Click here to view the navigator training from 5/7/10.
Dr. Donna Beegle, Founder of Poverty Bridge
Thank you to everyone who took part in United Way of Lane County’s first ever Opportunity Conference!
United Way’s efforts to move people from poverty to financial stability took a big leap forward with our first local Opportunity Conference on May 8, 2010. The brainchild of renowned poverty expert Dr. Donna Beegle of PovertyBridge, the Opportunity Conference provided a day of skill-building for those who are motivated to break the cycle of poverty in their lives. Over 100 motivated individuals, known as “Captains,” attended the conference and were match with over 80 “Navigators.”
Navigators are community volunteers, but more importantly, people who live a more economically middle-class life and, as a result, see and respond to the world in a different way. They will help the Captains establish new support systems in order to gain access to local resources and services. Navigators attended Poverty 101 training on the Friday before the conference as a foundation for assisting people on their journey to moving out of poverty.
At the all day conference, Dr. Beegle presented the Captains with strategies for moving out of poverty such as sharing skills and strengths to support each other, how to build a network of people who are not in poverty, and how to connect to resources and opportunities.
Dr. Beegle grew up in generational migrant labor poverty, leaving school for marriage at 15, having two children and continuing to cope with poverty, she found herself, at 25, with no husband, little education, and no job skills. What followed in 10 short years were: self-confidence, a G.E.D., an A.A. in Journalism, a B.A. (with honors) in Communications, a Master’s Degree in Communication with a minor in Gender Studies (with honors), and completion of a Doctorate Degree.
Special thanks to the members of the Opportunity Conference Steering Committee for making this a successful event!
LANE COUNTY OPPORTUNITY CONFERENCE RESOURCES
- www.povertybridge.org
- See Poverty…Be The Difference by Dr. Donna M. Beegle
- 2009 Community Assessment, Lane County, Oregon
United Way's Financial Stability Partnership Mission - To create pathways to greater financial independence for low-income working residents of Lane County.
CONTACT INFORMATION
- Kellie DeVore, United Way staff, 541.741.6000 x131; kdevore@unitedwaylane.org
- Gienia Baines, United Way intern, 541.741.6000 x161; gbaines@unitedwaylane.org
Note
The above files are in PDF format — Adobe Reader is required. Click on the link below to download a free version of Adobe Reader.
