VIDEO: Joining The War Against Poverty

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)—Poverty, it’s not just something that affects those living in large cities.

Making an impact on poverty in Oktibbeha County was the message on Saturday as ideas and discussions filled the Starkville Church of Christ.

“My husband and I both came to the workshop this morning hoping to learn more that will help us in interacting with people in the community that are in poverty,” said  school counselor Cassandra Palmer.

Palmer says solving the poverty problem starts in the classroom.

“I’m really active in the school system and I see that that is a big barrier to children learning and our schools getting better. We’re already trying to help in ways that we can through organizations like P.T.O but we want to find other ways,” said Palmer.

Workshop presenter Kim Coble says through this workshop she hopes to implement outlets to assist in the fight.

“Because of the raised awareness that we can have a getting ahead class and that would be for the people in poverty. Its where the people in poverty get together with the facilitator and we figure out why are you in poverty and what can you do to get out of poverty,” said Coble.

Finding a solution to this issue isn’t going to happen over night but starting the conversation is a move in the right direction.

” I think it’s important to have this conversation because a lot of people have preconceived ideas and that goes both directions. I think people in poverty have preconceived ideas about those who aren’t and I think this kind of workshop begins to address those and break those down to where we can build relationships,” said Palmer.

Workshop Organizer Chris Taylor says over all each community needs to have a better understanding of each other.

” If your going to build a community all 3 needs to know how the other thinks and that’s what we want… the middle class and wealthy to understand what the poor working class is trying to accomplish,” said Taylor.

For more information on how you can join the fight against poverty Contact Kim Coble at 662-648-9406.