This document discusses engaging communities to reduce poverty through collaboration. It provides four key principles: 1) Poverty reduction requires involvement from many stakeholders, not just individuals. 2) Policies are most effective when citizens from all backgrounds provide input. 3) Community resources should be accessible to all. 4) People are more likely to participate if their needs are considered and they feel acknowledged. Examples are given of successful programs that brought together groups from various backgrounds to solve issues. The document emphasizes starting with what a community is ready for, identifying necessary partners, and using tools like power mapping and dialogue to mobilize more citizens to reduce poverty through concrete actions and policy changes.
Engaging Communities to Reduce Poverty and Build Opportunity
1. Engaging Communities to Reduce Poverty
and Build Opportunity
Julie Keown-Bomar and Nancy Coffey
Eau Claire County
2. Principles and Lessons We Share…
Principle #1 Poverty
reduction is not a
solo act
– How can we engage
more people in
helping people?
– Reach key
stakeholders?
– Engage new
audiences?
Changemakers Summit
Augusta, WI 2008
3. Examples—Horizons Project
The St. James, MN community photo taken at 6
a.m. on July 30, 2008. Part of the Horizons
Project.
St. James
factory
workers, high-
school
students,
business
people,
educators and
civic leaders
have joined
together to
grow
opportunities
for more
people
5. Poverty Awareness for Community Engagement
• PACE - Cooperative Extension -
University of Wisconsin-Extension
6. Principle #2: Policy and programs are more effective and
better informed when citizens from all walks of life help create them
• The secret to success of the program, one St. James leader
said, has been its focus on a "grass roots, not top-down"
approach. Including community members young and old, and
from all walks of life, has been key as well.
• "It's about getting people together to solve their own issues,"
she says. "Once you do, magic happens."
7. Principle #3: Community resources should be made
known to all that could use them
• Resource directories, warm lines, 2-1-1
• Collaboration
• Breaking down the barriers
• Staying informed
8. Principle #4
People will participate if their needs are accommodated,
they are acknowledged and listened to
• Encouragement and affirmation
• Break down the barriers (childcare, time
of day, stuffiness, asking for money, etc)
• Inclusivity
• Relationships
Ideas
•Language /framework is
important
•Dialog tools: World Café,
sharing experiences, local
perspectives
•One to one dialogue for
relationship building
9. Success!
• What success have you had…
– Breaking down barriers?
– Building community resources?
– Getting people from all walks of life to work
together?
10. Four Solutions for Communities
• Increasing awareness and discussion
about poverty
• Expanding the number of residents in
the community helping people who
are struggling to make ends meet
• Mobilizing toward concrete actions to
reduce poverty
• Creating policy change strategies to
reduce poverty
11. Developing An Effective Plan
• What is the community ready for?
• What are the necessary steps?
• Who are the necessary partners?
17. Who Should We Get Involved And How?
• Power Mapping
– activity
• One on One Dialogue To Discover Self-
Interest and Passion
– activity
• People of Low Income
• Media
18. Results in Eau Claire Area
• 95% of the participants “felt their voice
was heard” during the summit process
• 89% indicated the summit worked to
engage them in impacting poverty
• Concrete tools developed to assist
people
• More depth and breadth of people
working on poverty reduction
• Blueprint and action steps developing
19. El Centro de Conexión de Chippewa
Valley
•Power mapping
•World Café
•One on ones
•Celebrations
Welcome to Public Achievement
