic; it’s his hobby. He always gives away whole bags of fruits and veggies to family members who come to visit. So I thought, ‘Why not give some to our neighbors, too?’”

The idea took off quickly. Many of the families who’ve received excess crops from My Familia are now following their example and trading or gifting their own produce to other neighbors.

“Some have fruit trees at home but don’t take advantage of them,” he says. “This gives them an opportunity to reconnect to food that’s literally growing for free in their own backyards. It’s also become a way to get to know our neighbors better. Many of them we only knew by face.”

FII knows that families working together come up with the most sustainable and relevant solutions for themselves and their communities. My Familia exemplifies this belief.

 

Paul