Great Poverty Organizations

There are many great organizations around the US that are working to try to alleviate poverty or provide assistance to those as they struggle to rise above that line.  These are a few examples that are either nationally known or recognized in the field.  I figured this would be a good way to end the week, on a positive note of what is being done.  I hope this has provided some new information, new resources, and new conversations in your life leading into the holiday season.

Some outstanding organizations include:

Mercy Corps NW

"Mercy Corps Northwest programs work to increase economic self-sufficiency and community integration through microenterprise development and self-employment. We assist low-income current and aspiring small-business owners throughout Oregon and Washington in order to reduce unemployment, grow personal incomes and assets, and increase economic growth."

Why am I impressed?

Until very recently I was unaware of MCNW.  MCNW's programs focus on asset poverty reduction.  They provide small business loans but also provide educational opportunities.  I have great respect for programs that provide individuals with the tools they need to improve their own situation.  Since many of my readers are in the NW, I wanted to include a program that is locally based.

Harlem Children’s Zone

"Called "one of the most ambitious social-service experiments of our time," by The New York Times, the Harlem Children's Zone Project is a unique, holistic approach to rebuilding a community so that its children can stay on track through college and go on to the job market.

The goal is to create a "tipping point" in the neighborhood so that children are surrounded by an enriching environment of college-oriented peers and supportive adults, a counterweight to "the street" and a toxic popular culture that glorifies misogyny and anti-social behavior."

Why am I impressed?
In the field of poverty alleviation, I think it is fair to say this is one of the most well-known and respected programs.  They attempt to provide wrap around services.  Engaging the children at all levels of education and also providing family support, all within a specific geographic area.  There are two kinds of programs that seem to be most effective. Either those that specialize in one piece and do that really well or those that provide researched and supported wrap around services to a manageable cohort. 

DC Central Kitchen

"Through job training, healthy food distribution, and local farm partnerships, DC Central Kitchen offers path-breaking solutions to poverty, hunger, and poor health.


Since our founding in 1989, DC Central Kitchen has prepared 25 million meals for our low-income and at-risk neighbors in Washington, DC. That’s a lot of meals – but don’t mistake us for a soup kitchen."

Why am I impressed?

The DC Central Kitchen model is one many hope to replicate/have tried to replicate in other areas.  Though the main focus is providing job training for competitive, well-paying jobs, the side effect is feeding people.  It is a great example of a non-profit organization that has a for-profit arm to help cover costs making them self sustaining.  Many organizations struggle with sustainability depending on the generosity of others, while DC Central Kitchen caters 'classy' events covering many of their operating costs.

Feeding America

"Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity. Our mission is to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger."

Why am I impressed?

Feeding America backs more than 200 food banks around the US.  I am a huge advocate for food banks in general because they often do provide the additional support someone needs to stretch a small paycheck a little bit further.  You can probably find a food bank or food closet in your area by googling or checking at local churches - if you are looking for a way to get involved.

Habitat for Humanity

"We are a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian ministry founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live. We build with people in need regardless of race or religion. We welcome volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds."

Why am I impressed?

Housing is incredibly crucial to rise out of poverty.  I have worked to coordinate volunteers for Habitat, built with Habitat, met their founder, and known folks that moved into Habitat homes.  Not only do I respect what they do and the approach of including those benefiting in the process, Habitat brings together those that want to help and those that need assistance.  That connection is, I think, also incredibly important.  A friend of mine is involved with helping coordinate a build here in Oregon, if you want to get involved.  It will benefit a refugee family from Somalia that is now living in Oregon.

What can we do about it?

For those of us that are not currently struggling with economic poverty, how do we engage this issue and work so our society better serves the economically vulnerable, those in asset poverty, and those living below the poverty line?   

Before offering some of these suggestions for what we can do on a day to day basis, I do want to acknowledge directly, these are very complex issues.  I have not addressed many issues that can exacerbate economic poverty such as mental health/disabilities, veteran status, homelessness, institutional racism, drug/alcohol abuse (which could fall under mental health), criminal record, domestic violence, and I am sure a huge number of other issues I am not thinking of at the moment.  The idea is simply to increase some general awareness and start to think about the issue.  These are my opinions, those from my studies, and from friends living below the poverty line.  

So on that note, what can we do on a daily basis?

