BRIDGES OF HOPE ALLEGAN COUNTY

We seek to establish relationships that provide encouragement and support in setting and attaining goals, so that people in or near poverty can rise above their circumstances, becoming economically stable and contributing to a thriving community. Our workshop approach enables participants to reflect upon and assess both themselves and their circumstances, to learn new ways of thinking about their challenges, and to set goals. All of this takes place in a safe and supportive environment where they are treated as experts on their own lives, rather than being expected to passively receive information and follow customary rules.

Both personal experience and data-based research show us that poverty is complex - it is not just about managing finances. Rather, poverty is a lack of resources. Resources that can be mental, physical, emotional, social, cultural, or spiritual. They include things like trust, motivation, persistence, relationships, perspective, and resiliency. Access to these resources leads to walking away from poverty.