Activity 1
We’re excited you’re taking the first step to challenging deep poverty. Watch this introductory video to learn more about the challenge and this section’s learning objectives.
Challenge Deep Poverty: Introduction
Welcome to Section 1 of APA’s Deep Poverty Initiative Challenge. We will focus on understanding deep poverty and exploring the role psychological science plays in addressing it.
Activity 2
Learn what deep poverty is and why it matters by reading What is “Deep Poverty”opens in new window and exploring the APA Deep Poverty Initiative website.
Activity 3
Watch 2019 APA President Rosie Phillips Davis’ TED talk “A Little More Hope, A Little Less Blame” to learn about the origin of the Deep Poverty Initiative and the 2019 APA President behind it. Share it on either your professional or personal media with #ChallengeDeepPoverty.
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A Little More Hope, A Little Less Blame
In the world where there are nearly a billion workers living with their families on less than $2 per day, we still tend to blame poor people for poverty. Economic mobility is increasingly elusive, but 2019 APA President Rosie Phillips Davis, PhD, shares her thoughts on how offering hope — not blame — could help make change possible.
First, we must understand that it is not unusual to blame poor people, or even to fear them. Then we must get over it and promote programs that offer safety nets and help the poor.
Activity 4
The measurement of poverty is not limited to household income. Some poverty measures are objective, such as the official poverty measure, while others tap into individuals’ subjective experiences of living in poverty. The resources below will allow you to explore why measuring poverty is important, how to measure it and how the measurement of poverty has changed over time.
- Watch Exploring the Conceptualization, Measurement and Reporting of SES in Social/Behavioral Research to learn why measuring poverty is important.
- Learn more about how to measure poverty by reading How is Poverty Measuredopens in new window and Measuring Socioeconomic Status and Subjective Social Status. Which measures do you use? Which would make sense to incorporate into your work?
- Examine the Census graphic Measuring Americaopens in new window to see how the measurement of poverty has changed over time. How do you think the measurement of poverty will change in the future?
- Read Best Practices in Conceptualizing and Measuring Social Class in Psychological Researchopens in new window, to understand the importance of reliable approaches to measuring and collection of information about SES, across diverse racial/ethnic populations, and socio-economic groups, serves policy makers, researchers and other data users.
Activity 5
Place matters. Learn about the geographical distribution of poverty by using The New York Times Mapping Poverty In Americaopens in new window tool and then read Rural Poverty & Well Beingopens in new window and The Changing Geography of Povertyopens in new window.
Activity 6
Although they share the same root economic causes, the experiences of communities are unique. Learn the facts about deep poverty and rates of deep poverty in your community using online resources such as:
Activity 7
Limited and inconsistent resources can make it difficult for individuals living in deep poverty to budget their income. Play Spent, Urban Ministries of Durhamopens in new window to get an idea of how challenging financial decisions are when your resources are limited. Reflect on how the game compares to your own experiences with budgeting and share your results and/or what you learned on social media with #ChallengeDeepPoverty.