The Food Bank of North Central Arkansas, North Arkansas College, Boone County United Way, Arkansas Career Pathways, the Boone County Resource Council and the O.U.R. Education Cooperative are joining forces to host a Bridges Out of Poverty conference Wednesday and Thursday.The two-day conference will be held at the Durand Center in Harrison. It is designed to bring community leaders together to focus on reducing the social costs of poverty, strengthening the workforce and building more prosperous and sustainable communities across North Central Arkansas.The conference will highlight practical ways to increase understandings of economic cultures and will provide a family of concepts and tools to help employers, community leaders, social service agencies and individuals address poverty in a comprehensive way.Jodi Pfarr, national speaker for the AHA! Process, will be the keynote speaker on Wednesday.
Photo: Jodi Pfarr
Since 2001 Pfarr has worked internationally, conducting seminars that leave people learning and laughing. Her engaging style-and trademark humor-allow her to effectively connect with diverse audiences. Her ongoing clients represent a broad range of groups, including police departments, judges, teachers, religious institutions, social services and fire departments.
Pfarr grew up in a rural area and lives in an urban city, giving her an understanding of both demographics, as well as the diversity and unique dynamics within both. She brings audiences the knowledge she has gained from years of hands-on experience within the criminal justice system, social services, and nonprofit organizations. This vast work experience enriches her presentation with stories from the trenches that audiences find relatable and transferable to their own lives.
Thursdays conference activities will include a half-day poverty simulation and facilitator training for Getting Ahead in a Just Getting by World led by the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas.
The poverty simulation breaks down stereotypes by allowing participants to step into the real-life situations of others.
Poverty is often portrayed as a stand-alone issue – but this simulation allows individuals to walk a month in the shoes of someone who is facing poverty and realize how complex and interconnected issues of poverty really are. After the experience, individuals will have the opportunity to discuss what theyve learned with their peers. The Poverty Simulation is a tool that helps participants rethink the challenges that millions of low-income individuals must face each day. More importantly, this tool helps people identify areas of change that can directly impact the effects of poverty on individuals, families and communities.
Getting Ahead is a 16-session curriculum helping individuals in poverty build their resources for a more prosperous life for themselves, their families and their communities. Getting Ahead provides people in poverty with the same information found in Bridges Out of Poverty, which was developed for community leaders working to end poverty.
Individuals interested in participating in the conference can register online at northark.edu/ce North Arkansas College Community Education. For more information contact the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas at 870-499-7565.
The Food Bank of North Central Arkansas, founded in 1982, is a private, non-profit 510(c)3 charitable food relief organization. FBNCA distributes approximately 3 million pounds of food and other grocery products annually to independent community food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, back pack programs, summer and after school meal programs, and other special programs – touching the lives of an estimated 38,000 individuals each year throughout its nine-county service area.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI