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“Understanding the culture of poverty is essential for creating effective interventions and programs.“
~Ruby K. Payne, PhD, A Framework for Understanding Poverty
What happens when a few people bring one class to Ponca City about helping people get ahead financially? Well, in a caring community like this, it leads to a program that can help individuals and families move forward in their lives. Getting Ahead is a course for resilient people who are just “getting by.” It equips them with tools needed for more stability, and its programs nationally and in other Oklahoma locations have proven successful. The Getting Ahead course is coming to Ponca City in January!
It all began when a few community members—Tara Goldman, Scott Haywood and Kelli Northcutt—attended a Bridges Out of Poverty training in Osage County. They then brought the course to Pioneer Technology Center. After the training, over half of those attending wanted to participate in bringing the program to citizens in Ponca City, which led to a community coalition to organize the program. There are several committees coordinating different needs to make it a success, and as Executive Director of the Community Health Foundation, Derion Schieber is the chair.
Schieber explains how this program reminds her of the very successful Leadership Ponca City program which is currently in its 39th class: “I truly believe this is a very similar program in the framework and the community support. There will be 12-15 modules, a dinner and speakers in each class who are community leaders who can provide members, called investigators, with the social capital needed to move forward.” Leadership Ponca City works to make connections and see the interworks of the city. For Getting Ahead investigators, the topics will be the interworks of poverty and the systems involved. Knowledge is key to moving forward in life.
She goes on, “Leadership is so successful because it truly works. If you look at the people who are leaders in this community, many of them attended Leadership. Getting Ahead can be the steppingstone for people to make their own path to change since poverty has infrastructure issues with most policies and procedures developed for the middle class.” Understanding how this works can assist people in navigating the system.
Successes have been great, and that is why there is excitement to see this in Ponca City. Nationally, 70% of Getting Ahead graduates reported increased stability within the first year, with many achieving gains in employment, education and housing. Communities implementing this program have seen higher rates of job retention and reduced reliance on public assistance. For instance, in the successful Muskogee program, they saw a $1.5 million reduction in reliance on social services annually, a $2 million increase in taxable income, and an additional $100,000 in sales tax generated each year. They have realized that for every $1 invested, there was a return on investment of $9.
In her book A Framework for Understanding Poverty, Ruby K. Payne, PhD, emphasizes, “Poverty affects all aspects of life, including education, health, and employment.” This is why it is critical to meet people where they are to bring resources and others who can help with skills and understanding.
Ponca City already has a smaller version of the program with Bridgeway’s Getting Ahead While Getting Out program, which graduated a recent class of 9 men who were transitioning into the community after incarceration. Vicki Wasson explains their program follows a similar plan, and she has wanted the broader program to come to Ponca City.
Tara Goldman, Executive Director of United Way of North Central Oklahoma, is one member of the coalition bringing the program to Ponca City. She is coordinating the enrollment committee. Potential class members can complete an online application at the United Way website, Uwnco.org (clicking on Impact to find Bridges Out of Poverty). Applications can also be picked up at the United Way office or at First United Methodist Church (the location where meetings will be held) during Coryell Cupboard hours on Tuesdays. Goldman emphasizes that dinner will be included for the family, and there will be a nursery provided for children during the workshop portion of the program each week. Plans are to meet on Monday evenings.
Community members can help! If you or your business is interested in being a sponsor for a night, the cost is $600. Half sponsorship is also available for $300. Smaller donations can also be given by going to their Zeffy link found on their Facebook page, Getting Ahead, Kay County. If sponsors want to also provide the meal for their evening, that is encouraged but not required. The planned overall cost for the program each semester offered is $8,000, which can cover books, supplies, childcare needs, participant incentives and food. Contact Scheiber for more information about sponsorships.
According to information about the program found online, “Getting Ahead is about more than training. It’s about equipping individuals and families with the tools, confidence, and support they need to build stability and create brighter futures.” While this can greatly help families in our community today, think about the future for the children. Payne suggests, “Poverty can be generational, with individuals growing up in poverty and continuing the cycle.” Anything improving the lives of families in our community will help their children with a better start. Wouldn’t you like to be part of making this a reality?
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