Getting out of poverty and getting ahead can be tough, which is why Barton County Core Community offers a 20-week class, “Getting Ahead in a Just Gettin’ by World.” A new series of this class starts at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, at First United Methodist Church, located at 2123 Forest Ave. in Great Bend.
According to Rachel Ellson with Core Community, this is a life-changing course intended for anyone who wants to break out of poverty. This research-based anti-poverty workshop was developed by Dr. Ruby Payne and Phil DeVol.
“It’s easy to think of poverty as a money thing, but there is a lot more to it,” Ellson said. “Ruby Payne defines poverty as anywhere that a person lacks resources.” The participants look at their financial, emotional, mental, social and physical resources.
“Some families come from generational poverty while others are situational,” Ellson said. “We help individuals and families resolve poverty in their lives and in our community.”
Ellson does ask people who are interested in taking the course to contact her prior to the first class by email at rachelellson@essdack.org or by calling her at 620-200-2419. “We do a short screening interview to see if Core Community aligns with their goals,” she said. If the “Getting Ahead” class isn’t the best fit, she may point them to other resources.
Post successes and challenges
Previous participants in “Getting Ahead” classes have seen some success, Ellson said. A single mom was able to buy her own house this year. Two participants, ages 18 and 19, graduated from “Getting Ahead” and then went on to graduate from high school.
“Another woman hadn’t worked in many years,” Ellson said. “She was able to get a driver’s license, and buy a car, and she’s working.”
The results aren’t the same for everyone, she noted. It can take three to five years to reach the goal of being safely above the poverty level.
“Everybody’s journey is going to be different.”
After completing the 20-week course, graduates are invited to continue with Phase Two and work on their SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely) goals.
The Nov. 9 program is an orientation meeting. All meetings will start at 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays, with participants entering the church through the west doors facing Stone Street. A meal and childcare are provided at each meeting.
Community connections
Core Community is one of the ministries of Youth Core Ministries (youthcoreministries.org), also called the “Poverty Project.”
Ellson works for ESSDACK as the director of Barton County Academy. “ESSDACK partnered with YCM many years ago when it was recognized that we often serve the same population of people through our learning centers,” she said. “In many Core sites such as in Great Bend, ESSDACK employees also have Core Community positions.” The Great Bend learning center team also runs the local Core.
Core Community needs the help of everyone in the county, she said. Anyone who would like to make a tax-exempt contribution to Core Community may contact Core liaison Chardy Magnett at cmagnetthcc@gmail.com. To learn about opportunities to get involved in other ways, such as providing a meal at the weekly meeting or becoming a Core Friend (commit to an intentional friendship with one of our Core leaders one night a month for 18 months), contact Ellson at the email address or phone number listed above.
Find Barton County Core Community 2 on Facebook.
