Place Based Poverty Intersections and Approaches - Scott Tate

PLACE-BASED POVERTY:INTERSECTIONS & APPROACHES

Dr. Scott Tate Extension Specialist, VCE 

Research Associate, Virginia Tech Institute for Policy and Governance

Poverty as Pressing Public Problem

Place-Poverty Links

Why place/neighborhoods matter?

Problems are “bundled”

Some contributing factors

Structural Impediments

DistancingLow Efficacy

Promising approaches that attempt to address all 3 concerns?

Promising Approaches?

•Turning the Tide on Poverty/(& Circles)

•Neighborhood Identity Projects

•Neighborhood Microenterprise

Crystal Tyler Mackey, Ph.D., Team [email protected]

662-325-3207srdc.msstate.edu/tide

Purpose of the 11-State Project

• Explore the causes of poverty.• Talk about possible solutions.• Select strategies that fit the

community.• Work together for change.

End product:Citizens develop & implement a

Community-Based Action Plan.

How This Project Helps

• Fosters broad community involvement – Everyone is welcome!

• Provides a clear process to help people get involved in meaningful ways.

• Increases personal ownership to the community and to the issue.

• Creates a community partnership in which leadership and citizens join hands in addressing community issues.

Early Outcomes in Virginia (Greensville/Emporia)

Mobile Food Pantry Starts Coming to Town

Community Garden Started

Youth Council Started

Organizations Recognized for New Efforts to Address Poverty – including recognition from Sen. Warner

Weeklong Effort Entitled “Reach Up” held with focus on health issues, leadership development, and youth obesity

Many additional partnerships were formed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW81nvX5Xkc

Circles

• National program that brings together low-income people and middle-class community members who want to work together

Impacts….

www.circlesusa.org

Neighborhood Identity

• Waukesha, Wisconsin

• Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Waukesha – Extension Project

Milwaukee, WI: Walnut Way

Local, Slow, & Steady: Taking small actions that give people a sense of pride in their neighborhood—and

trust in their neighbors

Neighborhood Microenterprise

Minnesota Examples

Virginia example = Richmond

Common Elements from the Approaches?

• Neighborhood Scale• Individuals as Change Agents

• Intensity of Focus• Build social ties• Reduce divides• Link to Resources• Address more than one “problem”

Opportunities & Contact• New River Valley Dialogue on Poverty:

• Saturday, October 19, 9-12 am.

• Neighborhood Development in Roanoke. • Contact Office of Neighborhood Services:

[email protected]

• Feedback, Follow-Up to Me & Connecting with Extension Resources • Scott Tate, [email protected] 540.315.2062