As Athens remains one of Ohio's poorest counties, Ohio University will put forth its newest effort to alleviate the problem of poverty with a Bridges Out of Poverty workshop.
OU's Kids on Campus will host the workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today in Walter Hall Rotunda. Kids on Campus provides educational, recreational and nutritional opportunities to underserved students in Athens County, said Donna Jensen-Besaw, the organization's program director.
Author and consultant Philip DeVol will host the workshop. DeVol co-authored the book Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities and will base the workshop on concepts detailed in this book. The objective of what he calls bridges steering communities is to build perspectives within a community that will encourage the transition from poverty to economic stability.
It's about helping communities create a comprehensive approach to addressing poverty
DeVol said. Bridges is not a program. It's a set of ideas and strategies.
The strategies outlined in DeVol's presentation are used in various sectors throughout the United States, he said. Businesses, health care organizations and courts all make use of the bridges concept to better handle issues that arise with low-income employees, patients and offenders.
This workshop will serve as a professional development opportunity not only for Kids on Campus but also other organizations in Athens that interact with low-income individuals, Jensen-Besaw said.
The intention is that we explore different research models for an understanding about how poverty plays out for people in poverty and for people who are trying to assist them she said.
According to the 2000 census, 27.4 percent of Athens County residents are below the poverty line.
Professionals from throughout Athens will be in attendance, Jensen-Besaw said. But students will be able to benefit from the experience, as well.
Anybody who will be working with people in poverty will benefit from this workshop she said. People in poverty will benefit from the workshop. It's a greater understanding of how poverty plays out.
Jensen-Besaw said she hopes the workshop will encourage discussion on more efficient ways to distribute Athens' resources to its low-income residents. DeVol plans to impart his bridges strategies and hopes the audience will take the next step and implement those strategies in programs for Athens County.
If people get a chance to really understand those ideas
that's good. If they begin to think of what else they might do - it catches their imagination or interest and they want to do more - that's even better
he said.
Last-minute registrations will be accepted, but those registering today might need to provide their own lunch, Jensen-Besaw said.
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Rebecca McKinsey
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