|
We want to hear about your experiences in the Buffalo Poverty Challenge. If you participated last year and/or plan to participate this year, tell us your thoughts, send us photos, and share insights.
|
|
Why I'm taking the Poverty Challenge |
 |
 |
 |
|
Monday, 01 June 2009 12:18 |
|
 Aaron Bartley
Executive Director
People United for Sustainable Housing, Inc. (PUSH Buffalo)
Q. Why are you taking the Poverty Challenge?
"Poverty and the lack of living wage jobs are the biggest challenges facing Buffalo. The poverty challenge has brought attention to disparities in our community in years past and I'm eager to contribute to raising consciousness this year. The effects of Buffalo's sky-high poverty rate are not confined to low-income neighborhoods. We all suffer economically and socially when our community is divided so rigidly.
On a personal note, I think I will grow from this experience in ways that I may not be able to anticipate." |
|
Monday, 01 June 2009 10:04 |
|
 Kenneth Turner
Senior Director
American Red Cross
Q. Why take the challenge?
“To better understand the choices that individuals and families make. “ |
|
Why I am taking the Poverty Challenge |
|
|
|
|
Monday, 01 June 2009 09:45 |
|
 Sr. Sharon Goodremote, FSSJ
Public Policy Coordinator
Catholic Charities
Q. Why are you taking the Poverty Challenge?
"Personally and within my faith tradition, there is a calling to have a preferential option for those who live in poverty. I believe taking the Poverty Challenge will help me to be strengthened in the need to advocate for a just society so that the "moral wound of poverty in U.S." (Catholic Charities USA) will be healed. It needs to start with me." |
|
Wednesday, 20 May 2009 17:25 |
|
 Sally Crowley
Communications Consultant
Sally Crowley Marketing
When I first heard about the Buffalo Poverty Challenge from Bill O'Connell, Executive Director of the Homeless Alliance of WNY, I was really impressed and inspired. What better way to create awareness about poverty than to have people experience it first hand? I've been trying to help spread the word about this event in Buffalo by interviewing and video "taping" people who "Took the Challenge" last year.
When speaking to Drew Ludwig of the Lafayette Presbyterian Church in the city, I was reminded how difficult things can be for someone living at the poverty level.
Many times, you don't own transportation, so you have to plan ahead to find (and interpret) bus schedules, figure out how to get kids to day care, bring a bagged lunch with you. They just have to take many more steps than I would normally have to think about or do. So, not only do these folks have to watch every penny that they are spending,
they've got to find ways to work and live effectively.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Why I'm Taking The Challenge |
|
|
|
|
Monday, 01 June 2009 10:12 |
|
 Paul V. Vukelic
President-COO
Try-it Distributing
Q. Why I'm Taking The Challenge
“I personally am taking the Poverty Challenge once again to challenge myself to know and feel what it is like for many of my fellow Buffalonians to make ends meet on a daily basis. I have been blessed with many opportunities over my lifetime while God has provided for me and my family. This small exercise is a reminder to me of how fortunate I am, but it is also a reminder that we all have a responsibility to those who are in desperate need of the basic necessities of life; food, shelter, healthcare and a living wage.
My other hope in taking on the Poverty Challenge is that other community leaders and the public in general will recognize we all have a stake in this human tragedy. Through awareness comes education and then understanding for the need to address poverty from a place of compassion.“ |
|
What do you hope to learn by taking the Poverty Challenge? |
|
|
|
|
Monday, 01 June 2009 09:58 |
|
 Justin Azzarella
Executive Director
Elmwood Village Association
Q. What do you hope to learn by taking the Poverty Challenge?
"Until now I’ve never given much thought to the definition of poverty. I’d like to gain a better understanding of what conditions (i.e. annual salary) constitute living at or below the poverty line in Buffalo, NY and how those conditions will impact my decision making process throughout The Challenge. I also hope to learn more about the current government and community programs that are in place to assist those living in poverty."
|
|
Monday, 01 June 2009 00:00 |
|
Sr. Sharon Goodremote, FSSJ
Public Policy Coordinator
Catholic Charities
"As I begin to grow in awareness of what I take for granted, I filled my car with gas today, knowing that if I lived in poverty, I would probably only be able to put in $5.00 (if that) and I would be very conscious of how far that would take me and how I would be doing more walking during the day instead of automatically getting into my car.
Also, today I received a call from a Sister I live with (I live in community as a Franciscan Sister of St. Joseph) and she asked if I could drop her off at the garage tomorrow and then drop her off at work. Normally, there would be not thought - of course I can do that. But because tomorrow I am living in poverty, my answer would need to be, I can't help you, because I need to get to work and don't have the extra money to take you to work. Or my answer could be, yes, I'll take you to work - knowing that I wouldn't be able to have lunch tomorrow in order to have enough for gas after helping her.
It is interesting to me that I immediately thought that I would just say no, yet knowing people who live in poverty are often more generous than people who "have", I decided not to have lunch tomorrow so I could be of help to someone else.
I am grateful for the example of the people I know who live in poverty who are willing to go that extra mile for others." |
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 Next > End >>
|
|
Page 4 of 4 |
