100 people attend Imagine No Poverty in Oakland County conference

About 100 people attended the May 12 Pathways to Self-Sustainability community conference. They came to learn more about poverty and self-sustainability services in Oakland County and to find ways to personally get involved and help reduce poverty.

“Our Imagine No Poverty in Oakland County theme was intended get people’s attention and inspire them to action,” says Susan Masiak, spokesperson for the Pathways to Self-Sustainability project. “It worked. We had about 100 people brave the rainy weather to hear our keynote speaker, John Ziraldo, president and CEO of Lighthouse of Oakland County, speak about The State of Poverty in Oakland County. He pointed out that today, nearly one in 10 Oakland County families falls below the federal poverty line. To be counted based on the federal poverty level definition, a family of three would have an annual income below $19,530.

“After John’s powerful speech and call to action, representatives from crucial human service agencies in the area hosted interest sessions,” continues Masiak. “These small group meetings focused on specific volunteer opportunities geared toward self-sustainability and targeted those looking to donate their time, talent and/or treasure. These organizations included Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County; Hispanic Outreach Services, Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan; Kiva.org – Oakland, MEDC; Lighthouse of Oakland County; Rochester Area Neighborhood House (RANH); and South Oakland Shelter (SOS). In addition, representatives from Baker College (career-focused education), Bharatiya SEVA (school library project) and MooCluckMoo (sustainable wage employer/franchise opportunities) were on hand to provide information about their organizations.

“People with a passion to solve poverty in Oakland County are needed,” adds Masiak. “Those attending the conference were given the specifics about what they can do. People are needed to be youth mentors and life coaches for teens, young adults and adults. People are needed to help develop or coordinate new services; people to help identify business or corporate support; people to support entrepreneurs with Kiva loans; people to help grow the Pathways project; and people to make calls and write letters to elected officials and government agencies to change policies. People are needed to provide financial support for these services. The list goes on and on. There is a role for everyone frustrated by the poverty among us.

“Poverty hurts everyone,” sums up Masiak. “We need to help our community understand more about poverty and self-sustainability. We need to encourage the community to support services that help people in poverty. We need to inspire changes in policies, services and systems that effectively address the problem of poverty in Oakland County. The time is now.”

The Imagine No Poverty in Oakland County community conference was held on May 12 at the First United Methodist Church of Birmingham. Contact information for the participating organizations is attached. For more information about the project or to volunteer, please contact Kathy Bommarito at kathyabommarito@gmail.com.