1. Getting at the Root: What is causing Poverty and Hunger With Angela Berkfield - ACT for Social Justice Richard Berkfield - Food Connects

2. Goals To shift the focus from individuals to larger systemic issues that cause poverty. To leave with ideas for action.

3. Sharing a Story Can you relate to this story?

4. Let’s look below the surface

5. Poverty by the #s 15% or 48 million Americans live below the federal poverty line $12,000 for a single adult $24,000 for a family of 4 11.8% or 73,750 Vermonters below federal poverty line 15% of children under 18 in VT live below federal poverty line Livable Wage $33,000 for a single adult $80,000 for a family of 4

6. Adding a Racial Lens Overall there are more white people living in poverty, although people of color are disproportionately living in poverty. (from 2010 census) 9% of white people 26% of Hispanic people 27% of black people

7. The Reality in VT Housing – for every 100 units needed for low- income renters, only 48 are available. VT is 45 th in the nation (Talk Poverty – 2014 report)

8. The Reality in VT Food – in 2013 1 in 5 kids was food insecure, their family sometimes runs out of money to buy food. (Kids Count Data Center)

9. The Reality in VT Jobs – 29% of kids are living in families where no parent had regular full-time employment (Kids Count Data Center - 2013)

10. A missing piece in the puzzle If there is a DOWN, there must also be an UP. Wealth Inequality in America

11. Share What is your reaction to what you’ve just seen? How is economic inequality impacting the people you work with and your community?

13. What causes poverty and hunger? Is it individuals… Laziness Poor Choices Drug Abuse Life events… Illness Divorce Laid off work

14. What causes poverty and hunger? Is it policy... cutting welfare tax code Privatization student debt The economic system… constant growth profit for shareholders health measured by GDP

15. Personal Change

16. Cultural Change

17. Organizational Change

18. Policy Change

19. Economic System Change

20. Listen Learn Connect Make Change Tools

21. We’d love to hear from you... www.act4socialjustice.com angela@act4socialjustice.com www.foodconnects.org richard@foodconnects.org