Economic Security Programs & the Reduction in Overall Poverty

According to Forbes, Alabama ranks 19th in the U.S. for first-generation college students (39%). Students whose parents did not attend college are more likely to come from racial minority backgrounds, identify as female, have dependents, and many other reasons. In the final episode of Season 2 of The Problem with Poverty Podcast, we are joined by Brandi Powers, a teacher at our Vivian Conatser-Turner Early Learning Center. Brandi recently received her Bachelor of Science in Educational Studies with a Concentration in Early Childhood from Athens State University. During the discussion, Brandi talks over her journey of becoming a first generation college graduate out of her family. Brandi is amazing example of just because you come from nothing, doesn't mean you can't make something of yourself and change your future for the better. That's a wrap for Season 2! Be sure to catch up on past episodes of The Problem with Poverty Podcast!

Thank you for coming back the conclusion to our 2-Part conversation with Edie Dugger. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 61% of men and 51% of women report at least one traumatic event in their lifetimes. In this episode of The Problem with Poverty Podcast, we are join by Edie Dugger. Edie is a Center Director for our Moulton Head Start Center. On November 14, 2015, Edie and her family's lives were changed forever when Edie's aunt, Kay Stevens, was murdered at her place of business. During this special 2-part episode, Edie discusses the toll this traumatic event had on her mental health and the journey it took her to the road to recovery. Edie also discusses the important aspect of support and how much of a difference it can make for the person experiencing a traumatic event. She also touches on CAPNA's W.O.W (Wellness in Our Workplace) Initiative. W.O.W was put in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Missed Part 1? Go to Spotify, Apple and Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and YouTube to catch up on our conversation with Edie. Come back next for the conclusion to Season 2 of The Problem with Poverty.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 61% of men and 51% of women report at least one traumatic event in their lifetimes. In this episode of The Problem with Poverty Podcast, we are join by Edie Dugger. Edie is a Center Director for our Moulton Head Start Center. On November 14, 2015, Edie and her family's lives were changed forever when Edie's aunt, Kay Stevens, was murdered at her place of business. During this special 2-part episode, Edie discusses the toll this traumatic event had on her mental health and the journey it took her to the road to recovery. Edie also discusses the important aspect of support and how much of a difference it can make for the person experiencing a traumatic event. She also touches on CAPNA's W.O.W (Wellness in Our Workplace) Initiative. W.O.W was put in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Come back next week for the conclusion of our conversation with Edie! Available on Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and Apple and Google Podcasts! Subscribe today!

It's Wednesday so you know what that means....a new episode of The Problem with Poverty Podcast has dropped! Joe Holmes currently serves as the Chair of CAPNA’s Board of Directors, representing the private sector for Morgan County. Joe is the Communications and Public Relations Coordinator for Decatur Utilities in Decatur, Alabama. In this latest installment, Joe discusses his personal CAPNA journey with board, initially becoming a board member and transitioning into the role of Board Chair. He also discusses the roles of the Board and what his vision of where CAPNA will be in the future. Don't forget to subscribe to stay up to date on all things related to The Problem with Poverty Podcast!

As we dive into Season 2, we thought it would be a great idea to introduce our board members to our audience! Everyone welcome Trae Norrell to the podcast! Trae Norrell currently serves as on CAPNA’s Board of Directors, representing the private sector for Cullman County. Trae is the branch manager and a broker at Byers Wright Insurance in Cullman, Alabama. In this discussion, Trae delves into his journey into becoming a CAPNA Board Member. He also discusses the importance of being a board member and how they help CAPNA accomplish it's mission.

Welcome to Season 2 of The Problem with Poverty Podcast! New Season, New Guests, New Look! In the premiere episode of Season 2, we are joined by Kathleen Ross, President/CEO of United Way of Morgan County. United Way Worldwide consists of 1100 local United Ways operating in 37 countries with 45,000 corporate partners.  What is unique is that United Way is the “Global-local”.  Started 135 years ago in Denver, Colorado, because of a need and it was called “The Community Chest”.  Through the Global-Local concept, resources are poured into the community chest and take out to meet the needs of the community.  During this conversation, Kathleen discusses how United Way impacts Morgan County through funding and support to the members of the community. United Way of Morgan County helps funds CAPNA's Meals on Wheels and More and Senior Programs!

Recent national data suggests that up to 60% of adults in the United States encountered at least one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) during their upbringing. A significant finding highlights a consistent linear correlation between the number of adverse events endured and the likelihood of facing negative outcomes. In the final episode of Season 1 of The Problem with Poverty Podcast, we are joined by Stephanie Owens, the Family Service Manager for CAPNA. Throughout the conversation, Stephanie explores the repercussions of ACEs on adults as they navigate their way through life. She also candidly shares her own experiences of growing up with a traumatic event and how she emerged resilient on the other side. Prepare to be moved as we wrap up the inaugural season of The Problem With Poverty Podcast! Don't forget to revisit all the episodes from Season 1 and stay tuned for what's to come in 2024!

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said in 2021, “Our success as a nation depends on whether all people, regardless of race or ethnicity, have the opportunity to thrive.” In the 6th installment of the Problem with Poverty Podcast, we are joined by CAPNA's Director of Community Services, Cindy Anderson, and General Services Specialist, Mari Juarez. During the discussion, we cover how Economic Security Programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program, help address the problem with poverty?  Be sure to subscribe to The Problem with Poverty so you don't miss an episode!

The latest U.S. Census Bureau data reveals that the poverty rate among Americans aged 65 and older has risen from 8.9% in 2020 to 10.3%. Unfortunately, this age group is the only one experiencing an increase. This surge means an additional one million senior citizens now depend on resources to make ends meet. Back in 1973, the Foster Grandparents Program was established under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act. Its aim was to offer part-time work opportunities to individuals aged 60 and above in various community service endeavors. In the fifth installment of The Problem with Poverty podcast, we are honored to have Chantal Collier from CAPNA as our guest. Chantal serves as the Director of the Foster Grandparent's program at Community Action Partnership of North Alabama. In this episode, Chantal delves into the significant role played by the Foster Grandparent Program in addressing poverty. This program allocates grants to organizations with a dual objective: engaging Americans aged 55 and above in volunteer service and providing personalized assistance to children with special needs to enhance their academic, social, or emotional development. Volunteers in this program contribute by aiding children in learning to read and offering individualized tutoring. They also serve as mentors for troubled teenagers and young mothers, care for premature infants or children with disabilities, and assist children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Be sure to subscribe to The Problem with Poverty!

Investopedia describes the Digital Divide as, “the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology and those that don’t.” 39% of Americans living in rural areas lack access to decent broadband service, leaving 34 million people disconnected from digital life. This statistic matters in the context of Digital Divide Statistics because it highlights the disparity between rural and urban areas in terms of access to broadband services. On this episode of The Problem With Poverty, we are joined by the Director of Innovation and Technology at CAPNA, Nathan Curry. We discuss how technology has affected poverty long term and how we as a society can help solve this problem.