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Breaking
the Cycle of Generational Poverty BY BILL VALLADARES The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC)—the planning and intergovernmental coordination agency for the metropolitan area, estimates that the population in Henry County will inflate by more than 200 percent by 2030. Growth at that rate doesn't come without growing pains. Increased diversity coupled with poverty in the county prompted ARC last year to facilitate a series of community discussions. Issues of race, education, employment, and culture topped the list of concerns among the community, businesses and political leaders. Susan Howington, Henry County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences agent, quickly discovered her program was equipped to properly address those concerns. "We needed a change," said Howington. "We operated on a wing and a prayer during the first year. In the second year we needed a facilitator." Howington teamed up with Georgia Family Connection collaborative organization Connecting Henry, Inc., to initiate a program called Break the Cycle. The program helps families in Henry County reduce dependence on dwindling charitable resources. Each daylong session addresses spiritual responsibility, restoration and recovery, public housing, real estate realities, interview and job skills, overcoming your fears, decision-making, and financial identity.
"There was too much dependency on what seemed to be endless resources," said Denese Rodgers, executive director of Connecting Henry. "Families trapped in programs were coming in with pregnant 12-year-olds looking for assistance. Our intent is to break the cycle of generational poverty in small increments." Rodgers was at the forefront when Henry County—galvanized with ideas and energy—began to form new partnerships in 2006 after a surge in population. Following a decrease in financial assistance for Hurricane Katrina evacuees, 800 displaced families decided to permanently reside in Henry County and 175 new children from the Gulf entered the school system. Howington and Rodgers developed the Break the Cycle curriculum by looking at areas where families are deficient. They brainstorm with people who have come out of generational poverty by bringing them to the table. "The goal isn't to get participants to listen all day," said Howington. "When they tell me about their own struggles they teach me." Rodgers agreed. "The problem is that we speak to a poverty-level class from a middle-class mind," she said. "There's a disconnect, so I learned to reframe what I do. Some families are mad, others are distraught and disenfranchised. Something inside them is hurting." "Clients often come in hostile with a sense of entitlement, and 67 percent of our African-American males are dropping out of high school," said Rodgers. "People from 19 unique cultures live in this community and we want every one of them to be in on the decision-making. We attack racism head on and challenge visitors to look at the person, not the color." The cadre of Break the Cycle partner facilitators, conduct face-to-face interviews to identify underlying needs that lead to poverty. According to Rodgers, a lot of her counterparts in social services walk around the elephants in the room. She doesn't dance around racism, molestation, drug abuse, and rape. "One visitor told me, 'You don't understand. I've been raped,' " said Rodgers. "So is 30 percent of the population, I responded. Every day you're afraid, he wins. If you choose not to succeed it's not my responsibility to support you. There's no easy success. Individual problems result in individual achievement."
Marteisa Belt was 17 when a teacher from her GED program invited her to participate in the program. Brett, who was raised by her aunt and uncle, admitted that she began acting out at age 13, and by age 16, was arrested for disorderly conduct. "I didn't want to live in poverty anymore," said Belt. "People make excuses for everything. I asked myself where I was going to end up in 10 years if I continued to live like this." Today Belt interns at the Connecting Henry office doing clerical work. She also is enrolled in a certified nursing program and will continue her studies in London this year. "This is a positive approach program," said Rodgers. "Participants take back something that gives them a positive approach to their lives. "There are no excuses. Just speed bumps. We need to pull to the higher standard." To learn more about Break the Cycle contact Denese Rodgers at connectinghenry@co.henry.ga.us, or Susan Howington at showing@uga.edu. Visit the Connecting Henry, Inc. Web site. |
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