Live United by Gloria Olson

Did you know that college graduates who work in social services were never required to take a class on poverty?

Dr. Donna Beegle says, “In America we socialize people to believe you have to have a certain kind of shoe, a certain kind of clothing, a certain kind of house, a certain kind of job. And, if you don’t have those things, you are not normal and don’t belong. This is why you see a lot of families from generational poverty with a cellphone, or a big screen or cable TV — when we know they can’t even afford to pay their rent. What we tend to do is judge them and say, “They’re irresponsible. I wouldn’t do that kind of thing!”

But the reality is they are simply trying to belong, hoping that having something a middle class person would have will bring them closer to what that life must be like. Picture that parent with two children living on $468 a month — they don’t have enough money anyway, and they want their kids to belong, so they will say, “OK, get your ‘Starter jacket’ or ‘get your Nike shoes.” Whatever it is that might help them fit in.”

I am a native of Albert Lea born into a working class family. I have a master’s degree in community counseling (emphasis in mental health and career development) with honors. I have worked in the social service field as a career counselor for 17 years.

My professional goal is to make a difference in people’s lives. Three years ago I felt that there was more that I could do to help the customers I serve. I couldn’t understand why at tax time people would buy luxury items when they couldn’t pay the monthly bills. I realized I had no training about poverty on how it impacts individuals and communities.

Then one day I was introduced to the book “See Poverty … Be the Difference!” by Beegle. The book inspired me to take a college online class, Poverty 101, from the University of Portland. The course enlightened my perspective on different life experiences called poverty. I was challenged to understand the impact of poverty on self-confidence, motivation and expectations. I learned the difference between different life experiences such as immigrant poverty versus generational poverty in the United States.

Last year, an invitation was extended to the Blandin Foundation to bring their Leaders Partnering to End Poverty (LPEP) program to Freeborn County. LPEP involved a monthly training where community members participated in community events and conversations to learn about poverty.

Toward the end of the program, our community was asked to identify solutions that would help people move out of poverty.

Out of LPEP was the birth of the Lift One Lift All: Freeborn County Beyond Poverty organization — which will continue the work of LPEP with a focus on how we can engage other community members in the cause. Our mission is: Partnering with the community to bring all voice together, advocating and raising awareness to lift all beyond poverty.

Did you know that in 2013 Freeborn County’s poverty rate was 11 percent, in Minnesota 11.5 percent and in the U.S. the poverty rate was 14.5 percent? This year free and reduced lunch in District 241 was 50.9 percent, compared to the state’s average of 38.5 percent. It appears that there is a poverty crisis in our county.

Poverty is a heavy subject that people avoid discussing. It is important to have community involvement in breaking the “iron cage” of poverty. This is vital to a healthy community. Let’s all work together to address poverty in Freeborn County.

Please consider joining one of our efforts. We are currently focusing on: Community Resource Center, housing, mentorship, background checks and mental health.

You can become part of the solution; contact me at 507-373-4127.

 

Gloria Olson lives and works in Albert Lea as a career counselor for Workforce Development Inc. She is a member of Lift One Lift All: Freeborn County Beyond Poverty.