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Spilyay Tymoo, Wrm Springs, Oregon
April 1, 2004
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Davis Paul Boise
el
I'
ft'
"Commercial
business have a
hard time
because a
certain law that
prevents them
from coming
here.
We should get
more businesses
to come
around."
o
ciqh&qI
"Definitely create more revenue for the tribes.
This will help kids and the future. W"e need lead
ership that will enable programs and services to
work better."
"Accountability. I want to
see more community
meetings, and round table
discussions. I want to
know what happens on
these trips they take and
what gets accomplished.
What goes on with all the
Casino money? Council
needs to hold appointed
committee members ac
countable, if they're not
going to show up for the
meetings, cut their pay.
We need more and better
social, alcohol and drug
programs. Another impor
tant thing is languages.
)
i
Wanda VanPelt
Start it in pre-school and
carry it out until middle
school."
by Ashley AguilarSpilyay
Partnership develops strategy to reduce poverty
By Shawncle Surplus
Community Advocate
In a public relations planning meet
ing last winter, the Warm Springs Com
munity Action Team (WSCAT) and the
Central Oregon Partnership were asked
what business we were in.
The immediate thought, for me, was
"poverty reduction" because that is our
goal. I Iowever, we place a lot of value
on how we achieve that end.
Our business could be about "col
laboration" or "grass roots activism,"
depending on who you talk to. We're in
the business of inclusiveness or knowl
edge dissemination.
What occurs to me is that the
WSCAT and the Central Oregon Part
nership (our parent organization) can't
say what one business we're in.
If we could, we'd be like all other
poverty alleviation groups in the coun
try. The WSCAT approach to poverty
alleviation is holistic.
Our approach is about bringing to
gether the best minds around to talk
about poverty - and those minds in
clude people in poverty - and those who
have been in poverty - as well as those
who have researched it or work in pro
viding services to those in poverty.
One of the things we realized early
on as we brought people together to
discuss poverty is that poverty can't be
defined merely as a census track in
come number.
Many people who meet the U.S.
government's definition of impover
ished ($18,660 for a family of 4) are
hardly that.
Many families have lower than me
dian incomes because they choose to
keep a parent home to care for chil
dren or older family members.
Many people who choose seasonal
incomes or lower standards of living
are considered to be in poverty even
though they have all of their needs met.
For the purposes, then, of our work,
the WSCAT has defined poverty as a
lack of choices.
Many people who meet the
U.S. government's definition of
impoverished - $18,660 for a
family of four - are hardly
that. Many families have lower
than median incomes because
they choose to keep a parent
home to care for children or
older family members.
If a family is below the
Government's level for poverty but has
knowingly and willingly made choices
to be there and is happy there, they are
not in poverty for the WSCAT's intents
and purposes.
The WSCAT and the Central Or
egon Partnership approach poverty al
leviation from a five-strategy approach:
1. Expand knowledge and awareness
about poverty and increase inclusive
participation in solutions through ac
tion projects, research, analysis, shared
information and broad public engage
ment. 2. Increase the income and eco
nomic assets of low-income people by
increasing business, employment and
asset building opportunities.
3. Prevent and break poverty's
cycles in children and adults through
the creation of an effective support
services network that is fully utilized.
4. Improve employable skills of low
income people by identifying training
and education needs and providing con
tinuous learning opportunities that are
fully accessed.
5. Improve individual and family
resilience by fostering positive self-concept,
improving decision making and
life skills of children and adults in pov
erty. It is our belief that as resources and
opportunities are provided under these
five strategics, we can be sure that
people in our community have the op
tions that allow them to make their own
choices about how they want to live
and will provide opportunity for those
who are unable to make those choices
about their lifestyles (children, for in
stance) to have an equal opportunity
in prosperity.
Our projects include leadership
training, transportation options, work
on a commercial code, an economic
development project, Heart of Oregon
Corps (jobs and recovery credits for
youth), Boys and Girls Club, a home
ownership project, as well as projects
involving neighborhood investment and
work with a housing initiative, and fi
nancial literacy classes,
If you would like to join the
WSCAT in brainstorming projects for
Warm Springs, or would like to assist
on any of our projects, call the WSCAT
office at 553-3148 or join us the first
or third Thursday of every month at
our Plaza office.
Buy - Sell - Trade - Consign
V Licensed Firearms Dealer
780 SW 4th St.
IMfadras, Oregon 97741-
Anything of value: Jewelry, guns, Old West items,
beaded items, bags, baskets, etc.
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