This option combines elements of the virtual experience with the power of in-person proximity. Members of Crisis Assistance Ministry’s community engagement team travel to the location where a group of ten or more has gathered to learn about the realities of life for families struggling with limited financial resources.
After an overview of Crisis Assistance Ministry and its role in the community, participants are divided into small groups of 3-4. With the guidance of Crisis Assistance staff, each group shares a laptop and works collectively through an online simulation experience designed to invoke deeper understanding and empathy surrounding the realities of life near the bottom of the economic ladder.
Following the simulation, participants share perspectives, learn from each other, and discuss ways to help create a more just and equitable community.
The presence of Customer Advocates greatly enriches the session, and they participate whenever possible. The Advocates are former customers of Crisis Assistance Ministry who are specially trained to be passionate and empowered voices for themselves and others in the community who are often overlooked.
The experience is designed for adult learners who live or work in Mecklenburg County. Generally one-and-a-half to two hours in duration, it can be customized for different audiences.
The Blended Poverty Awareness Experience can be scheduled for groups of 10 or more. To discuss how this experience could benefit your group, please contact our Community Engagement team directly.
MLK Day invites us to consider how we can contribute to creating communities founded on love, compassion, and understanding. For nearly 50 years, we at Crisis Assistance Ministry have been working on the front line to do just that by providing help, hope, and understanding to people struggling with limited financial resources.
Read MoreThis year’s Giving Tuesday changed lives. We are happy to announce that this is Crisis Assistance Ministry’s second successful year participating in Charlotte’s Giving Tuesday. Crisis Assistance Ministry’s team divided and conquered by simultaneously attending the SHARE Charlotte’s Headquarters Giving Tuesday’s interactive rally for nonprofits and The Greater Charlotte Apartment Association’s Giving Tuesday event where […]
Read MoreIt’s Hispanic Heritage Month! This annual celebration of the cultures and contributions of Americans who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America, runs from September 15 through October 15.
Read MoreEducation and poverty are intertwined, much like the “chicken and egg” dilemma. Investigating how the quality and accessibility of education can either reinforce or break the ongoing cycles of poverty underscores the critical role that education plays in either trapping individuals in poverty or providing them with the tools to escape it. This perspective is crucial in understanding the real-world implications of these cycles and the potential power of education as a transformative force.
Read MoreCharlotte, North Carolina, has become a place where a comfortable life requires a six-figure salary, according to a recent study from SmartAsset. The study’s authors used a 50/30/20 model for their calculations, in which no more than 50% of a household’s income is allocated for essentials such as housing, transportation, and groceries, 30% for “fun” things such as hobbies and entertainment, and 20% for savings, investments, and paying off debt.
Read MorePeriod poverty. It’s not a topic normally raised during economic equity discussions, but that doesn’t make it any less relevant. For half the world’s population, menstruation is a biological reality that brings added expenses and, all too often, unwarranted stigma.
Read MoreBlack History Month serves as a reminder of the resilience, strength, and contributions of Black Americans throughout history. It’s also an opportunity to confront the challenges and injustices that persist, including the racial wealth gap. We at Crisis Assistance Ministry know that through collective will and action, our community can honor the legacy of Black history while working toward a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and prosper, regardless of race or background.
Read MoreThe Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is an often overlooked but invaluable resource for families across the country, including many of the people served at Crisis Assistance Ministry. Aimed at promoting financial wellness and administered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), VITA relies on trained volunteers to provide free tax preparation services to eligible taxpayers. The FREE tax return service is available through two Mecklenburg County agencies this year.
Read MoreFor Pulitzer Prize-winning author and sociologist Matthew Desmond, the answer is YES!
During his recent visit to Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Desmond brought both data and passion to the discussion of why America is one of the richest nations on earth, yet has “more poverty than any other advanced democracy.”
Defining the connection between poverty and mental illness is a chicken-and-egg scenario: does mental illness create an inability to overcome a state of poverty, or does poverty increase or perpetuate the occurrence of mental illness?
Read More