Pathways to Prosperity Program Presented by United Indians of All Tribes Foundation Initial funding provided by the Northwest Area Foundation

Principle Partners  United Indians of All Tribes Foundation and the Native American Community of Seattle  Northwest Area Foundation

United Indians of All Tribes Foundation  Founded by Bernie Whitebear and supporters in 1972  30+ year history of serving the social, economic, educational and cultural needs of Native Americans in the Puget Sound region  Project implementer and convener of coalition

Northwest Area Foundation  A grant-making Foundation founded in 1934  Focused on long-term poverty reduction in the Northwest  Launched an Urban Native American poverty reduction initiative  Awarded United Indians of All Tribes Foundation a two-year initial grant

To assist our Native Community in the journey from poverty to well-being Program Goal

First Steps: Shelangen Coalition “Shelangen” (means “together” in Coast Salish) 300 Native Americans participated Analyzed root causes of poverty and searched for solutions 2,000 Native American individuals and many families surveyed and interviewed

Critical Challenges facing the Seattle Native American Community  30% live below the poverty line  Highest level of homelessness of any group  Real unemployment levels are near 25%

Critical Challenges facing the Seattle Native American Community Highest levels of:  infant mortality rate  diabetes, heart disease and cancer  addictions and chronic mental health issues  disabilities

The Pathway to Prosperity Program is based on 40 years of field experimentation and consultation with Indigenous communities and development thinkers across North America and beyond. Origins of the Model

 In Seattle through the work of United Indians beginning in 1974 Community Input Process 100 Families Project Continuous experimentation in community program development

Origins of the Model  Across North America and worldwide through the work of Four Worlds International Hundreds of Indigenous communities engaged since 1982 Models and principles developed and synthesized through continuous cycles of action and reflection Many Indigenous Elders, spiritual and community leaders consulted Numerous research studies and publications produced

What is poverty? Poverty is not simply “a lack of jobs or income”, but rather “a web of interwoven problems—poor schooling, bad health, family troubles, racism, crime and unemployment—that can lock families out of opportunity, permanently”. Joan Walsh “Stories of Community Building and the Future of Urban America”

The Tree of Poverty has many roots

What Determines Poverty? 1.Poor health 2.Weak cultural and spiritual identity 3.Unmet basic needs 4.Lack of basic safety and security 5.Fractured social networks

What Determines Poverty? 6.Poor education 7.Unemployment/low wages 8.Poor access to social services 9.Racism and discrimination in society 10. Ineffective public policy

Summary of Determinants of Poverty Determinants of Poverty Weakened Cultural & Spiritual Identity Unmet Basic Needs Lack of Personal Safety & Security Fractured Social Cohesion Low Levels of Education & Training Low Income & Lack of Access to Economic Development Opportunitie s Racism & Discriminatory Public Practices Ineffective Public Policy & Programmatic Initiatives Lack of access to Appropriate & Adequate Social Services Poor Physical, Mental & Emotional Health

Our Primary Strategy Transform the Determinants of Poverty into the Determinants of Well-being

Poor health Vibrant health Weak cultural and spiritual identity Strong cultural and spiritual identity Unmet basic needs Basic needs fulfilled Lack of basic safety and security Personal safety and security Fractured social networks Strong social networks

Determinants of Well-being Poor education Appropriate education and training Unemployment/low wages Adequate income opportunities Poor access to social services Appropriate and adequate social services Racism and discrimination in society A societal climate that appreciates diversity and fosters inclusion Ineffective public policy Effective public policy

Pathway to Prosperity Four Strategic Elements 1.Address the Determinants of Poverty 2.Use a wholistic, systems approach 3. Working from principle 4.Start small before scaling up

Pathways to Prosperity Program  A comprehensive web of opportunities that form a pathway

The Journey What do people need to make the journey from chronic poverty and dependency to sustainable well-being and prosperity? Poverty Prosperity jobs skills culture help healing connect ? support

Nine Lines of Action for Promoting Prosperity and Wellbeing

– 1 – Education and Training United Indians Headstart and Early Headstart Literacy Family Strengthening Early childhood development Community Development Wellness Employment skills Leadership Development Cultural Foundations Entrepreneurial Development Job Readiness Strengthening Community Institutions And Programs Parenting Education Life Skills GED

– 2 – Health and Wellness  Healing and recovery from the impacts of trauma  Addiction recovery  Personal growth  Access to health services  Community action for health  Influencing public policy

– 3 – Cultural and Spiritual Revitalization Elders Council Drawing on Cultural Leaders Cultural Research Culturally based education and training Applying Cultural Knowledge to Development Problems Cultural events and gatherings Cultural based enterprises Culture

– 4 – Community Building Community involvement in program governance Community Learning and Planning Community based Research and Evaluation Community Engagement in Strategic Action

– 4 – Community Building Specifically: 1.Bernie Whitebear Center for Human and Community Development 2.Quarterly gatherings for evaluation, learning and planning 3.Community core groups 4.Community learning processes 5.Community based enterprises

– 5 – Offering a “hand-up” and “bridge-building”  Targeted small scale help to families already engaged in the journey Eg., a bus pass, help with groceries until month end, child care emergencies  Access to micro-loans  Access to affordable housing  One stop shopping and connection to support and opportunities

Goal: establish a Native American Community Economic Development Corporation – 6 – Community Economic Development  Building individual and community capacity for economic success  Job placement and support  Small business incubation and support  Social enterprise initiative Teepee Camp Salmon Bake Center Northwest Canoe House  Capitalization of Native community business development

– 7 – Partnership Building  Circle of partners to be established to ensure all needed services are available  Special focus on partnerships with other minorities, organizations and groups working on poverty issues

– 8 – Strategic Communication 1.Using media for education and community development 2.Community participation to ensure strong community voice 3.Strategic dialogue between partners 4.Communicate lessons learned to wider world, funders, and other communities

– 9 – Public Policy Engagement  Policy research relevant to poverty alleviation  Systematic outreach to public policy makers  Focus on influence through constructive dialogue

Pathway to Prosperity Program  More than a 2 year project, it’s a 10 to 20 year journey  All the component strategies linked to the Determinants of Poverty. All are necessary. It won’t work to do some parts but not others.

Pathway to Prosperity Program  The heart and soul of the Pathways to Prosperity Program is building capacity for sustainable well-being and prosperity Individual Families Organizations Networks and partners Decision makers Funders Allies

d Pathway to Prosperity Program  More than a technical project, also a spiritual journey.  No unity, no development

FOR MORE INFORMATION: P.O. Box Seattle, WA