• Be aware of not speaking too harshly of those struggling to get out of poverty, “welfare mom” or “lazy bum” are just a few examples that come to mind.  It is impossible for any of us to ever fully understand what another is going through, so let's give each other the benefit of the doubt.

• Try to be aware of our own wants versus needs.  Sure, we may want that $6.00 box of cereal but what if we opt for oatmeal for a week and use the difference to buy a nutritious box of cereal for our local food bank.

• When donating food, donate what we would eat.  Don’t give away that expired can of disgusting cream of mushroom, if we are eating organic vegetable beef – why not donate a can of that?  Sure, Ramen is cheap, but what is the nutritional value?

• Money votes.  Spend money at locations that we know pay a living wage and support local businesses that are employing folks in our area trying to rise above the poverty line.

• If you are ‘the boss,’  be understanding of your entry level staff who may be living on the edge.  If you are making minimum wage, finding a babysitter who will watch your sick kid that is home from school may cost you more than you make in that same time period.

• Volunteer!  There are many great organizations that try to provide lasting poverty alleviation programs in every community – food banks are a great start.  Especially January through March, when the holiday giving has passed, many of these places could use your time and talent. 

• Seek opportunities to connect with those living in a different economic situation, whether through volunteer efforts or church involvements; be open to meeting and hearing from people who struggle to meet their daily needs.  Don’t go to ‘save’ but to learn, meet, and walk alongside.   

• To some degree, the deep divide between the ‘have’s and the ‘have not’s in our society enables that imbalance to continue to exist.  Look on the other side of the tracks, freeway, or that street that many of us are told not to cross.  We all share more similarities than differences and once we acknowledge that, perhaps we can better work together to all enjoy a higher standard of life. 

• Continue learning about poverty issues and remain educated on challenges those living in poverty face.

These are some suggestions I have received from others and/or read/seen:
Nickeled and Dimed (Book)
Skip Row (Movie - available on netflix)
There Are No Children Here (Book)

Fresh (Movie)
Menace II Society (Movie)
Amazing Grace (Book)
Rachel and Her Children (Book)
Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools (Book)
The Working Poor (Book)
Taking the Initiative (TV)

Poverty by the Numbers

So far this week, we have talked about a lot of 'fluffy stuff.'  Not a lot of hard stats and data.  So, for all you data-heads out there, I am going to try to give you something to mull over.

This graph is one of the more poignant examples of wealth I have recently seen.  To get a better understanding of asset poverty, the top ten people might be ok or have something saved for a rainy day.  The bottom 90 would be in some serious trouble without a social safety net when an unexpected expense arises.

By race, there are more White, not Hispanic people living below the poverty line than Hispanic, Black, or Asian (according to both the 2010 and 2011 census data), however, statistically both Blacks and Hispanics are almost three times as likely to live in poverty than Whites.  How does that work?  There are currently more whites in the United States than the other groups.  Only 9.9% (2010) and 9.8% (2011) of Whites lived below the poverty line.  As opposed to: 27.4% (2010) and 27.6% (2011) of Blacks, 12.2% (2010) and 12.3% (2011) of Asians, 26.5% (2010) and 25.3% (2011) of Hispanics.

As The Line mentioned, approximately 1 in 4 children age six and younger live below the poverty line.  71% of households that receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) - food stamps- have children.  So, what does that mean?  Approximately $4/person/day for food.  If you haven't done this before, there is a great food stamp challenge program that gives you the opportunity to try to live for one week (or month if you are an over achiever) on that income.  I encourage you to monitor how this effects the kind of food you can afford, the amount of food, the nutrition content of that food, and the time it takes to prepare these meals.  Since so many low-income individuals work multiple jobs to try to make ends meet, or use public transportation which cuts into free time, would we actually have time to prepare meals with the limited food budget and limited time?  On the topic of time, feel free to take a gander at the SNAP/Benefit application for Oregon.

For another visual, let's say, I am a single person with a child making minimum wage.  My yearly income would be $13,920 (poverty line for two people is $15,130).  $786 of that would go to FICA.  My income would be low enough to qualify for food stamps,   hopefully the maximum two people, giving me and mini-me $56/week for food.  Let's assume, I am still proportionally spending the same amount on housing/utilities that I spend now, that would mean half of my income would go to housing.  So, $547/month.  That would probably not include utilities - an additional $100 if I wanted internet.  That leaves me with $5,367 or $447/month for everything else.  Where I live in Maryland, assuming I still don't have a car, I would spend approximately $300/month on transportation for me and my hypothetical child (even with a car, insurance, car payment, gas would likely be more than that). So, $147 for everything else for the month - clothes, shoes, health expenses, toilet paper, hygiene items, kid expenses, childcare, and anything else...

