Poverty Module - Copy & Design Layout
- 1. Section: Pre-training Topic: Poverty Level: Intermediate Adults. This topic module provides a general overview and introduction to the concept of poverty, how it is measured, characteristics of its culture, and its demographic breakdown in the US. This topic must be introduced to enable our coaches to not only acquire conceptual knowledge about poverty but to become more aware of how their own upbringing may influence the way they relate to potential clients. Potential problems: Poverty is difficult to comprehend since it is a highly subjective experience. This section must continually be refined to become as personal as possible. Materials: A Framework for Understanding Poverty (Ruby K Payne), The Working Poor (David K Shipler), The World Bank website, (http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/26/arts/how-to-define- poverty-let-us-count-the-ways.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm), The United Nations website, The Heritage Foundation website, Americorps training material, Mohammad Yunus, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (Adam Smith), NY Times on Amartya Sen, Decoded (Jay-Z), National Poverty Institute analysis on the 2010 Census, http://www.npc.umich.edu/poverty/#4, additional information from the Americorps Pre-Service Orientation booklet, which drew conclusions from the 2000 US Census Bureau FIRST PAGE <title> Table of Contents What does it mean to live in poverty? Who lives in poverty today? What does poverty look like? What are the demographics of the American poor? Who lives in poverty in Rhode Island? SECOND PAGE <title> What does it mean to live in poverty? Leaders from wildly different time periods and backgrounds have weighed in on the meaning of poverty and how it impacts the world we share with others. <talking head> Adam Smith, economist: The poor man… is ashamed of his poverty. He feels that it either places him out of the sight of mankind, or, that if they take any notice of him, they have, however, scarce any fellow–feeling with the misery and distress which he suffers. He is
- 2. mortified upon both accounts… <talking head> Amartya Sen, policy maker: Poverty is really the lack of freedom to have or to do basic things that you value. <talking head> Jay-Z, businessman who came out of poverty: The burden of poverty isn't just that you don't always have the things you need, it's the feeling of being embarrassed every day of your life, and you'd do anything to lift that burden. Text box: “Fundamentally, poverty is a denial of choices and opportunities, a violation of human dignity. It means lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in society. It means not having enough to feed and clothe a family, not having a school or clinic to go to, not having the land on which to grow one’s food or a job to earn one’s living, not having access to credit. It means insecurity, powerlessness and exclusion of individuals, households and communities. It means susceptibility to violence, and it often implies living on marginal or fragile environments, without access to clean water or sanitation” (UN) Poverty is much more than lacking food or shelter. It is a lifestyle, a mentality, a physical condition, and an everpresent hardship. Further reading: This analysis from the World Bank further defines poverty and shows how policy makers currently measure it. ProfessorRuthLister’sbookon poverty comments on the different ways intellectuals has come to address poverty. Pay close attention to the different definitions of poverty given. THIRD PAGE <title> Who lives in poverty? << Worldbank Youtube Video link here: http://youtu.be/mFHctW3zQgg >> Worldwide statistic of those living in poverty: 1.6 billion people live on $1.25 a day (http://www.globalissues.org/article/4/poverty-around-the- world#WorldBanksPovertyEstimatesRevised, figure was for 2008) Domestic statistic of those living in poverty: 49.1 million Americans live below the poverty line, and another 97.3 million Americans earn between 100 and 199 percent of the poverty line Further reading:
- 3. This chapter from the World Bank introduces inequality measures. Those in poverty are always at the bottom of the income distribution heap, but studying inequality determines how far away the poor are from the next socioeconomic class. (Skip p 110 onwards and don’t worry about the calculations) What do you know about poverty vulnerability? Poverty prevention is just as important as poverty reduction. As you read this article, think about how poverty is measured. Think about how this tie in with what you personally know poverty to look like. What factors, in your opinion, influence how vulnerable you are to poverty? FOURTH PAGE <title> What does poverty look like? Character (introduce absolute poverty) http://www.5min.com/Video/Dealing-with-Poverty- and-Water-Shortage-in-Bolivia-516895112 <below video> Absolute poverty is defined as not being able to subsist under the current living conditions. Proper shelter, medical care, nutrition, and clean water sources are usually all deficient or severely lacking. Basic needs of life are on the danger of not being met. Character (introduce relative poverty) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J6i1QUnV1U&feature=player_embedded <below video> Relative poverty is defined as not being able to obtain the same standards of living of fellow citizens. Needs to cultivate a competent, accomplished sense of self are diminished since there are fewer resources, opportunities, and goods others enjoy. <to the side of relative poverty> View #1: American poverty is greatly exaggerated. View #2: Poverty levels are threatening the American Dream. FIFTH PAGE <title> What are the demographics ofthe American poor? (picture: http://media.salon.com/2011/11/american-dream-460x307.jpg or http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xe5kPU- QnXU/TwLwJ7q26FI/AAAAAAAAA28/GOfI4N0UI9I/s1600/diversity+group.jpg) Age
- 4. Children under the age of 18 comprise the greatest numbers and percentages of people in poverty. Race & Hispanic origin The highest numbers of people in poverty are white; however, Hispanics and blacks have the highest percentages of their population in poverty. Household type Out of the large number of married households, a small percentage of them live in poverty. Out of the small number of female-headed households, a large percentage of them live in poverty. Employment status The total number of people in poverty who worked full time or part time is higher than those who did not work at all. Educational attainment The more advanced one’s education is, the less likely it is that he/she will experience high rates of poverty. Resident status The highest level of poverty is found amongst foreign-born, non-citizens. SIXTH PAGE <title> Who lives in poverty in my state? FamilySize Income level One individual $10,890 A single parentandtwochildren $18,530 Two parentsandtwo children $22,350 14% of Rhode Island’stotal population(142,000) and 19% of Rhode Island’schildren,(42,441) livedinpovertyin 2010. 36.5% of African-American,30%of Hispanic,and9.4% of CaucasianRhode Islandersstruggle in povertytomake endsmeet.