“There are three forms of change: projects (service delivery); policy (advocacy); and power (community organizing). Project demonstrates what is possible; policy makes the possible standard operating procedure; and it is power that makes policy possible.”
-Dr. Manuel Pastor, from his book This Could Be the Start of Something Big
Three in 10 working-age San Diego County households – nearly 230,000 – don’t earn enough income to afford the basic costs of living here, such as housing, food, transportation and healthcare costs. Despite living below the economic self sufficiency standard, the majority of these households do not qualify for state and federal assistance programs.
The implications of living in relative poverty are many, and these individuals represent a significant cross section of San Diego residents – cutting across ethnicity, age, education and gender lines. In fact, many of the community needs addressed by grantmaker funding can be traced back to a poverty-related cause.
This half-day program brought together grantmakers, invited nonprofit and government leaders to explore how public policies, anti-poverty programs, and community empowerment efforts can combine to move low income residents into self sufficiency.
Several nationally recognized speakers provided powerful information and inspiration for facilitated table discussions in the morning and over a working lunch.
This event was co-sponsored by San Diego Grantmakers, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, United Way of San Diego County, San Diego Workforce Partnership, and the New America Foundation.