Hopefully, these numbers help us all to better see some of the challenges that come from living below the poverty line.  I know as I was calculating out the above scenario, I was floored how quickly the money disappeared.  For just me, I could probably make that work assuming nothing medical-wise occurred, but you factor in a second person and it quickly becomes miracle working.

My Social Safety Net

During this past election, the issue of a social safety net was discussed more than I can remember in recent history - largely because healthcare is now also being wrapped up in this category.  For many of us, this is something we never directly encounter - never needing assistance to feed ourselves and our families or for housing or to make electricity payments or even to assist with healthcare.  While I have never utilized any of the government sponsored social safety net programs, I feel like I have truly utilized my own private safety net this year - it kept me from splatting on the ground like a bug on a car's windshield.

For me, this has better helped me to understand the importance of these programs.  For those who were not born as lucky as I, to have family and friends who are able and willing to step up when I am in need, these programs are crucial - to keep one from sliding further into the poverty they are struggling to overcome.

According to the federal poverty threshold, I fall below the poverty line.  That is less than $11,170 for a single person or $23,050 for a family of four for 2012.  To give some context, to qualify for SNAP (food stamps), a household must fall under 130% of the poverty threshold.

Another concept I have recently encountered is Asset Poverty.  Basically, this means not having enough wealth to cover three months of expenses (if all income were to stop).

So, using my life as an example, for all technical purposes, I am living on the edge.  I spend more than 30% of my income on rent - meaning I do not have affordable housing - (one indicator people use) and my income places me as poor.  One of the top reasons people fall into poverty is health related - illness or injuries often lead to huge unplanned costs that can push a person barely making ends meet over the edge.  There are a few things that I can say have kept me from falling off that edge that I dance along.

1) I am not asset poor.  I was raised by a parents that value and emphasize the importance of saving.  When I am making money, I do my best to put some away for a rainy day.  And, except for plane tickets, I don't spend huge amounts of money - not a lot goes to going out, food, drink, clothing, gadgets, etc.  These are things for which I can personally take responsibility, but, there are also many factors contributing to asset poverty not directly within one's control.

I have been lucky enough to have been supported by my parents until I was 22ish.  This meant I could save.  Many people living on the edge, or entrenched in generational poverty do not share this luxury.  Their incomes, from a young age, went to support the family or meeting basic needs or still have to provide for extended family members.  If someone has ever had a run-in with the law, (s)he may also be paying off fines - cutting into his/her savings.  Others are paying off school debt.  If someone has children, that is a huge expense that prevents a building of wealth.  These are just a few of the challenges.

2) Most important in my safety net, I have had health insurance.  I will spend approximately $900 on health related expenses this year.  This includes co-pays for preventative check-ups, dentist, vision, etc. and the many expenses related to my broken foot (hospital, x-rays, five orthopedic appointments, five weeks of P.T.).  Had I not still been covered by my father's insurance, I would have had to pay at least $7,000 for all of these services.  Whether you agree with the Affordable Care Act or not, I can tell you it saved me from spending a huge part of my savings on unexpected and preventative health services.  I would have quickly become asset poor or had to sacrifice some piece of this potentially jeopardizing long-term healing.  This, again, is something I lucked into.  I have a parent with amazing health insurance - a privilege many folks do not possess.  I was young enough to stay on that insurance, with the changes to the laws.  And, thankfully, my broken foot came before I aged off.  Many, many college friends of mine have struggled to find employment with the economy as it is and this one change has kept droves of us for falling off financial cliffs.  For those without health insurance, it is fairly clear the kind of challenges these expenses could trigger.

3) I had parents that would take me in while I recovered from my recent injury and provide me with housing, food, and transportation (I also had amazing friends that provided me with transportation in DC area).  In terms of housing and food, making up approximately 50% of my expenses on any given month, having these covered while I was not working made a huge difference to plug the drain.  For those stuck in low income jobs or struggling to rise out of poverty, the many support programs that supplement/off-set these costs can truly make a huge difference.

