This is www.char-empri.org, the website of Char-Em Poverty Reduction Initiative.

Our Mission:
Char-Em Poverty Reduction Initiative (PRI) will provide pathways out of poverty through people helping people connect with solutions that respect their dignity and build on their strengths. 

Our History:
Since 2007, a dynamic group of individuals and organizations have come together to address issues of poverty in Charlevoix and Emmet counties. The Char-Em Poverty Reduction Initiative (PRI) is similar to the efforts of a group working since 2004 in the five-county Grand Traverse region. (For info on those efforts see: http://www.traversebaypri.org/)

Our Concerns:

• Poverty deprives our community of valuable human resources by creating barriers which prevent individuals from realizing their full potential;
• Poverty is a significant regional expense;
• If we understand the issues, local solutions to poverty can be found;
• Individuals and families can exit poverty with a helping hand;
• Our community has the resources and the spirit of collaboration to impact poverty.