Volunteers needed to encircle the poor and help them with the journey Monday, March 24, 2008

You may have heard the term "Bridges Out of Poverty." Now you are invited to become part of this radically sensible strategy to help people cross the span from dependency to self-sufficiency.

The term has been buzzing around Central New York since at least November 2005. That’s when Philip DeVol, who helped write the book "Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Community," mesmerized a sold-out audience at Le Moyne College in a program sponsored by Contact Community Services.

Since then, there have been two more sold-out conferences in the region. Within 18 months, the Bridges Out of Poverty Initiative had trained more than 2,000 social service professionals in Onondaga, Cayuga and Oswego counties.

Now Angela Douglas, a certified Bridges trainer at Contact, is recruiting volunteers to help expand the Bridges Out of Poverty initiative. The plan is to surround people in poverty with "circles" of caring, supportive individuals whose skills, training and attention can help them across that bridge.

What is it about Bridges Out of Poverty that is so radically sensible? For one thing, it makes visible those who have been out of sight and mind. The Bridges strategy insists on paying attention to the poor as individuals with unique stories, circumstances and challenges. Consider life from their viewpoint: living in the "tyranny of the moment," preoccupied with finding the next meal, dealing with the next emergency.

Though they may have little, the poor might have to leave behind what little they have to better themselves: friends and allies who enable unhelpful behavior; addictions and other physical or emotional crutches; habits and patterns that may go back generations.

They will be moving into unfamiliar territory, governed by hidden rules that are a mystery to the uninitiated. They need to learn the "codes" of language, dress and self-presentation; that money is something to manage, not just spend; that there is tomorrow, not just today.

This is where the "codes" come in. Contact Community Services invites volunteers to join the Bridges initiative and learn how to work with poor individuals and families, one-to-one. Bring your expertise, bring your listening skills and practical life experiences. The idea is for the circles to be self-sustaining, with members supporting each other as well as those they are helping.

To become part of this exciting initiative, or to find out more, call Contact at 251-1400 and leave your name and number.