4) Transportation, though not really within the social safety net, this was huge for my private safety net and can have a devastating impact on people's ability to maintain employment and meet challenges.  It is something I never would have considered in such detail pre-injury.  I commute on a bike or a combination of walking/public transportation - this is a fairly typical way to get around for low-income city dwellers.  That walk is .5 miles to the bus or 1.2 miles to the metro.  After breaking my foot, I have never felt more trapped.  That was a trek on crutches.  I had to rely on others to drive me to/from my doctors' appointments - without my private safety net, I would have incurred huge taxi fares.  As I was in the process of applying to and trying to find a new job, my short-term contract was ending, my prospects were suddenly severely limited because of transportation.

Now imagine you are disabled or injured or working 12+ hour, physically demanding days and then having to make the public transportation + walking commute.  This challenge limits where you can work, when you can work, etc.  Or, hypothetically, imagine a super storm hits and knocks out those means of transportation - low income jobs are the least likely to shut down when storms hit because these are your restaurants, stores, gas stations, 24-7 factories, etc. but those workers are the most likely to rely on public transportation, see the problem here?

5) Mental support is the last piece a social safety net really can provide.  Offering counseling or other emotional supports are key to everyone of us.  I would in no way have weathered my injury (or any challenge in my life) without the extensive support of my parents, roommates, family and friends - both literal support and emails/messages/cheers.  For those taking the first steps out of poverty or living on the edge support is key.  This is a challenging and exhausting path.  Often times those living in poverty are surrounded by others in the same situation and at times simply try to accept their situation because they do not see an alternative.  When struggling to feed yourself or keep a roof over your head, it is hard to notice a friend who needs to talk or who could use a helping hand.  Especially, in our individualistic society where we tend to have the 'I'll do it myself' mentality, asking for that hand is a smack to our pride and self-esteem.  But, if delivered correctly those social safety net supports can provide dignified support that allows us to not slide off that edge and to see there is a bridge just a few feet down.

My hope is, with all you have already read over the past few days, and my personal experiences you can see how the social safety net is crucial to support those in our community who were not lucky enough to be born with a private safety net or whose private net has been mangled and torn and no longer is able to catch them when they fall.  Truly, had my cards been drawn in a slightly different order, I may have been in a drastically different place in this very moment.

Reflections on Poverty

After watching The Line and playing Spent (the interactive game), there is so much information on which we could reflect.  I am going to make an attempt at pulling out some of the statistics and situations that arose in these two blogs.  Did these help you to rethink some of your stereotypes?  John definitely stood out to me, as his falling below the line is the example most within my reality.

The first idea that comes to mind is the idea of choice.  I think both The Line and the game illustrate how poverty takes away our choices.  For example, I would never think I would be the person who hits a parked car and drives away but when doing the activity and that happened, with $125 in my bank account, did I really have a choice?  When we are financially secure, with a strong support system, a good education, good job, no fear of discrimination, we really do have far more choices open to us.  Something, I know I often take for granted.  I think it also allows us to at times be more critical of those struggling in poverty, because we don't realize that what seems like a choice to us, is not really a choice.

"Poor people are just lazy."  We have all heard this, maybe some of us have said it.  The statistic in The Line, "7 million Americans are working two jobs just to make ends meet" debunks that statement fairly quickly.  That kind of schedule is definitely not one of a person who is averse or disinclined to work.  Additionally, let's look at low-wage jobs.  Restaurant work - this is hard on the body and in many states, a large part of income is dependent on tips(so workers have to be upbeat, personable, and great at customer service).  Human services jobs, such as childcare or senior care, are also often staffed by low-wage workers, again we are talking hours on your feet in an exhausting work environment.  Public transportation employees (have you ever paid attention to how these folks are treated). Waste Management, Construction, Store Clerks, Landscape folks, Gas Station Attendants, I could go on and on naming positions.  This makes my desk job seem so relaxing, yes, those have their own challenges, but they are not nearly as physically demanding.  Try one of these jobs for a day and see how you are feeling by the end. There is a great mini-documentary by Morgan Spurlock (the first episode of his show 30 days),  on being a low-wage worker/living on minimum wage.  If you can track down a copy of it, I highly recommend this show- unfortunately, it is no longer on Netflix.  Low-wage workers are often folks that are invisible in our society.  For the next week, we should all try to be conscientious of when we are interacting with these low-wage workers and appreciate the work they put in, not only to support their families but to keep our society functioning.

This one really hit me.  As I sat, doing the interactive activity on the internet.... 44% of people living under the poverty line visit the local library to go online.  Definitely take that one for granted.  To find support resources, find jobs, fill out job applications, find bus schedules, find doctors, think how much of that is online. Many entry level service jobs say, "Just fill-out our application online." When was the last time you saw a phone book?  Taking this a step further, how many teachers, even in elementary and middle school require students to write papers, do projects, or conduct research online.  Those of us with internet in our homes assume that everyone has a home computer with internet, that is an additional barrier that really has only existed for the last 10-15 years.  Just a bit of food for thought!  Please feel free to use the comments section to discuss or take note of concepts that struck you!

Living in Poverty

As the quote goes: "Until you walk a mile in another man's moccasins, you can't imagine the smell."

Many of us may have never lived in economic poverty and some of the decisions that must be made on a daily basis are things which we have never considered.  To attempt to experience what that is like, I encourage you to try playing this game. 

At the end of the game, the organization that created it asks for a donation.  I know nothing about this organization and am not endorsing them, but I have great respect for this activity.  As in life, this is just one example, as we know from the video yesterday, those struggling with economic poverty each face different and unique challenges, but this illustrates some of the recurring trends.

The Face of Poverty in the USA

In the United States, there are certain stereotypes about who lives in economic poverty.  I would like to think that myths about the economically poor being lazy or of a certain race, ethnicity, or religious belief are being debunked.  One of the best examples I have seen, that gives a good perspective of the diversity of those living in economic poverty in the US is this movie called The Line.

I think this a great way for us all to begin our week of reflection on poverty in the United States, and I hope this is as eye-opening for you as it was for me.

Black Friday Basics

Black Friday.  The biggest shopping day of the year.  Why sit back and take the weekend to enjoy your family and friends and think about all you have to be thankful for this year?  Especially, when there are such great deals, on such important items, starting as early as 8pm on Thanksgiving Day...  Insert cynical, sarcastic voice. ;)

I think this song is worth a listen (music video is a bit strange, so maybe look at a picture of a loved one while you listen). 

We put so much pressure on ourselves and others to always have more, better, faster, etc.  Why not 'pay with love' to show your appreciation for those in your life this holiday seaseon? 

I have shared this on my blog before, but, this holiday season, whether you are Christian or not (or somewhere in between), let's take back this season. Advent Conspiracy is a great movement to re-focus our pre-holiday activities.

And, if alternative gifts of time are not going to work for you, but you are looking for holiday gifts that do more good than harm, try some of these places out:
(If you hit CTRL+F, you can search for a specific item ie. food, coffee, chocolate, clothes, toys) 

*Ten Thousand Villages
Sells:
Accessories, Jewelry, Holiday items, Home Decor, Personal Care, Toys, Games, Plant and Garden, Stationery
-All items are fair trade and sourced from their producers.  They also do shopping days to support local non-profit organizations, where part of the total income is donated to a worthy cause, so they are great local supporters.

*Global Mama's
Sells:
Men/Women/Kid Clothing, Pet items, Accessories, Skin Care items, Books, Recycled items
- I was able to visit Global Mama's while in Ghana and meet some of these women, definitely a worthy cause to support.  All products are Fair Trade.

SERVV
Sells: Jewelry, Accessories, Kitchen, Home Decor, Food, Holiday, Eco-Friendly items
- This was a recommendation from a friend last time I did this type of blog post.

Friends of the Orphans
Christmas cards (or symbolic gifts)
- Another great organization.  This link is specifically for the holiday cards, but you can also make donations as a symbolic gift for your loved one.

Trade as One
Clothing, Food, Drink, Jewelry, Stationary, Journals, Bags, House and home goods, Sports, Toys, Health and Beauty
-This group has many practical everyday items that are made in a just manner. I especially took note of the soccer balls which are notoriously made in abusive work environments because the sewing of stitches is best done by small child hands.

*Fair Indigo
Sells:
Men/Women/Kid Clothing, Accessories, Jewelry, Stuffed animals, Holiday items, Home items, Bath and Body, Made in USA
- I have shoes and a sweater from this place and they are amazing. All their clothing is of very high quality.



