Pathways to Prosperity Program
Presented by United Indians of All Tribes Foundation
Initial funding providedby the Northwest Area Foundation
Principle Partners
United Indians of All Tribes Foundation and the Native American Community of Seattle
Northwest Area Foundation
United Indians of All Tribes Foundation
Founded by Bernie Whitebear and supporters in 1972
30+ year history of serving the social, economic, educational and cultural needs of Native Americans in the Puget Sound region
Project implementer and convener of coalition
Northwest Area Foundation
A grant-making Foundation founded in 1934 Focused on long-term poverty reduction in the
Northwest Launched an Urban Native American poverty
reduction initiative Awarded United Indians of All Tribes
Foundation a two-year initial grant
To assist our Native Community in the journey from
poverty to well-being
Program Goal
First Steps: Shelangen Coalition
• “Shelangen” (means “together” in Coast Salish)
• 300 Native Americans participated
• Analyzed root causes of poverty and searched for solutions
• 2,000 Native American individuals and many families surveyed and interviewed
Critical Challenges facing the Seattle Native
American Community
30% live below the poverty line Highest level of homelessness of
any group Real unemployment levels are
near 25%
Critical Challenges facing the Seattle Native
American Community
Highest levels of: infant mortality rate diabetes, heart disease and cancer addictions and chronic mental health
issues disabilities
The Pathway to Prosperity Program is based on 40 years of field
experimentation and consultation with Indigenous communities and development thinkers across North
America and beyond.
Origins of the Model
Origins of the Model
In Seattle through the work of United Indians beginning in 1974 Community Input Process 100 Families Project Continuous experimentation
in community program development
Origins of the Model
Across North America and worldwide through the work of Four Worlds International
Hundreds of Indigenous communities engaged since 1982
Models and principles developed and synthesized through continuous cycles of action and reflection
Many Indigenous Elders, spiritual and community leaders consulted
Numerous research studies and publications produced
What is poverty?Poverty is not simply “a lack of jobs or
income”, but rather “a web of interwoven
problems—poor schooling, bad health,
family troubles, racism, crime and
unemployment—that can lock families out of
opportunity, permanently”.
Joan Walsh “Stories of Community Building
and the Future of Urban America”
The Tree of Poverty has many roots
What Determines Poverty?
1. Poor health2. Weak cultural and spiritual
identity3. Unmet basic needs4. Lack of basic safety and
security5. Fractured social networks
What Determines Poverty?
6. Poor education7. Unemployment/low wages8. Poor access to social
services9. Racism and discrimination
in society10. Ineffective public policy
Summary of Determinants of Poverty
Determinants of Poverty
Weakened Cultural & Spiritual Identity
Unmet
Basic Needs
Lack of Personal Safety & Security
Fractured Social
Cohesion
Low Levels of Education &
Training
Low Income & Lack of Access
to Economic
Development Opportunities
Racism & Discriminatory
Public Practices
Ineffective Public Policy &
Programmatic Initiatives
Lack of access to Appropriate & Adequate
Social Services
Poor Physical,Mental &
Emotional Health
Our Primary Strategy
Transform the
Determinants of Poverty
into the
Determinants of Well-being
Determinants of Well-being
Poor health
Vibrant health
Weak cultural and spiritual identity
Strong cultural and spiritual identity
Unmet basic needs
Basic needs fulfilled
Lack of basic safety and security
Personal safety and security
Fractured social networks
Strong social networks
Determinants of Well-being
Poor education
Appropriate education and training
Unemployment/low wages
Adequate income opportunities
Poor access to social services
Appropriate and adequate social services
Racism and discrimination in society
A societal climate that appreciates diversity and fosters inclusion
Ineffective public policy
Effective public policy
Pathway to ProsperityFour Strategic Elements
1. Address the Determinants of Poverty
2. Use a wholistic, systems approach
3. Working from principle
4. Start small before scaling up
Pathways to Prosperity Pathways to Prosperity ProgramProgram
A comprehensive web of opportunities that form a pathway
The Journey
What do people need to make the journey from chronic poverty and dependency to sustainable well-being and prosperity?
Poverty
Prosperity
jobsskills
culture
help
healing
connect?
support
Nine Lines of Action
for Promoting
Prosperity and
Wellbeing
– 1 –
Education and Training
United IndiansHeadstart and
Early HeadstartLiteracy
Family Strengthening
Early childhood development
Community Development
Wellness
Employment skills
LeadershipDevelopment
CulturalFoundations
EntrepreneurialDevelopment
Job Readiness
StrengtheningCommunity Institutions
And Programs
ParentingEducation
Life Skills
GED
– 2 –
Health and Wellness
Healing and recovery from the impacts of trauma
Addiction recovery Personal growth Access to health
services Community action for
health Influencing public policy
– 3 –
Cultural and Spiritual Revitalization
Elders Council
Drawing on Cultural Leaders
Cultural Research
Culturally based education and training Applying Cultural
Knowledge to Development Problems
Cultural events and gatherings
Cultural based
enterprises
Culture
– 4 –
Community Building
Community involvement in program governance
Community Learning andPlanning
Community basedResearch and
Evaluation
Community Engagement in Strategic Action
– 4 –
Community Building
Specifically:1. Bernie Whitebear Center for
Human and Community Development
2. Quarterly gatherings for evaluation, learning and planning
3. Community core groups4. Community learning processes5. Community based enterprises
– 5 – Offering a “hand-up” and
“bridge-building” Targeted small scale help to
families already engaged in the journey• Eg., a bus pass, help with
groceries until month end, child care emergencies
Access to micro-loans Access to affordable housing One stop shopping and connection
to support and opportunities
Goal: establish a Native American Community EconomicDevelopment Corporation
– 6 – Community Economic
Development
Building individual and community capacity for economic success
Job placement and support Small business incubation and support Social enterprise initiative
• Teepee Camp• Salmon Bake Center• Northwest Canoe House
Capitalization of Native community business development
– 7 –
Partnership Building
Circle of partners to be established to ensure all needed services are available
Special focus on partnerships with other minorities, organizations and groups working on poverty issues
– 8 – Strategic Communication
1. Using media for education and community development
2. Community participation to ensure strong community voice
3. Strategic dialogue between partners
4. Communicate lessons learned to wider world, funders, and other communities
– 9 –
Public Policy Engagement
Policy research relevant to poverty alleviation
Systematic outreach to public policy makers
Focus on influence through constructive dialogue
Pathway to Prosperity Program
More than a 2 year project, it’s a 10 to 20 year journey
All the component strategies linked to the Determinants of Poverty. All are necessary. It won’t work to do some parts but not others.
Pathway to Prosperity Program
The heart and soul of the Pathways to Prosperity Program is building capacity for sustainable well-being and prosperity
Individual Families Organizations Networks and partners Decision makers Funders Allies
d
Pathway to Prosperity Program
More than a technical project,
also a spiritual journey.
No unity, no development
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.unitedindians.org
email: [email protected]
206.285.4425
P.O. Box 99100Seattle, WA 98139
www.fwii.net
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