Lake County makes strides with poverty awareness
The Lake County Community Foundation and its "START SOMETHING campaign" is celebrating the first year since its declaration of Lake County Poverty Awareness Day and the impact it has had driving positive change throughout the region.
Sandy Hart, new chair of the Lake County Board, has issued a proclamation declaring Jan. 23, 2019, as "Lake County Poverty Awareness Day."
Following the inaugural launch of Lake County Poverty Awareness Day 2018, The Lake County Community Foundation is pleased to share an overview of several community activities that were completed in the past year in support of this countywide effort:
• The following entities supported Lake County Poverty Awareness Day by signing similar resolutions or proclamations for their respective communities: Highland Park, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff and Mundelein.
• On Feb. 16, 2018, The Lake County Community Foundation partnered with Mano a Mano Family Resource Center, University of Washington professor Dr. Scott Allard, Lake County Community Development Division and Lake County Health Department to host a webinar to continue the discussion from Jan. 23, 2018, around issues at the intersection of poverty and place. See www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0uCIidpoU4.
• The Alliance for Human Services, a coalition of more than 30 health and human service organizations across Lake County, has committed to providing hands-on professional development opportunities for its members and other community stakeholders to further understand the issues of suburban poverty and how we can work together to collaboratively address them.
• Zion Township hosted its own Poverty Awareness Day activities on June 26, 2018, with Summer Work Program participants. Visit www.lakecountycf.org/2018/07/18/efforts-continue-across-lake-county-to-build-poverty-awareness.
• The foundation has begun to see positive progress through its collaborative efforts to increase access to affordable, nutritious food throughout Lake County. The food insecurity rate continues to decline. More Lake County residents have greater access to fresh produce, and a focused effort has been made to target Lake County communities that have high food insecurity rates. These areas include northwest, northeast and southeast Lake County.
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