1. Section: Pre-training
Topic: Poverty
Level: Intermediate Adults.
This topic module provides a general overview and introduction to the concept of poverty, how it
is measured, characteristics of its culture, and its demographic breakdown in the US.
This topic must be introduced to enable our coaches to not only acquire conceptual knowledge
about poverty but to become more aware of how their own upbringing may influence the way
they relate to potential clients.
Potential problems: Poverty is difficult to comprehend since it is a highly subjective experience.
This section must continually be refined to become as personal as possible.
Materials: A Framework for Understanding Poverty (Ruby K Payne), The Working Poor (David
K Shipler), The World Bank website, (http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/26/arts/how-to-define-
poverty-let-us-count-the-ways.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm), The United Nations website, The
Heritage Foundation website, Americorps training material, Mohammad Yunus, An Inquiry into
the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (Adam Smith), NY Times on Amartya Sen,
Decoded (Jay-Z), National Poverty Institute analysis on the 2010 Census,
http://www.npc.umich.edu/poverty/#4, additional information from the Americorps Pre-Service
Orientation booklet, which drew conclusions from the 2000 US Census Bureau
FIRST PAGE
<title> Table of Contents
What does it mean to live in poverty?
Who lives in poverty today?
What does poverty look like?
What are the demographics of the American poor?
Who lives in poverty in Rhode Island?
SECOND PAGE
<title> What does it mean to live in poverty?
Leaders from wildly different time periods and backgrounds have weighed in on the meaning of poverty
and how it impacts the world we share with others.
<talking head> Adam Smith, economist: The poor man… is ashamed of his poverty. He feels
that it either places him out of the sight of mankind, or, that if they take any notice of him, they
have, however, scarce any fellow–feeling with the misery and distress which he suffers. He is

2. mortified upon both accounts…
<talking head> Amartya Sen, policy maker: Poverty is really the lack of freedom to have or to
do basic things that you value.
<talking head> Jay-Z, businessman who came out of poverty: The burden of poverty isn't
just that you don't always have the things you need, it's the feeling of being embarrassed every
day of your life, and you'd do anything to lift that burden.
Text box: “Fundamentally, poverty is a denial of choices and opportunities, a violation of human
dignity. It means lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in society. It means not having
enough to feed and clothe a family, not having a school or clinic to go to, not having the land on
which to grow one’s food or a job to earn one’s living, not having access to credit. It means
insecurity, powerlessness and exclusion of individuals, households and communities. It means
susceptibility to violence, and it often implies living on marginal or fragile environments,
without access to clean water or sanitation” (UN)
Poverty is much more than lacking food or shelter. It is a lifestyle, a mentality, a physical
condition, and an everpresent hardship.
Further reading:
This analysis from the World Bank further defines poverty and shows how policy makers
currently measure it.
ProfessorRuthLister’sbookon poverty comments on the different ways intellectuals has come to address
poverty. Pay close attention to the different definitions of poverty given.
THIRD PAGE
<title> Who lives in poverty?
<< Worldbank Youtube Video link here: http://youtu.be/mFHctW3zQgg >>
 Worldwide statistic of those living in poverty: 1.6 billion people live on $1.25 a day
(http://www.globalissues.org/article/4/poverty-around-the-
world#WorldBanksPovertyEstimatesRevised, figure was for 2008)
 Domestic statistic of those living in poverty: 49.1 million Americans live below the
poverty line, and another 97.3 million Americans earn between 100 and 199 percent of
the poverty line
Further reading:

3. This chapter from the World Bank introduces inequality measures. Those in poverty are always
at the bottom of the income distribution heap, but studying inequality determines how far away
the poor are from the next socioeconomic class. (Skip p 110 onwards and don’t worry about
the calculations)
What do you know about poverty vulnerability? Poverty prevention is just as important as
poverty reduction. As you read this article, think about how poverty is measured. Think about
how this tie in with what you personally know poverty to look like. What factors, in your
opinion, influence how vulnerable you are to poverty?
FOURTH PAGE
<title> What does poverty look like?
Character (introduce absolute poverty) http://www.5min.com/Video/Dealing-with-Poverty-
and-Water-Shortage-in-Bolivia-516895112
<below video> Absolute poverty is defined as not being able to subsist under the current living
conditions. Proper shelter, medical care, nutrition, and clean water sources are usually all
deficient or severely lacking. Basic needs of life are on the danger of not being met.
Character (introduce relative poverty)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J6i1QUnV1U&feature=player_embedded
<below video> Relative poverty is defined as not being able to obtain the same standards of
living of fellow citizens. Needs to cultivate a competent, accomplished sense of self are
diminished since there are fewer resources, opportunities, and goods others enjoy.
<to the side of relative poverty> View #1: American poverty is greatly exaggerated.
View #2: Poverty levels are threatening the American Dream.
FIFTH PAGE
<title> What are the demographics ofthe American poor?
(picture: http://media.salon.com/2011/11/american-dream-460x307.jpg or
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xe5kPU-
QnXU/TwLwJ7q26FI/AAAAAAAAA28/GOfI4N0UI9I/s1600/diversity+group.jpg)
Age

4. Children under the age of 18 comprise the greatest numbers and percentages of people in poverty.
Race & Hispanic origin
The highest numbers of people in poverty are white; however, Hispanics and blacks have the highest
percentages of their population in poverty.
Household type
Out of the large number of married households, a small percentage of them live in poverty. Out of the
small number of female-headed households, a large percentage of them live in poverty.
Employment status
The total number of people in poverty who worked full time or part time is higher than those who did not
work at all.
Educational attainment
The more advanced one’s education is, the less likely it is that he/she will experience high rates of
poverty.
Resident status
The highest level of poverty is found amongst foreign-born, non-citizens.
SIXTH PAGE
<title> Who lives in poverty in my state?
FamilySize Income level
One individual $10,890
A single parentandtwochildren $18,530
Two parentsandtwo children $22,350
 14% of Rhode Island’stotal population(142,000) and 19% of Rhode Island’schildren,(42,441)
livedinpovertyin 2010.
 36.5% of African-American,30%of Hispanic,and9.4% of CaucasianRhode Islandersstruggle in
povertytomake endsmeet.