This document outlines many challenges faced by those living in poverty, including only having one pair of shoes per year, not being able to afford school activities or field trips, and relying on school for meals. It describes feeling ashamed, unsafe in one's neighborhood, and facing mental anguish. It lists lack of support for struggling parents, children, and local businesses. Suggestions are made to improve resources, support local groups, clean streets, and get involved in education to improve conditions.

1. Taneisha R. Bruessard
*

2. *
*One pair of shoes for the whole year, all four seasons
*Can’t afford to participate in fun school activities that
sell things or field trips that cost
*Best meals come from school
*Space heaters being your only source for heat
*Having no control over roaches or mice where you
have to live
*Not feeing safe walking in your own neighborhood
*Mental anguish and stresses that most children
shouldn’t have to face
*Feeling ashamed constantly

3. *Struggling Parents
*Children
*Locally owned businesses
*Politicians promising change
*Big stores and corporations
paying low wages and can
beat local prices (ie. Wal
Mart)
*Neighborhood gangs
*

4. *
*After school programs that end at 4:30 or 5
*Summer programs that end at 4
*Small playgrounds in largely populated areas
*Plans and proposals that never get
implemented
*Great programs that the poor can’t afford
*Shelters that separate families
*Section 8 and affordable housing in poorly kept
areas

5. *
*SELF PRESERVATION!!!!
*CHANGE HOW WE THINK & DON’T ALLOW OURSELVES
TO BE VICTIMIZED
*Improve resources; utilize aldermen, congressmen,
media
*Support local businesses
*Support and utilize food panties
*Clean our own streets… somebody gotta do it!
*Improve education; help at home, show up at school
meetings, volunteer and get involved (if we show we
care others will notice and prioritize accordingly)

6. * https://chicago.legistar.com/Perso
nDetail.aspx?ID=60954&GUID=9143E
96C-800A-40DF-A603-811813DEBE6D
* Michelle Harris, My current
alderman
* https://chicago.legistar.com/Perso
nDetail.aspx?ID=64184&GUID=87578
3E9-DC70-42DC-89DC-B97825056D37
* Roderick Sawyer, My previous
alderman
*

7. *Teach youth how to take care of what is home
*Be an example for neighboring communities
*Room for growth and ability to flourish
*Increase in local jobs
*Better funding for schools, better programs,
more action towards solutions for any problems
*Affordable/free summer programs
*Incentive for new businesses

8. *
*It’s going to take
strength and resilience
*Everybody get involved!!!
*Unite organizations with
a common goal; utilize
each others resources
*Bring attention to issue:
tv news, newspapers,
online news, blogs, etc.
all love to surface
political flaws
*www.jubileeusa.org 80
religious nations and
community groups fighting
poverty across the world
*www.oxfam.org 13
organizations fighting
hunger
*www.liftcommunities.org
Chicago based single
organization fighting for
neighborhood
improvement and uprising

9. *