Section 5: Everyone

APA Deep Poverty Initiative Challenge
Challenge Deep Poverty: Week 5 Everyone

We can all do something to make a difference, whether our actions are small and sporadic, or large and sustained. Ultimately, our success will depend on our advocacy efforts at the federal, state, regional and local levels.

Section 5

By the end of Section 5:

  • You will be introduced to a range of activities that draw on diverse skills and are tailored to the amount of time that you can commit.
  • You will begin to strategically organize knowledge into actionable items capable of advancing policy change.
  • Last (but not least!), you will effectively communicate the mission of the Deep Poverty Initiative and mobilize others to take the challenge.

If you have limited time available

The profession of psychology is service-oriented, with psychologists having expertise in assessing stakeholder needs and developing tailored interventions. Through our work, we can elevate the needs and voices of community members and focus on strengthening skills that foster empowerment. Please watch this video for more information.

Activity 1

Watch the last video from the Deep Poverty Workgroup which will help you consider how to take action, whether you are a researcher, educator or engaged in practice.

Challenge Deep Poverty: Section 5 Everyone

Welcome to Section 5 of APA’s Deep Poverty Initiative Challenge. Everyone can make a difference, whether the actions are small and intermittent or large and sustained.

Activity 2

Make a personal commitment to reading your local news, the national news, or listening to podcasts to be informed about community affairs related to deep poverty and then sharing the news on social media when you find it with #ChallengeDeepPoverty.

Activity 3

Consider how you can leverage media to uplift issues related to deep poverty by reading the following:

Activity 4

Consider whether your research findings are accessible to the general public by watching Extending Your Reach: Techniques to Disseminating Effective Health Messagesopens in new window. 

Activity 5

Research your local town hallopens in new window and plan to attend the next upcoming event. At the town hall, raise the issue of deep poverty in your community and ask your representatives to engage in specific actions to address it. If there isn’t an event taking placeopens in new window call your elected representatives and ask that they take the #TownHallPledgeopens in new window and hold a minimum of four town hall meetings per year, with at least one dedicated to deep poverty.

Activity 6

Tell the media! Using the guidelines in the Op-ed Action Guide (PDF, 93KB)opens in new window, write a social media post with the #ChallengeDeepPoverty or share a quick video of yourself discussing a local deep poverty issue. For a more holistic and strategic approach, you could also discuss the importance of establishing a state or local level Roundtable Discussion of Anti-Poverty Provider (PDF, 343KB)opens in new window.

Activity 7

Expand our reach! Ask one colleague to commit to the Deep Poverty Challenge and dedicate themselves to learning about deep poverty in the United States.

If you have more time available

Activity 1

Watch the last video from the Deep Poverty Workgroup which will help you consider how to take action, whether you are a researcher, educator or engaged in practice. Commit yourself to implementing at least one of the actions suggested immediately and take whatever steps are necessary to do so.

Activity 2

Make a personal commitment to reading your local news, the national news, or listening to podcasts to be informed about community affairs related to deep poverty and then sharing the news on social media when you find it with #ChallengeDeepPoverty.

Activity 3

Get your office, department or school involved in the Deep Poverty Challenge by coordinating a visit to an organization that works with people in deep poverty (e.g., your local food bank or homeless shelter). See the resources below to assist with changing the narratives about deep poverty:

Activity 4

Tell the media! Using the guidelines in the Op-ed Action Guide (PDF, 93KBopens in new window, write either a blog post or an op-ed about a local deep poverty issue and/or the importance of establishing a state or local level Roundtable Discussion of Anti-Poverty Provider (PDF, 343KB)opens in new window. Send your blog or op-ed to multiple news outlets until it gets published.

  • Watch Lori Dorfman's keynote addressopens in new window to learn about how to frame issues so that you can more effectively get people to change their attitudes or behaviors.

Activity 5

Get organized in your local community! Invite leaders from local community organizations to participate in a roundtable discussion about deep poverty. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the work being done in your community and to further explore how psychologists in your area can assist in local efforts to address deep poverty. More information can be found in the Roundtable Discussion of Anti-Poverty Provider (PDF, 343KB)opens in new window.

Activity 6

Talk to your Congressional Representatives! Effective policies are essential to addressing and alleviating deep poverty. Organize a congressional visit with your state or federal legislators to tell them how concerned you are about deep poverty in your community.

Activity 7

Expand our reach! For every day of the Challenge that you complete, ask others (colleagues, friends, students, family) to commit to the Deep Poverty Challenge and learn about deep poverty in the United States.

Date created: 2019

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