Poverty suggests a family with no food, clothing, or shelter. In the year 2005, a Poverty Pulse poll was taken by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). It asked the public this question: “How would you describe being poor in the United States?” The responses focused on homelessness, hunger and not being able to meet basic needs.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s latest annual report on poverty in the U.S. states there were 37 million poor individuals (2005) living in this country. That number has not changed much in recent years — as the report states 12.6 percent of Americans were poor in 2005. This number has been averaging between 11.3 percent to 15.1 percent of during the last 20 years.
Once example, in Brooklyn, New York, there is a poverty problem, but to understand poverty in this country, is critical to take a look behind these kinds of numbers that are lingering in the Census Bureau’s reports. Look at the actual living conditions of the individuals that our government claims are poor.
The reality is that in the U.S. the poor are actually well nourished, but some poor families experience temporary food shortages. 89 percent of the poor report their families have enough food, while only 2 percent say they often don’t have enough to eat. Forty-three percent of what the government calls “poor” households actually own their own homes, and a car.
According to Author Robert E. Rector, in his article, “How Poor Are America’s Poor? Examining the Plague of Poverty in America,” poverty in the U.S. can be reduced further, particularly poverty among children. Two main reasons are why American children are considered poor: Their parents don’t work much, and fathers are absent. The author sites that the typical poor family with children is supported by only 800 hours of work during a year, which is only 16 hours of work per week. If work in each family were raised to 2,000 hours per yearthe equivalent of one adult working 40 hours per week throughout the year nearly 75 percent of poor children would not be deemed officially “in poverty” in the U.S.
Children of the City’s website features an audio presentation that sites the fact that there are 17 thousand cases of child abuse or neglect every year, a 48 percent high school drop out rate and the fact that one in three families is living below the poverty line. It is all happening in our own back yards. These individuals continue to need help to keep their kids out of crime and off drugs.
Children of the City’s prevention outreach services have evolved to include trauma intervention, counseling, after-school programs, social work, courtroom and legal advocacy, financial counseling, youth mentoring, and other services that are helping families and their children achieve success socially, at school and at home. Parents can not only get help with their careers, but financially too.
One program is called Future Safe — a monthly event attended by about 500 children with a preventative element designed to deter children from drug abuse, delinquency, gang involvement and teen pregnancy. Often a first step for children from poor families, the program helps them engage in after school programs.
Maybe with more programs like Children of the City, our communities could beat what our government continues to call poverty in America.
Watch the video related to youth mentoring
Help answer the question about youth mentoring
What are 12-17 year olds interested in knowing more about?My husband and I are going to begin to mentor the youth at our church shortly. We look forward to having interactive discussions and hope to have much success in educating them on life.
About Author
Kristin Gabriel is an author and social media marketing professional and works with Rocco Basile (http://www.roccobasile.org ) of the the Basile Builders Group based in New York. Basile is involved
with several charities including Children of the City and the Joe DiMaggio Committee for Xaverian High School.
it’s almost like a photo
great painting 
dude, you own! this looks identical to a photograph
A-W-E-S-O-M-E your works is very awesome! cool!!!! very good
The two which…which on the second line
The area where we grow up (not OF there)
not has it harder->finds it harder
poverty is not a bad influence
you will certainly be familiar (not the other way round)
->you can't "make" a future, change it
that IS not so pleasant
change YOURSELF
a minority of time??? what do you mean???
might not USE such means
"might not seek such means in order to steal??? something that is not lawfully theirs" ->correct this
->the major impact…?of what-where is the subject???
->correct your last statement, you use the words good ENVIRONMENT, why do you then change to bad SOCIETY(there is no such thing..)
->I think it should be :it is just not so likely, but I'm not sure about that
"it's a process WHICH some people can't handle." (not in which)
I would have to agree with you on that matter for the most part, because as in every issue there are definitely gray areas.
