Providing Opportunities for Moving Out of Poverty

The Povertybridge program provides services that build capacity, hope, connections and leadership opportunities for individuals who want to move out of the crisis of poverty. It provides opportunities for caring, compassionate individuals to help those experiencing poverty to "navigate" their way out of poverty.

Each unique human being is in control of their own lives -- the captain of their own ship. However, like the special pilots along particularly difficult stretches of the Columbia River, the captain may need a pilot to steer them through particularly difficult waters. Similarly, in the Povertybridge project, "Neighbors" (people experiencing poverty) are linked with "Navigators" (people wishing to help those experiencing poverty).

This experience between the "Neighbors" and the "Navigators" is unique to the Povertybridge project and provides an extremely valuable opportunity for learning about what is necessary to change the poverty dynamics -- for an individual and for our society.

Another key, unique element of the Povertybridge model centers on the "Opportunity Conference", which brings together Neighbors and Navigators for inspiration, training and networking. Dozens of Opportunity Conferences have been held at various venues all around the country.

We provide guidance with implementing a community wide approach called the "Opportunity Community." This process bridges the gap between social service operations and the people who need them by creating a system where everyone is working together, and people in poverty are given opportunities to realize their strengths and reach their potential for moving forward. When communities come together to harness the value of everyone, lives are changed forever.

Headquartered in Portland Oregon, the Povertybridge has created Opportunity Communities in our home town of Portland; Amarillo, TX; Traverse City, MI; and Walla Walla, WA. We also have communities starting in several cities in Michigan and in San Luis Obispo, CA.

We believe that no one should live in a condition of poverty. To that end, the Povertybridge project creates “Opportunity Communities” and other related and supporting activities in communities throughout the nation. Our goal is to end poverty by eliminating the barriers to moving out of poverty, not by providing “services,” but by changing the consciousness of poverty and then by connecting those who are experiencing poverty (Neighbors) with volunteers who agree to help to eliminate poverty (Navigators).

We fight poverty, not the people who live in it.
We believe that all people have knowledge and skills to contribute to breaking poverty barriers.
We educate and build compassion for those who have not experienced poverty.
We work to rid the shame poverty teaches, rebuild the hope poverty steals, and make connections for people living in poverty.
We go beyond connecting people to basic needs.
We take a both and approach (resources and opportunities).
We believe that people behave in ways that make sense from their perspectives.
We do not judge, but seek to understand and break barriers.
We understand that success means different things to different people.
We meet people where they are and assist them in gaining the internal and external capacity to develop to their potential.
We do business differently. What we have been doing to fight poverty has not worked.
We do not mark people with a Scarlet Letter. We accept them for where they are now and assist with a comprehensive approach for breaking barriers.
We question and challenge policy and practice that perpetuates poverty or serves as barriers to people moving out and staying out of poverty.
We take a NASA attitude. Failure is not an option.
We do not give up on human beings. We take an “if not us, than who? approach.

If you are interested in creating an Opportunity Community in your area, please give us a call.