1. Ending Poverty Through Systemic Change
Transforming Lives
Ending Poverty
Through Systemic Change
Coming Together to Get Ahead
A Waukesha St Vincent de Paul
Mentoring Program

2. END POVERTY THROUGH SYSTEMIC CHANGE
OUR VISION
END POVERTY THROUGH SYSTEMIC CHANGE
The Society’s strategic vision is to END Poverty through Systemic Change. Do we all believe this is possible? It certainly seems daunting.
But if we focus on ending poverty, one person…one family…one block…one community at a time…we can make a lasting difference.
Systemic change – engaging individuals, institutions, and communities in a dialogue to change attitudes and systems within society.
One Person
One Neighborhood
One Community at a time
Transforming Lives...Ending poverty through systemic change

3. What is CTGA?
‘Coming Together to Get Ahead,’ a St Vincent de Paul of Waukesha County (SVDP) mentoring program, will transform lives in Waukesha County by ending poverty – one person, one neighborhood, one community at a time.
Transforming Lives...Ending poverty through systemic change

4. Tell me more about CTGA. . .
The ‘Coming Together to Get Ahead’ mentoring program will incorporate facilitated workshops developed by aha! Process Inc. These workshops currently take place across the US and Canada run by over 300 organizations including civic, not-for-profit, congregations, and other St Vincent de Paul councils.
Transforming Lives...Ending poverty through systemic change

5. Where is this being done?
Workshops are being conducted in over 300 locations in the USA and Canada!
Now 650 locations!
Transforming Lives...Ending poverty through systemic change

6. How do Other Organizations fit in?
Systemic change requires changing of attitudes and approaches. ‘Coming Together to Get Ahead,’ is a community-wide effort in collaboration with other organizations, congregations, and people of good will. People will come together to make a difference in the lives of others. We welcome your consideration and participation!
Transforming Lives...Ending poverty through systemic change

7. Implement Life Changes
How does CTGA work?
Discuss & Accept
Participants meet with two Mentors who discuss features and benefits of the program. Participants can then decide to accept the program or not.
Participants, in groups of 12, become ‘investigators’ in an aha! Process Getting Ahead facilitated workshop lasting 16 weeks.
Workshop
Implement Life Changes
Workshop graduates implement life changes with the help and encouragement of their mentors.
Presenter read and talk about this page.
At all points along the way, it is the participant that accepts and agrees to take part in the program.
Transforming Lives...Ending poverty through systemic change

8. What is behind the workshop?
The Getting Ahead workshop helps individuals develop 11 essential resources for a more prosperous life for themselves, their families, and communities.
The fundamental idea is that people are the experts of their own situations. They can be empowered to take control of their lives and make good decisions.
The Getting Ahead curriculum spans 16 weeks covering 10 learning modules and:
Involves rigorous work done in a safe learning environment with the support of an experienced facilitator and co-facilitator.
Enables participants, called “investigators,” to examine their own experience of poverty as well as explore issues in the community that impact poverty − banking, housing, jobs, transportation − providing critical information the community can use to take action to end poverty.
Guides investigators through an assessment of their own resources and how to build those resources as part of their move to self-sufficiency.
Puts the concepts, tools, and relationships in the hands of people in poverty to make a difference in their own lives and in the life of their community.
Develop skills to build 11 essential resources – go over on the next page
Fundamental idea that people are the experts of their own situations
The Getting Ahead curriculum spans 16 weeks covering 10 learning modules
Involves rigorous work done in a safe learning environment
Investigators examine their own experience of poverty as well as explore issues in the community that impact poverty
Do an assessment of their own resources and learn how to build those resources
Transforming Lives...Ending poverty through systemic change

9. WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIAL RESOURCES?
FINANCIAL
EMOTIONAL
MENTAL
LANGUAGE
SOCIAL CAPITAL
SPIRITUAL
PHYSICAL
INTEGRITY & TRUST
MOTIVATION & PERSISTENCE
RELATIONSHIPS / ROLE MODELS
KNOWLEDGE OF HIDDEN RULES
While the government defines poverty using monetary terms...getting and staying out of poverty requires more than just money.
For example, Emotional resources – being able to control your feelings in stressful situations is critical to be successful in jobs that require working with others.
Social Capital and Role Models – having positive friends, those who will support you through life changes is very important if you are trying to move from one environment to another.
Spiritual resources – having a belief in God and the support of a caring community is another example of a resource needed to make a transforming life change.
© aha! Process, Inc.

10. UNDERSTANDING WHERE I AM UNDERSTANDING POVERTY
“Getting Ahead” Program
10 modules, 16 sessions
ACTION
RESPONSIBILITY
Plans (10)
Action steps
Future stories
Critical analysis
What it means to me
Theory of change (2)
How to build resources (9)
POWER
ECONOMIC CLASS
UNDERSTANDING WHERE I AM
UNDERSTANDING POVERTY
Using the hidden rules of class to build resources (4)
Language (5)
Resources (6)
As was stated in the earlier presentation, Getting Ahead is typically offered over 16 sessions of 2.5 hours. Generally 1 session each week.
Getting Ahead is based on the idea of co-investigation. The facilitator is an investigator too – learning from the participants.
Understanding poverty: what it’s like now – Module 1; causes of poverty – Module 3.
Understanding where I am: language – Module 5, resources – Module 6; self-assessment – Module 7; community assessment – Module 8.
Economic class: hidden rules – Module 4;
Power: theory of change – Module 2; building resources – Module 9.
Responsibility: future stories & plans – Module 10.
Along the way the Investigators will “investigate” many things and in doing so will be taking action and learning.
Implementing their Action plan begins after Getting Ahead is completed and that is when most of the hands-on mentoring support starts.
What it’s like now (1)
Self-assessment (7)
Causes of poverty (3)
Community assessment (8)
CO-INVESTIGATION (1)
(Module)
© aha! Process, Inc.

