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Blueprint Quicklinks: Blueprint Report to the Community Community Action Duluth's Case for Change Findings What it takes to Get By in Duluth Blueprint Powerpoint (.pdf) Declaration to End Poverty Blueprint Mainpage

POVERTY IS REAL

Nearly one in three people who live in Duluth struggle to get by on a daily basis.

Of those,12,600 meet the federal definition of poverty. Another 14,500 are eligible for government asistance such as free and reduced lunch, energy assistance and other programs. Many work in jobs that pay an average of $8.50 an hour*. Others are unable to find employment at all. Every day, poverty beats them down and robs them of their dignity and hope.

* median wage for job vacancies in Northeast Minnesota. Based on Minnesota Deporatment of Employment and Economic Development- 2006 Minnesota Job Vacancy Survey- 2nd Quarter findings.

 

ENDING IT IS POSSIBLE

Unfortunately, there is no magic plan that will end poverty in Duluth. We must come together to decide what will work best for our city.

We have the resources:

• A high-quality education system
• Exceptional health care facilities
• An active faith community and nonprofit sector
• A business community with a tradition of philanthropy and service
• Public programs to serve people in poverty
• People who want to move out of poverty.

What we need is community agreement on a direction and a commitment to

eliminate poverty.

Duluth's Blueprint to End Poverty is an initiative that will bring community

members together to determine what it will take to end poverty in Duluth and to form a

plan to bring economic prosperity and hope to every citizen.

It will include:

A Guiding Coalition made up of community leaders from business, faith, government,

education and healthcare sectors, as well as interested citizens who will direct Duluth's

Blueprint to End Poverty.

A group of Blueprint Fellows, made up of people facing the daily challenges of living in

poverty, who will provide a voice for low-wage and underemployed community members

who are unable to particiapte in the Blueprint initiative.

The Duluth Community, will be invited to take part in a dialogoue wiht authors, experts

and elected officials about the causes and possible solutions to ending poverty in our

community.

A series of Strategy Sessions will bring everyone together to generate local ideas that

will address social, economic and political topics related to poverty, minimum wage, the

challenges of the working poor, public policy, discrimination and increasing social capital.

These strategy sessions will produce an outline for Duluth's Blueprint to End Poverty and

will be shared with the entire community through a series of forums and discussion

formats.

Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate. We need innovative thinkers and new

attitudes in order to meet this challenge and create a community of care- respectful of all

and free of poverty. We have the resources and the people.

Together, we will come up with a plan. Ending poverty is possible.