Ending poverty through systemic change - one person, one neighborhood, one community at a time

Hope Takes Action-Aurora is starting its fourth program in January and needs volunteers and supplies.

Many churches and community groups provide food, shelter or clothing to people in need. Although much financial assistance is provided to people living in poverty, very few people ever get out of poverty, even with the help of all this charity.

Hope Takes Action-Aurora is designed on a different model that calls people of all classes together to identify the root causes of poverty in the community. Through advocacy, dialogue and action, the focus is on providing the systemic support needed to alleviate poverty, one person and one neighborhood at a time.

In today's society, people of the wealthy and middle classes create the policy and administer the programs they design to assist the poor in the community. Hope Takes Action-Aurora believes the people living in poverty must be included and heard in order to move people out of poverty. People in poverty are fully aware of their needs and the existing barriers that keep them from moving out of poverty. One needs only to look at payday loans, rent-to-own, and no-money-down car lots to see examples of how predators move into a community to prey on the needy.

Examples also exist in communities where local business leaders and community leaders establish reputable and charitable efforts to assist the poor. They help with obtaining credit and reliable, affordable transportation with low-interest car loans. They also develop safety nets for their low-wage earners that include available day care, emergency transportation services and affordable decent housing.

The fourth Hope Takes Action-Aurora program will begin in January and is set to have graduates from the 18-week program in the spring of 2018. The participants are accompanied by mentors who are trained and available to be their coaches. The mentors are people from the community who will be supportive listeners and friends as these individuals create a future story that moves them closer to their dream of escaping poverty.

Hope Takes Action-Aurora utilizes the "Getting Ahead" workshop series which provides the tools and support necessary to get ahead in today's world.

Hope Takes Action is a community organization formed by local volunteers and organizations to educate, build human capacity, and foster relationships among all economic classes. Hope Takes Action is fighting poverty by employing the "Bridges Out of Poverty" endeavors in the community and the "Getting Ahead in a Just-Getting-By World" workshop series for those wanting to escape poverty. If we work together, we can eliminate poverty in our communities.

For information, contact (630) 354-8894 or hopetakesaction.aurora@gmail.com.

Learn more at www.HopetakesAction.net.

The first 18-week workshop series in Aurora began last January, with the goal of making it a twice-a-year program to support the community. The program is seeking volunteers to assist with mentoring along with people who are interested in participating in the program.

Bilingual programming is available, along with child care and a small stipend. This is a way for volunteers and sponsors to learn more about this program and how they can get involved. They are in great need of individuals and groups to help. Volunteer opportunities include: donating an evening meal for about 50; donating craft supplies, child care supplies, or gas cards. Monetary donations are always welcome. Hope Takes Action-Aurora is a St. Vincent dePaul program which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible.

Hope Take Action-Aurora is led by Denise Claessens and Diane Renner, with an original grant from St. Vincent dePaul, in collaboration with St. Vincent dePaul Society, Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry, First Presbyterian Church, SPARK, Hesed House, St. John United Church of Christ-Aurora and many local volunteers.

Visit www.facebook.com/AuroraHTA/.