“The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty.”
—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
January is National Poverty in America Awareness Month—a time to shine a spotlight on one of the “most pervasive and persistent problems” in our society. And, as the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities (the Alliance) notes, 2022’s observance is as critical as ever before “given the devastation in families and communities throughout the country due to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent economic upheaval.”
Established in 1911, the Alliance, along with organizations such as the Council on Accreditation (COA), seek to foster community partnerships and support wide-ranging initiatives designed to promote racial equity and press to end generational poverty in America. Among the most vital strategies that the Alliance is pushing in 2022 include:
- Mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and advancing health equity
- Using brain science to improve the social determinants of health
- Pursuing partnerships that strengthen educational success
- Applying a population health approach to prevent and reduce child injuries and fatalities
- Leveraging the impact of Community Based Organizations (CBOs)
- Formulating policy and advocacy from a race equity lens
The Alliance also maintains a database containing a list of comprehensive anti-poverty resources, all the latest research and best practices, and other examples of how CBO’s across the nation are partnering with residents, government agencies, and one another to shape public policy and enhance the health, wellness, and social and economic stability of individuals and families. For more information on the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities and how we all can partner toward the elimination of poverty and racial inequity, please visit them online. And, for more information on the Council on Accreditation, click here.
