On July 24th, 10 youth and 2 adults from EACC (along with 4 youth and three adults from Heights Christian Church) set out for Louisville, Kentucky to participate in a poverty retreat at Urban Spirit Church. They were joined there by other youth groups from Hawaii and Kansas. Urban Spirit is a faith community where people of all backgrounds and circumstances come together for service, study, and sabbath. Their focus is on education with a goal of promoting social change through the building of social awareness and new perspectives. For more information, check out their webpage.
Upon arrival, the youth were surprised to discover that they were to spend the week in simulated poverty. All participants were split into work groups. The groups received "Poverty Bucks" each time they completed a work assignment, but were required to use their bucks to pay for all their living expenses including all meals, beds, and even showers! Because their income usually did not cover everything they needed, the groups had to choose something to do without each day.
In addition to work activities, time was spent each day learning about the lives and challenges of the working poor through discussion, educational games, and other activities. By the end of the week the groups were asked to discuss ways they could address the poverty issue in their own towns. Roger Osgood and the EACC youth came up with several ideas that they will be pursuing throughout the upcoming year.
PHOTOS! - Click on the links below for photos of the trip: