Date: 07/27/2009

Final
Understanding Poverty Presentation

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY POVERTY REDUCTION TASK FORCE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
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10:37 AM -- Understanding Poverty Presentation

Ms. Jennifer Sorensen, Adult Services Division Director, Ms. Michelle Trujillo, Self Sufficiency Division Director, Ms. Christie Higgins, Adult Services Senior Case Manager, and Ms. Deb Eiseman, Child Welfare Services Supervisor, all of Mesa County, made a presentation based on Ruby Payne's "Bridges Out of Poverty." Ms. Eiseman introduced the principles of Bridges Out of Poverty, and explained the process by which the program is utilized in Mesa County. Ms. Trujillo explained the goals of the program, and reviewed the program's key points in moving people out of poverty.


10:49 AM

Ms. Trujillo continued to review the key points of the Bridges Out of Poverty program. Ms. Sorensen continued discussing the program's key points, including the importance of relationship building in combatting poverty. A dialogue ensued among the presenters and the task force on the Great Depression's impact on the people that lived through it.


10:59 AM

Dialogue continued regarding the impact of the Great Depression. Ms. Sorensen then opened up a dialogue with the committee on the topic of multi-generational poverty, and the experiences of those trapped in a cycle of poverty. Ms. Sorensen responded to questions regarding barriers that now exist to coping with poverty that did not exist in past eras, and solutions for helping the impoverished without using additional public resources.


11:12 AM

Ms. Sorensen discussed the habits, resources, and institutions that contribute to maintaining middle- and upper-class lifestyles. Discussion ensued regarding prospects for bringing together people from differing economic classes to help alleviate poverty. Ms. Trujillo and Ms. Higgins returned the presentation to the key points of the Bridges Out of Poverty program, including the burdens of the "hidden rules" of poverty.


11:22 AM

Ms. Higgins continued presenting the key points of the program, including differences in the decision-making processes among the economic classes. Discussion ensued regarding the impact of the current economic downturn on the decision-making processes of middle-class persons as compared to low-income persons. Discussion followed regarding how long multi-generational poverty has existed. Ms. Higgins returned to discussing differing habits among the economic classes. Ms. Eiseman turned the presentation to the resources available to different classes.


11:33 AM

Ms. Eiseman continued discussing the different types of resources available to persons with different socioeconomic backgrounds, and certain thought processes present among low-income individuals. Ms. Eiseman responded to questions regarding the ability of individuals trapped in a cycle of poverty to set goals and plan ahead.


11:43 AM

Discussion continued regarding the ability of the impoverished to plan for the future. Discussion turned to the concept of self-sabotage. Ms. Sorensen responded to questions regarding the prevalence of the Bridges Out of Poverty program, and how the program can be made available in other forums. Representative Kagan discussed an instance where a lower-income individual engaged in a form of self-sabotage.


11:55 AM

Ms. Tracey Stewart, representing the CBMS Coalition and the Colorado Center on Law and Poverty, provided information on the scheduled luncheon.


11:57 AM

The task force recessed.