What is Bridges Out of Poverty?

"Bridges Out of Poverty is a powerful tool designed specifically for social, health, and legal services professionals. It reaches out to the millions of service providers and businesses whose daily work connects them with the lives of people in poverty." (Aha Process)

Bridges is not a program. It is a research-based framework of concepts, tools, and resources that equip people to reconsider how they approach their clients, their constituents, their neighbors, and their community.

To comprehensively address the issue of poverty, we must look at it through three lenses: Individual, Institutional, and Community. This Triple Lens approach provides a comprehensive perspective on how we as individuals, organizations, and communities can eliminate poverty.

Session Content— 

This 3-hour overview aims to help you think critically about your role to comprehensively address poverty. Its emphasis will be on the lens of the Individual and will introduce the following content:

• Key Points and Constructs of Bridges
• Mental Models of Economic Class
• Hidden Rules
• Resources

Bridges Out of Poverty is a large framework, rich with resources and an amazing depth of content.  It takes a great deal of time to fully cover all of that material through the Triple Lens approach. The greatest level of change happens with the multi-day and full-day sessions. We know, however, that it’s simply not possible for many people to spend a full day in a workshop.  We therefore offer this 3-hour session that condenses the Bridges material to an overview of its most critical elements.  

Designed for -

Appropriate and relevant for anyone who lives, works in and/or serves the Jackson, Michigan and surrounding areas by contract with Aha! Process, Inc. This presentation is appropriate and relevant for anyone who has a general interest in Bridges Out of Poverty. It will primarily focus on the Individual Lens and will motivate attendants to pursue Institutional and Community change as well.

A common outcome of this session is attendants bringing their learning back to their organization and advocating for a full or multi-day training, which allows time to sufficiently explore the "Triple Lens approach". 

Testimonials - What did you like most about this session?

"Eye-opening awareness of what's lacking in our own community."

"Wow, I have middle-class bias I was not even aware of even though I'm one paycheck away from poverty myself."

"Made me think of all the ways I could help my community."

"Katena is fabulous, she really raises awareness and created new thoughts."

"The group-work sessions and collaboration!"

"The passion and personal experiences of the presenter."

"The global situations brought home using local statistics."

"The suggestions of changes that can be made, even small one's in the work-place to better serve the community and individuals we're hoping to assist."

Bridges Out of Poverty: Community Sessions - FREE
Thanks to funding provided by our partner:

General Registration: $99  FREE

Please refer to our Cancellation Policy

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Facilitated by:

Katena Cain, PhD
Nonprofit Management Consultant

Katena loves to engage her audience. She has facilitated hundreds of workshops and easily connects with each participant.  She uses cognitive questions to help people customize information and then connect that information to their specific circumstances. People appreciate how approachable and relatable Katena is and how she creates comfortable spaces for honest conversation and impactful discussions. Read more about Katena HERE

New dates to be announced soon

*In order to accommodate an evening session, this event will be presented in two 2-hour sessions. Tues 7/12 & Thurs 7/14 from 6-8 pm

The Cross-Cultural Conversations Council invites community members to attend this important training to learn about, uncover, and address systemic racism, biases and barriers for our community members.

Through self-assessment and facilitated activities, participants gain increased understanding of their personal background and perspective on the implications of how their experience affects how they think and react to others from different backgrounds.

Organizations discover the value of practicing a more open and inclusive mindset into day-to-day operations

*Session Agendas for Tuesday -  6:00 pm - 8:00 pm and Thursday -  6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

"Cross-Cultural Conversations, Striving toward Improved Sensitivity in Communication and Clearer Understanding of the Effects of Privilege and Unconscious Bias and Steps to Overcoming Barriers

·         Define cultural awareness, sensitivity, and competence
·         Identify issues of equality vs. equity
·         Recognize the influence of “isms” in our communication
·         Recognize privilege and bias
·         Identify ways to bridge barriers
·         Where do you stand on the continuum of awareness?
·         Addressing micro-aggression's
·         Recognizing unconscious bias
·         Using tools to enhance communication and understanding

Having a better understanding of ourselves, our colleagues, and our clientele will lead to more cohesion and greater effectiveness in our interactions. With improved communication and understanding, staff will be better equipped to adjust expectations and connect in a more productive manner with others.

Additional information-

• You will need video and audio in order to benefit from and  participate fully with the other attendees.
• Please be camera ready, we will ask you to share your cameras during the presentation and to join our break-out room sessions.
  
• Please plan to arrive 10 minutes early as these sessions will need to start on-time to get in the full content.  
• Due to the group-work required at these sessions each workshop requires a minimum of 12 participants. Please commit to this time once registered for full benefit of this learning. *These sessions are not recorded and shared.

