Poverty

In January of 2011, The Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives launched a statewide campaign to educate social service providers on generational poverty. Utilizing the constructs in Ruby Payne’s Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities, several statewide trainings were provided during the months of March and May. 

In addition, the following poverty related activities were co-sponsored by the OFBCI in 2011:

• • Barriers and Bridges conference for HR Directors and Employers
  • Promotional video highlighting the Oklahoma Bridges campaign
  • Local Bridges initiatives in Stillwater (Payne County), Muskogee (Muskogee County) and Grove (Delaware County).    

In 2012, the OFBCI will host Getting Ahead in a Just Gettin’ By World for organizations and communities that plan to provide facilitated dialog, over a 16-20 week period, with people in generational poverty. These discussion groups help individuals both identify and develop the personal resources necessary for a successful transition out of poverty. 

The launch of other local Bridges initiatives is currently being planned for Woodward, Pryor and Norman.