Threads for Thought
Sells:
Clothing
- Sustainable clothing

*Maggie's
Sells:
Clothing
- Organic, ethical, sustainable clothing

Indigenous
Sells: Clothing
- Organic, Green, Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade Clothing

Better World Books
Sells:
Books
-Part of the profits here go world literacy efforts

*El Castillo del Cacao
Sells:
CHOCOLATE
- This place is in Nicaragua. The chocolate is good and the factory supports sustainable development (I was supposed to visit it while there but it fell through, still should support)

*Cafe Campesino
Sells:
COFFEE, Tea, Mate
-These folks sell Nicaraguan Coffee from some of the places I went to :)

*Esperanza en Accion (Hope in Action)
Sells:
Artisan Crafts and home goods
-I visited this place in Nicaragua. They are doing a lot to empower individuals to provide for themselves and creating jobs in a country that has EXTREME unemployment.

*Koinonia Store
Sells:
Pecans, Chocolate, Coffee, Other Food items, Crafts, Books
- This is a communal living farm that I stayed at for a few days a couple of years ago. The founder of Habitat for Humanity lived there. They are in GA and all about working for peace and justice. The chocolate pecan stuff is AMAZING :)

*TASSATAG
Sells:
Luggage Tags
-This organization works to stop human trafficking. I did research with a partner organization my sophomore year of college.

Amnesty International
Sells:
Clothing, Accessories, Books, Toys, Games, Calendars, Planners, Movies, Music
-Profit benefits Amnesty Internationals human rights campaigns


Alternative/Symbolic Gifts:

*Mercy Corps
Feed a child,buy a goat, launch a female entrepreneur - any of these symbolic gifts will support the life changing work of Mercy Corps.

*Donors Choose
Support great teachers' efforts to make big impacts on their students lives.  You can choose the age group, the kind of program, and then donate for a bookshelf for a reading program or art supplies - just to name a few examples.

**Engage Globally
Donate to support clean water, education, or vocational training for communities in Ghana, West Africa.


*Oxfam
You can help individuals in developing countries finance a business or get medical care or whatever your gift receiver is interested in, you can find a gift that will be meaningful to them. Buy a chocolate lover "helping someone else start a chocolate growing business" or the sports lover "sports equipment for kids in a developing country."

Heifer International
You can buy animals for individuals living in third world countries to help them feed their families or communities as well as establish subsistence farming methods.


These are just a small number of socially conscious shopping options.  Please feel free to share others in the comment section or ask if there is something specific you are looking to purchase.

*I have personally had experiences with these
** This is the NGO I helped launch this past summer. 

An Advent of Awareness

In Christianity, the period leading up to Christmas is Advent.  It is meant to be a time to prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas.  Growing up, Advent was a time to give up sweets or chocolate or being mean to my siblings - basically something to make me a better, more holy person.  Recently, I have tried each Advent to bring greater awareness or understanding to my life during that time, this is also a way to help me focus on 'the reason for the season.'  About a month ago, while thinking about what this advent would hold, I found myself listening to and reflecting on this song.  It is worth watching the music video as well (Thanks Lacey for introducing me to this song).

This made me think of various vulnerable populations in our world and the challenges they face.  Christmas is Jesus's birthday.  He came into this world born to an economically poor, immigrant family.  His very birth would have brought great scorn to his mother and her family, since she was unmarried when she got pregnant.  He continued to live his entire life with the outcasts of society and those that were vulnerable to ridicule - among other things.

In light of all of these reflections, I decided this Advent, I will focus on a different vulnerable population or social justice issue each week - some of these have been getting significant news coverage recently.  From my perspective, the first step in addressing some of these HUGE challenges is to be aware of them.  As a relational person, this is my invitation to you, to join me on this Advent Adventure.  I plan to make blogging my daily priority and will post from Nov. 24 - Dec. 22.  The four issues I will be addressing will be: Domestic Poverty, Global Water, Global Women's Education, and Domestic Immigration.  I hope to provide video links, interactive activities, personal experiences/reflections, statistics, and solutions/ways to get involved.  Each Saturday, I will send the link/introduction to the new topic.  If you would like daily reminders when the new blog is up, you need to let me know/opt in to that notification.  And, if you know others that would like to join our Advent Adventure, send me their emails and I will add them to the mailing list.

Here's to an Advent of Awareness!  The coming of greater knowledge.