Images courtesy of Copper Shores Community Health Foundation

Copper Shores Bridges program is a poverty initiative designed to help community members struggling in poverty or near poverty become more stable. In my last column, I talked about the percentages of people in the Copper Country in poverty, and I described the classes we offer to help individuals struggling in poverty. The class we provide is called “Getting Ahead.” Getting Ahead is focused on individuals, and participants walk away with, what we call a “Future Story.”

Our second Getting Ahead class just completed the 16-week course, and I am confident to say that each individual has increased their level of stability. For some it was getting a higher paying full-time job with benefits. For others it might be creating healthy boundaries at home in order to have a more stable family environment. Needless to say, all “investigators” have improved their stability and we look forward to seeing what they do in their future.

In addition to our second Getting Ahead class, we also offered “Money Matters” for graduates of the first class. Graduates of Money Matters learned details about Dave Ramsey’s financial planning techniques and developed specific skills to balance their budget and plan for a more financially secure future.

Generational poverty is defined as two or more generations living in poverty. In order for an individual to prosper, it takes a community approach. As the old proverb once said it takes a village to raise a child, so Is the case with helping people escape poverty. Nobody wants to be poor and there is no reason a community can not work together to provide a hand up.

Our goal at Copper Shores Bridges is to assist our community to become a “Bridges” community. What does that mean? It means that people in poverty, and leaders in our community, including local businesses come to the table to have a common understanding of poverty and learn how it impacts the community as a whole. We want to help our community come together and realize that we want everyone to live well.

Copper Shores has provided workshops for community leaders and local businesses. The goal of the workshop is to help organizations help understand that poverty is real in the Copper Country, and also to help provide insight into what folks in poverty are really struggling with on a daily basis. As a result, leaders and businesses can identify ways that can help build resources and solve problems within their own walls. If your organization would like to learn more through a workshop, we can provide a one-hour introductory workshop, or provide a full six-hour workshop to learn more about poverty and its effects in the Copper country.

When a community comes together it truly becomes a “Bridges” community where we ALL achieve success. Our economy becomes stronger as a result, and more people can work and provide for their families. Individuals have a sense of pride and ownership and as a community. It’s a community where we don’t just survive, we thrive. It will take a complete unified effort to work together, and I know that Copper Country residents have people that want to make a positive impact on our community.

If you are interested in learning more, or would like a free workshop provide to your organization please contact me at our office and I would gladly make arrangements.

Michael Steber, Copper Shores Bridges Director, 906-281-9204 or msteber@coppershores.org