Is there an Economic Stimulus that would End Poverty?

Marianne Winters is a leader in the movement to end and address sexualized violence and is passionate about a vision of a movement that is inclusive, current, responsive and proactive. She is the Project Diva for Graphix for Change and consultant and trainer for Praxis for Change.

Graphix for Change recently designed Child Poverty in Massachusetts, A tale of two states. In this compelling report, Massachusetts Citizens for Children has pioneered new conversations and commitments toward addressing poverty, including in my home town, Springfield, Mass.

Download report here.

Seemingly endless is the news reporting on the proposed economic stimulus packages. Trillions of dollars being pumped into the financial system so that banks can start lending, businesses can stop laying off and start hiring, in general, so the world can keep turning. Please know, I'm as up for economic stimulation as the next person - I just can't ignore this sinking feeling that I'm having. I'll admit it, it's grown from a sinking feeling to an outright emotion. I knew for sure when I shouted at my television this morning - What about the Poor People???!!!

From everything that I've been seeing and reading, getting the economy back on track means getting back to some type of status quo, which for many many people is not a recovery at all, just a return to when things are bad rather than worse, our communities' poor. Statistically speaking, I live in a poor community. The media household income is around $26,000, the school system that educates my neighborhood's children graduates about 54% of its first year students. Foreclosures and vacant properties are disturbingly increasing. 36% of the children who live where I live are poor.


I also love my neighborhood. Most people at least nod, if not stop and have a conversation with people on the street. The old Victorian homes are beautiful and most have been painted with many colors and are graced with beautiful carpentry and craftsmanship. Our neighbors walk over and play cards or barbecue something for dinner. I can walk to locally owned restaurants and eat food that represents cuisines form around the world. There is a real effort at community as well as delightful successes at cross-cultural communication and friendships.


So, why do I feel that we're being left behind? Perhaps it's because of the assumption inherent in the economic solutions proposed that poverty is acceptable. In fact, no one that I see with a national visibility or level of media attention is saying anything at all about the necessity or desire to eradicate poverty. An economic stimulus package that really worked toward ending poverty would have to include some real efforts at the root causes of poverty. Local communities could receive funds to build and sustain real local grass roots efforts at ending the root causes of poverty. In my neighborhood and neighborhoods like mine, a goal of 100% graduation and 100% job training or college would be set with a full range of supports to make it happen. The focus on ending poverty would no longer be the "trickle-down" notion that has been the default strategy. Instead of expecting a few to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps", we would collectively expect all to fully participate.


Now, I'm not naive to think that there wouldn't be a consequence. First, we'd have to eliminate the threat of poverty as a punishment for mistakes and stock-market fluctuations. I'm looking for the day when the day's headline is something like: All Housed with Decent and Adequate Space to Live, or Children Go to School and Graduate...