 _____________________________________________________________ 

Cost waived: Thanks to our generous partner who has made this workshop available at no-cost: 

No event is free. There are always a great deal of resources, time, money and energy invested. Please be aware "No shows" may impact being able to offer future events at no-cost.

If you need assistance with a cancellation or a change in your registration, or if you are interested in bringing this important work to your organization,  please email Tracey@NonprofNetwork.org or call our office at 517-796-4750 x2

Facilitated By— 

Janan Muhammad
Facilitator

Janan is currently a junior majoring in Human Capital and Society at Michigan State University and is hoping to earn her master’s degree in human resources. She has a passion for diversity and inclusion as well as advocacy. When she isn’t at school, she works at Lansing Board of Water & Light as an HR Co-op, learning and working with people throughout the human resources department. In her free time, Janan enjoys reading and spending time with her friends and family.

Marie Bonkowski
Facilitator

Marie Bonkowski is recently retired from her position as the Director of Student Affairs at Baker College of Jackson. She was a member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council of the Baker College System and the majority of her 20 plus years at Baker was in the position of Dean of Health Sciences. Read more HERE.

~ CROSS-CULTURAL CONVERSATIONS CANCELLATION AND REFUND FOR PAID EVENTS POLICY ~

CCC is committed to delivering high quality, professional development opportunities. This refund and cancellation policy accommodates the minimum time required to prepare for workshops and training's -including the cost of materials, content development, food and refreshments if applicable, and room accommodations.

As a nonprofit, we keep the fees for programs as low as possible. Absorbing the cost of late cancellations would ultimately increase the price of Cross-Cultural Conversations programs.

Credit Policy

A registrant who provides notice more than 48 hours before the start of the session will automatically receive a check refund or credit to be used exclusively for a CCC workshop.  No cash refunds will be given.  

No credits will be issued with less than a 48 hour notice. 

Right to Cancel

CCC reserves the right to cancel any workshop. If a cancellation occurs, registrants will receive a full refund or a credit towards another CCC workshop.

Please Note: Nonprofit Network may record, videotape or photograph public events. Videos and photos are used solely for the promotional purposes of Nonprofit Network. Nonprofit Network will regard as confidential all non-public information obtained during the course of its professional assignments. Information given in a public setting has no expectation of confidentiality.

The Cross-Cultural Conversations Council invites community members to attend this important training to learn about, uncover, and address systemic racism, biases and barriers for our community members.

Through self-assessment and facilitated activities, participants gain increased understanding of their personal background and perspective on the implications of how their experience affects how they think and react to others from different backgrounds.

Organizations discover the value of practicing a more open and inclusive mindset into day-to-day operations

*Session Agenda 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

"Cross-Cultural Conversations, Striving toward Improved Sensitivity in Communication and Clearer Understanding of the Effects of Privilege and Unconscious Bias and Steps to Overcoming Barriers

·         Define cultural awareness, sensitivity, and competence
·         Identify issues of equality vs. equity
·         Recognize the influence of “isms” in our communication
·         Recognize privilege and bias
·         Identify ways to bridge barriers
·         Where do you stand on the continuum of awareness?
·         Addressing micro-aggression's
·         Recognizing unconscious bias
·         Using tools to enhance communication and understanding

Having a better understanding of ourselves, our colleagues, and our clientele will lead to more cohesion and greater effectiveness in our interactions. With improved communication and understanding, staff will be better equipped to adjust expectations and connect in a more productive manner with others.

Additional information-

• You will need video and audio in order to benefit from and  participate fully with the other attendees.
• Please be camera ready, we will ask you to share your cameras during the presentation and to join our break-out room sessions.
  
• Please plan to arrive 10 minutes early as these sessions will need to start on-time to get in the full content.  
• Due to the group-work required at these sessions each workshop requires a minimum of 12 participants. Please commit to this time once registered for full benefit of this learning. *These sessions are not recorded and shared.

 _____________________________________________________________ 

Cost waived: Thanks to the generous sponsor who has made this workshop available at no-cost: 

No event is free. There are always a great deal of resources, time, money and energy invested. Please be aware "No shows" may impact being able to offer future events at no-cost.

If you need assistance with a cancellation or a change in your registration, or if you are interested in bringing this important work to your organization,  please email Tracey@NonprofNetwork.org or call our office at 517-796-4750

Facilitated By— 

Martha York
Facilitator

Martha York is the Community Education Coordinator for Region 2 Area Agency on Aging. As a Master Trainer for numerous Evidence-Based Programs, Martha is skilled at facilitating groups and laying out a safe platform that encourages open expression of personal ideas and experiences. She is a licensed Social Worker who has worked for over 30 years with individuals and families coping with trauma, crisis, and chronic illnesses, encouraging them to strive to live well despite challenging circumstances. Read more HERE