Poverty Reduction Activities
The Poverty Reduction Initiative sponsors various events and activities for members of the community-in partnership with other organizations and with the support of many volunteers. These include:
Opportunity Conferences
This one-day event invites people in poverty to learn the "secrets of success" from Dr. Donna Beegle, including how to build confidence, make positive changes, create a network of support, and connect with a personal "navigator." View video from our last conference in 2011.
Authentic Leadership Training Workshop
Past participants of the Opportunity Conference took part in training to give them leadership and communication skills to share their story. See information, including a new video about this new PRI program: Authentic Leadership webpage.
Mentoring Breakfast 2011
Watch new video from this year's breakfast. Over 40 mentoring organizations were represented.
Mentoring Breakfast 2011 video page.
Neighborhood Meetings
These monthly regional get-togethers are designed as a follow-up to the Opportunity Conferences and a way for participants to share experiences, problem-solving, and support. Check the PRI calendar for a neighborhood meeting near you.
Saturday Specials
These educational workshops provide lively, practical information about topics such as managing your finances; cooking healthy low-cost meals, winterizing your home; maintaining your car, etc. Saturday Specials are offered fall and spring; check the PRI calendar.
Poverty Simulations
"Surviving a 'Month' in Poverty" is the theme of a three-hour workshop designed to give participants a powerful, personal experience of the challenges of living in the "chaos of poverty." These simulations are available to groups and organizations at a low cost; contact Tom Emling at MSU North Community Partners: emlingt@msu.edu
Loan Program
The "Agape Financial of Northwest Michigan" was created to provide small loans to area people in need for any purpose. A steering committee came together in March, 2009 to talk about forming a financial organization that would be operated by low-income people for the benefit of low-income people. This group became Agape Financial of Northwest Michigan and was incorporated in May. A board was formed in June with five low-income persons as voting directors and five professional people as non-voting advisors. The group hopes to begin offering its services at the beginning of next year, but this is dependent on funding. Services will include affordable loans, financial counseling and financial advocacy. For more information, contact: Tad Minor at 231-632-9696.
Laundry Project
Supported by donations, the Laundry Project makes laundromat services available free to people in poverty on a regular schedule throughout the region and also provides information about other support services. For more information, contact: Dawn McLaughlin at 231-929-2616.
MSU Extension Leelanau County 4-H Millionaires Club
The PRI - MSUE Leelanau County 4-H Millionaires Club provides youth with the knowledge and skills so that they will take the actions necessary to create a more secure financial future for themselves. Begun in the fall of 2008 with Sunday evening club meetings every other month, the objectives are to: (1) Provide youth with basic financial literacy knowledge and skills, including savings/checking, budgeting, credit cards, loans, investments, etc.; (2) Start youth on a path of saving and budgeting; and (3) Instill in youth the belief that they hold the power to determine their future financial success.
The club is designed for 20 sixth, seventh and eighth grade students whose families qualify for free or reduced lunch and whose parents are actively involved in their schooling (i.e. attend parent-teacher conferences, school holiday programs, communicate with teachers, etc.). Parents are invited and expected to attend and participate in the break-out trainings specifically designed for them to reinforce the lessons for the entire family. Each student's family is asked to make a three-year club participation commitment.
Fifth-Third Bank, a primary club sponsor, creates a savings account (with a opening cash balance) for each student and helps to match the savings earned and deposited by each club member.
Please contact Barb Duvall, MSU Extension at duvall@msu.edu for additional program details.