11. What does it take to run CTGA?
Volunteers!
Mentors
Coach the Candidate through the entire process. Mentors are there to relate, affirm, and facilitate connections. They should never do what the person is capable of doing for themselves.
Facilitators & Co-Facilitators
Guide the Getting Ahead process by working with a group (8 to 12) of Investigators. They are a class-time resource for Investigators.
Program Support
Individuals and/or groups to provide meals, childcare, set-up/clean-up for the workshop sessions.
Transforming Lives...Ending poverty through systemic change

12. Tell me more about each role. . .
Mentors
Mentors will work with participants in pairs. Initially, mentors will meet to discuss the program and answer questions. During the workshop sessions, mentors stay ‘on the sidelines’ keeping touch to affirm and maintain relationship. After the workshop, mentors will help by coaching participants to carry through on plans developed in the workshop.
Training – Mentors will be provided with training and support:
Education session – a 6 hour Saturday session to learn more about poverty and the process used by Coming Together to Get Ahead to help people change their lives.
Mentor training – a 6 hour Saturday session to learn more about how to be a mentor and program details and specifics.
Mentor support group – periodic meetings for mentors to gather and provide support for each other in a structured group setting.
Time Commitment –
Time commitment beyond the Education, Training, and Mentor Support Group activities would be flexible and variable. Expect periodic meetings with participant to last no more than 90 minutes occurring no less frequently than once every couple of weeks.
Now read and share your thoughts about the next four slides in your small groups.
When you are finished, we will come together as a group and share with the whole group.
Transforming Lives...Ending poverty through systemic change

13. Tell me more about each role. . .
Facilitators & Co-Facilitators
Facilitators will work in pairs to guide the Getting Ahead workshops. Each workshop will contain about 12 participants. The facilitator’s role is to ensure the process laid-out by aha Process! is followed.
Training – Facilitators will be provided with training and support:
Education session – a 6-hour Saturday session to learn more about poverty and the process used by Coming Together to Get Ahead to help people change their lives.
Facilitator training – two 3-hour webinar sessions to learn details on the workshop content and how to facilitate the workshop sessions.
Facilitator support group – bi-monthly meetings for facilitators to gather and provide support for each other in a structured group setting.
Time Commitment
Time commitment beyond the Education, Training, and Facilitator Support Group activities would require being present at all workshop sessions to ensure the learning process is followed. Each workshop session would require 3 to 4 hours one night a week for 16 weeks.
Transforming Lives...Ending poverty through systemic change

14. Tell me more about each role. . .
Program Support
Program support personnel would be provide meals and childcare for participants and their children. Support personnel would be organized into teams by organization and by function. Ideally, congregations would solicit and manage their own teams.
Training – Support personnel will be provided with training and support:
Education session – a 6-hour Saturday session to learn more about poverty and the process used by Coming Together to Get Ahead to help people change their lives. It is important that the community understand what participants face in their current lives and the changes they will be considering.
Support training – the lead person(s) from each organization will attend a function-specific training session.
Time Commitment
Time commitment beyond the Education and Training would depend on the role each organization wishes to play. For example, a congregation may choose to participate in support of one or multiple Getting Ahead sessions. The meal associated with one workshop session would take roughly one hour. Childcare would require roughly 3 to 4 hours for each workshop session.
Transforming Lives...Ending poverty through systemic change

15. What does CTGA need from the community?
Community Organizations
Understand poverty through the aha! Process lens – poverty is a lack of resources.
Attend an Education Session to learn how CTGA can guide people in implementing life changes.
Assess how individual organizations can best support people coming from this program to them for building resources.
Parishes and Congregations
Encourage their members to attend an Education Session and be involved with CTGA.
Transforming Lives...Ending poverty through systemic change

16. 2014 Goals Education Sessions (500) Mentor Training (100)
Facilitator Training (8)
Community Events (4)
Start three Getting Ahead sessions
Education Sessions – 107 Next session July 26 – all are welcome!
Mentor training – 20 attended training, 11 committed (another Mentor Training in August)
Facilitators – 9 training, 3 discerned (Two more trainings offered in fall)
Community Events: ON TRACK TO MEET THIS GOAL
Community Bfast in May
Next one in process of being scheduled
Waukesha County Fair next month
Archdiocesan event in Sept
Getting Ahead sessions – start one this year in late August early Sept – need more mentors/facilitators to start another session
Transforming Lives...Ending poverty through systemic change

17. Coming Together to Get Ahead
WHAT ARE WE ASKING FROM COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS??
Learn More:
July 26 – Attend an Education Session
Visit the Society’s web page on Systemic Change:
Take Action:
Contact Pam Matthews, CTGA Program Director to begin a dialogue or sign-up for an Education Session
( or )
Transforming Lives...Ending poverty through systemic change

18. Questions to Consider
How might you and your organization interact with CTGA?
What would you need from SVDP to help you achieve this?
Transforming Lives...Ending poverty through systemic change