In 2003, Clark County began to lay the foundation for an anti-poverty movement. The Bridges Out of Poverty initiative has started the work of communicating across socio-economic and racial lines. The ability to teach middle class citizens and workers the hidden rules of poverty and the casual register helps to open minds to the culture of poverty. Through the Getting Ahead Curriculum those families that are motivated to move out of poverty begin to explore the framework for poverty in their community. Mental models for poverty are developed, the hidden rules of the middle class are explored and the difference between casual and formal register are discussed. Once a community begins to develop “bi-lingual” populations, both speaking and honoring the hidden rules of poverty and middle-class, the community can begin to embrace the societal structures that are keeping people in poverty.
To date, there are over 1500 middle-class people in Clark County that have been trained in the Introduction to Bridges Out of Poverty and 24 families in poverty have taken the Getting Ahead training. A Steering Committee of community leaders has been meeting for almost 4 years and a lawyer has been hired to litigate predatory lending cases. Just as the training phase was beginning to slow down, the action phase has begun. Circles is a way to take the theory of Bridges and put it into action with families wanting to escape poverty.
Think Tank, Inc. offers a 1-day Bridges Out of Poverty training for interested parties in Clark County, OH four times a year. For other organizations in Southwest Ohio who are interested in hosting a training locally, please contact Marlo Fox at Think Tank for pricing and training arrangements. Think Tank will come to your location or community and offer a customized Bridges Out of Poverty 1-day training for you and your partners.
For more information on Bridges Out of Poverty or aha!Process please visit www.ahaprocess.com
To schedule a training in your community contact marlo@thinktank-inc.org
Upcoming Training Dates!
April 30, 2008 9-3 held at Clark County DJFS
June 11, 2008 9-3 held at Clark County DJFS
September 30 - October 1, 2008 5:30-8:30 p.m. Location TBA
Cost $30 for Clark County Residents/Businesses
(Includes Book and Snacks)
For more information contact Ellen Waild at ellen@thinktank-inc.org or download registation form and fax to 937.399.0746
