What We All Need to Know About Poverty in Massachusetts

Webinar on the New Report, Obstacles on the Road to Opportunity: Finding a Way Forward, From MASSCAP and MassBudget

Target Audience: Community Action staff at all levels, Board members, customers, partners, and others interested in poverty in Massachusetts  

Join us for an important webinar on the landscape of poverty in Massachusetts today, and on the role of Community Action through the years. MassBudget’s Nancy Wagman will summarize the findings of the recently released Obstacles on the Road to Opportunity: Finding a Way Forward report, written by MassBudget and commissioned by the Massachusetts Association of Community Action. Nancy will review the development and passage of the Great Society Programs that gave birth to Community Action and will focus on critical aspects of poverty in Massachusetts and how we work together to address it.

Understanding the history of Community Action and the causes and effects of poverty and inequality is critical to our success in helping vulnerable people achieve economic stability and mobility. As a result of the training, participants will learn about:

• The nature of poverty, it causes and effects
• Challenges faced by people living with low incomes
• Obstacles that block opportunity for hundreds of thousands of MA residents
• How the programs and advocacy work of Community Action makes a fundamental difference in people’s lives
• Why public policies, programs, and practices matter

About Community Action:

Community Action Agencies were created over 50 years ago to fight poverty, mandated by the President and Congress to “eliminate the paradox of poverty in the midst of plenty.” That mission, combined with the knowledge conveyed in this report, inspire and form a solid foundation for Community Action Agencies and our caring and committed staff to continue our rich history as trusted local institutions that are reliable, flexible, steadfast, and always ready to help those in need.