I agree with the fact that we should be held accountable for our own actions. After all, a conscience is what divides us from a common dog, or any other animal for that matter. I think it was very wrong of someone such as a guest speaker, someone who is in a position where he can be influential to people, especially the young people, to stand there and tell them that it is not their fault that they screw up their lives by making bad decisions. He is basically telling them that it is OK to lead a life of no real dreams whatsoever, because they couldn't possibly be realized anyway. It makes their lack of money sound like they're handicapped and unable of achieving anything.
I somewhat agree with the fact that children have to suffer their parents mistakes because parents are a huge influence that can make or break you in a way. But, I still don't think the money factor can really be blamed on the parents forever. Once someone is able to get a job and support themselves, it is possible for them to build their own work ethic, habits, life. I think the parents are more accountable for any psychological damage. Damage which can be done when the kids are young that might make them feel inadequate or unable to be strong enough to build a happy life for themselves. But then again, looks like the guest speakers are doing all that for them.
My parents have never been rich, and have never had a break and have been dealt some pretty shitty cards, but I don't blame them for it. It's not their fault. But that's just my personal experience, I'm sure there are parents that can be blamed for things like that. Blamed… someone has to take the blame thats the bottom line. It only makes sense that we take the blame for our own actions.
So even though I personally have never been rich, have always struggled, I'm doing OK. I never thought of my life as being over because of that. Sure, I do agree with the fact that you can get more places faster if you have more money, but thats only because todays society is run by people who worship money and will do anything for it. Which, is what pretty much causes all this division, prejudice, and the whole mindset in the first place. If we all start measuring people's worth or potential based on their bank accounts, we're only adding to the problem. I don't think the point of life is to make as much money as you can, it's to be able to look at yourself at the end of the day and like yourself a bit more that you did yesterday. And I'm not talking about anything religious either. I am an atheist myself and I believe that I can be moral without a religion, but, that is a whoooole nother story for another time.
Sounds great
wich program he is for doing this ? beside a tablet ofc
i like to know what daily is doing about this. that is one of the reasons i moved from Chicago to the south. i got tired of the punks (gangs) shooting at each other when kids are out side playing. they will get the Italian mafia stirred up. they are only coming here to take over this country. it needs to be stopped.
It's all about money..
Dhamma friend,
My master once told a Prof.of psychology from Cambrige U(a Buddhist as well) that he is a seeker of knowledge only.Having knowledge is good,but the ability to use the knowledge to advance spiritually is better.
The Buddha has shown us the WAY,we have to step onto the path and travel on it.All the academic discussion is good,but without travelling the Path shown by the Buddha,it is useless.
'Appamadena sampadetha vaya dhamma sankhara'
'Work diligently.All component things are impermanent.'
véiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii, que difuu
I think that this like many other things that have come and gone in the past years is unfortunatly not a cure. People are always claiming that a diet or something is going to cure autism. I work with children with autism and I've never heard about this working. I know 5 years ago when they thought vaccines may be causing autism it was all over the news. I think if it did it would be on the news and all over the place – because a cure for autism would be a big deal. This may be a good treatment for some children but I don't think cure is the right word. (This of course is just my personal opinion and it would never hurt to try a new treatment)
HOLY CRAP! Comparing this to the original picture, they’re identical!
Been there. Totally get you.
But here's what I did :
. Any country should be happy to have you.
1. Educated those back home that the glitter is not all gold.
2.Fought the stereotypes. Still do. Where I just overlooked and condoned ignorance (yes, typically Indian) in the past, I now stand my ground and tell them to eff off.
One idiot educated is 10 idiots vanquished.
Also, I realised that a lot of our misery owes itself to our being so sweet ( lol, soft targets ???)
3. Moved. Yes, the world is a beautiful place and I don't need to spend my life fighting, resenting and being miserable.
I mean…"And if I ever have kids, I will die before I let them suffer the in(dignities?)……" C'mon.
Even if you don't want to go back to India, there are many other places you could shift base to.
You are a productive member of the society. Pay heavy taxes, I bet
Good luck.
i use photoshop
You did your homework now go and take a rest.
May be take a job in china where Bush has sent everything.
awesome stuff man,….ama practice hard to get to yo level!
Awesome work Williamsshamir
Great video.
Much love Kat