“Poverty is defined as a lack of resources, not just money,” says Barbara Button, Humanity House executive director.
An upcoming class offered by Humanity House will help define what poverty is and better educate people on how to understand it.
Georgia Masterson will lead the class titled “Bridges Out of Poverty” on March 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center in Iola.
Masterson was first certified to teach the class when she worked for the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) and has taught it many times over the years.
Her last time presenting it to the general public was about four years ago, although she has done in-service versions at both Neosho County Community College and Allen Community College.
The class is based on the book of the same name by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D. Payne is best known for her work on the culture of poverty and its relation to education.
“She was an elementary school principal and was married to a man who had grown up in poverty,” said Masterson. “She became fascinated by the similarities in the way the children from poverty in her school reacted and her husband reacted. Their reactions were different from how she would have reacted having grown up middle-class.”
Masterson adds that Payne began exploring the differences between the socioeconomic classes.
“The purpose of the training is to make people aware of what those differences are so that they are less judgemental,” noted Masterson.
The class is aimed at those who don’t live in poverty, but would like to better understand the characteristics of poverty.
“Poverty is a lack of resources,” said Button. “Whether it’s mental health resources or social resources.
“Poverty engulfs a much larger group of individuals than one might think. Anywhere from someone who doesn’t have the support to get mental health treatment to a senior citizen stuck at home with no social life and has no way to get some social interaction.”
Button noted the class is appropriate for anyone in the community. “Case managers for mental health all the way to those who work in corrections,” she said. “Anyone who would like to educate themselves on poverty.”
Humanity House offers other classes, as well, including an upcoming grief support group that will meet from 5 to 7 p.m., on Feb. 19; a monthly cooking class for adults, and an ASL class. Register for the “Bridges Out of Poverty” class by calling Humanity House at (620) 380-6664.
