Day One: What’s Next?
[5-minute read]
In many of our communities, the differences and divisions in our society have been inescapable these past few years. We may find ourselves asking: Are we coming apart, or is this a new beginning of coming together?
The Virtual Cost Of Poverty Experience is not just an exercise to try to understand poverty in America, it’s also an opportunity to reflect upon our human interactions and experience with low-income individuals and communities within our sphere of influence. Maybe this is our opportunity to take a courageous look at ourselves and ask if our daily habits, choices, or attitudes have held us back from seeing the fullness of our communities.
No matter how important it is to understand the issues of poverty, it is equally crucial to understand how you can be a vessel of change in the piece of the world you're standing on at this very moment.
Consider this: In your day to day interactions, whether in your friendships, acquaintances, social media or just group gatherings, do you generally hang out with people who look like you? Think like you? Vote like you? Shop where you shop? Attend the same clubs in the same part of town like you? It is quite natural and comfortable to answer yes. Who wouldn't want to hang out with people you have a lot in common with?
But what happens when you find yourself isolated from those who are different from you? Does our distance create distortions, biases, assumptions, and harsh judgment about “the other” or “those people”? And what is the damage of that isolation to marginalized and low income communities and individuals, like those you met in Virtual COPE?
We believe that relationships have the power to shred through the self-imposed barriers and polarities that have defined our age. What would it look like to slow ourselves down, look around us, and see each other with new eyes? If we truly listen to the unheard in our communities, we may discover that they possess great insight and wisdom on how to attain our shared hopes and dreams.
How can you begin to see differently, exercise new relational muscles, start to engage the parts of your community you may be isolated from? We know that the Cost of Poverty Experience can stir thoughts and emotions. However, if we don't take time to evaluate our own mindsets, we may not experience the change we desire.
Over the next four days, we’ll be sending a series of simple emails designed to help you reflect on the Cost of Poverty Experience, and consider where you could take action next. These four emails reflect the principles discussed during our debrief:
Dignity and Value
Gain Perspective
Remove Barriers
Do With
Life is busy! Our challenge to you is simple:
Open the email each day
Take 5 minutes to read a short piece to challenge your thinking
Take 5 minutes to use the tool provided to help you take action in that area
Change starts one courageous step at a time. Let’s walk together as we begin to see and engage with our community in new ways.
