Lauren Vorbeck’s Post

Just helped a stranger with directions after they picked me out of a passing crowd to ask if I spoke Spanish… Out of curiosity, before we parted I asked why they picked me to stop. Embarrassed, they admitted that they thought I looked “perhaps poor enough” compared to other passersby to speak another language. I didn’t take any offense to that - there’s rarely a personal fault in poverty & I make an effort to never wear anything the people I serve couldn’t snag at a thrift shop - but digest that rationale with me for a second.. My perceived LACK of privilege put me at BETTER odds of being able to meaningfully help someone in need. // I’ve been thinking a lot on the value of lived experience & personal knowledge of poverty compared to privileged roads to this work like grad school - that are often required but inaccessible to folks in poverty. Lindsay Barber & I have had SO many conversations lately around this apparently obvious truth that for some reason folks doing poverty abolition work professionally still haven’t fully caught up with: **When people need help, they understand it’s rarely those who have had the most opportunities who can be of most help, but those who have had the least.** If your service team is filled Exclusively with MSWs, they’re super important & support the hell out of them, but hiring people with a lifetime of experience navigating systemic hurdles AS WELL will be an invaluable asset to your mission. Peer support could be the missing link to taking your service to the next level. #BanishTheGatekeepers #PeerSupport #LivedExperience

Improving the rates of educational attainment that leads to meaningful employment is the most effective way to fight the problem of cyclical poverty in the Coastal Bend. Our work isn’t just about bridging a skills gap; it's about paving the way for families and their children to get started on a journey of multi-generational success. 📍Learn more at upskillcoastalbend.org #UpSkill #CoastalBend #CareerTraining #BrighterFuture #StudentEngagement #StudentResources #WorkforceEngagement #WorkforceResources

"...addressing social issues should not only come from the lens of the sympathizer but also from the empathizer." I usually don't post book reviews here, but this book is particularly significant and closely aligns with my work, which focuses on representing marginalized groups, highlighting class disparities, and advocating for better social solutions that give everyone a fair chance at a deserving life. I first read "Evicted" by Matthew Desmond as a teenager, just beginning to explore my interests in social justice and care. Recently, I revisited the book to gain a new perspective as a sociologist. I highly encourage everyone to read this book. It offers an empathetic understanding of affordable housing and poverty, especially relevant in today's context of rising living costs and unaffordable housing. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e59fuH3Q #bookreview #evicted #poverty #housing

𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞 2 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧. 𝐀 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲. Kimberly Noble, neuroscientist and pediatrician know for her work in socioeconomic disparities and children's cognitive development points out the following: 👉By two, the child living in poverty is likely to perform worse on tests of language and impulse control. 👉By kindergarten, the one raised in poverty scores 60% lower cognitively. 👉By the time those two children are 35 years old, if the first child spent her entire childhood living in poverty, that child is up to 75 times more likely to be poor. Therefore, poverty traps children before they even start. This cycle of poverty can have a devastating impact on a child's mental health and future. 𝐁𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠? #corporatesocialresponsibility #neuroplasticity #nestre #closethegap #CEOleadership

How many of us got where we are because of the people we can count on? At Circles RVA our participants, people who are struggling to get out of poverty, share that they have fewer than 3 people in their lives they can count on to support them. Having low social capital affects people’s ability to get employment, access resources, or simply have someone to call on when life gets hard. Circles RVA brings together people in the community to expand their networks. We provide training and support, and create a space for you to have the rewarding experience of walking alongside someone as they work towards self-sufficiency and financial thriving. Would you be interested in being one of those volunteers expanding someone’s community? Although our website is currently being overhauled, you can learn more at www.circlesrva.org. Or, email coordinator@circleseva.org.

“It’s important to remember that relational poverty is not something that only afflicts our neighbours experiencing homelessness. Loneliness is at epidemic levels in the United States today, adversely affecting our physical health and life expectancy, and having increased substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic. A 2021 report from the Harvard Graduate School of Education suggests that 36% of all Americans, including 61% of young adults, feel serious loneliness.” An eye-opening read and while not exactly apples-for-apples for the situation in Australia, a great explanation and analysis of ‘humanity’ and the concepts of relational poverty, stigma, paternalism, individualism and exclusion. Also a reminder about using person-first language, and considering why the media and politicians, etc continue to use dehumanising language. #Community #Homelessness

We talk a lot about poverty levels, but we don't talk a lot about ALICE levels. We all know someone who is ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — earning more than the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford the basics where they live. ALICE workers were celebrated as essential heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet they do not earn enough to support their own families. Take a look at the sobering graphics in this report. Thanks to the United Way of the Piedmont for raising my awareness of this issue. https://lnkd.in/gMWi2Gd9

🤝 Mentorship as a Solution to Relationship Poverty At the CPNW Foundation, we recognize that relationship poverty—the lack of meaningful, supportive relationships—is a significant issue affecting many individuals today. This disconnection can lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and contribute to broader social problems. Mentorship is a powerful antidote, fostering a sense of belonging, providing emotional support, and reducing isolation. Our Faith-Driven Mentorship programs are at the heart of our mission to address social issues like homelessness, relationship poverty, and isolation. By building strong, supportive communities, we create a network of care that nurtures growth and empowers individuals. 🔗 Read more about our mission and mentorship programs HERE https://lnkd.in/dvxeGcQ7 #MentorshipMatters #FaithAndWork #CPNW #RelationshipPoverty #CommunitySupport #Homelessness #Empowerment #SocialImpact #ChristianProfessionals

🤝 Mentorship as a Solution to Relationship Poverty At the CPNW Foundation, we recognize that relationship poverty—the lack of meaningful, supportive relationships—is a significant issue affecting many individuals today. This disconnection can lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and contribute to broader social problems. Mentorship is a powerful antidote, fostering a sense of belonging, providing emotional support, and reducing isolation. Our Faith-Driven Mentorship programs are at the heart of our mission to address social issues like homelessness, relationship poverty, and isolation. By building strong, supportive communities, we create a network of care that nurtures growth and empowers individuals. 🔗 Read more about our mission and mentorship programs HERE https://lnkd.in/dvxeGcQ7 #MentorshipMatters #FaithAndWork #CPNW #RelationshipPoverty #CommunitySupport #Homelessness #Empowerment #SocialImpact #ChristianProfessionals

We are humbled to share the story of our partnership with the Social Justice Public Charter School, a local school in Washington DC that is partnering with us for an intergenerational guaranteed income pilot. Attacking poverty through parent and child economic wellbeing is our aim. What we hope to impact is the instability that follows poverty. And this too often invokes the twin systems of truancy and family policing. It is hard to study, to concentrate, and to dream when you go to bed hungry at night. Strengthening families must begin with the tool of cash - to boost kids and their parents in meeting their basic economic needs. https://lnkd.in/eRUydnCZ #MotherUp2Gen #guaranteedincome