In A Framework for Understanding Poverty (1995) and Bridges Out of Poverty (2001), Dr. Ruby Payne asserts that there are powerful hidden rules that govern behavior and interactions within different economic classes. When educators, human service providers, and employers work with people in poverty, these hidden rules are often the source of irritation and confusion among the parties and can be a barrier to success. By better understanding the challenges faced by people in poverty, and by learning to suspend the judgments that often accompany interactions along the continuum of economic class, providers can be partners in paving the way to economic stability.

Poverty creates unique and often hidden obstacles that require specific strategies to overcome. The Bridges approach views individuals living in poverty as problem solvers who have the capability to exercise choice and power in designing their own "future stories." By assessing the various resources available or lacking to people in poverty, such as financial, emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, and support systems, plans to grow these resources can be developed in an atmosphere of mutual respect and dignity.

The Bridges theory of understanding economic diversity has proven effective in several important areas:

• Delivery of human services
• Efforts by employers to boost retention of employees transitioning from welfare to work
• Bringing disparate groups together to work for long-term community sustainability

As opposed to theories that are often applied "from the top down," Bridges offers a common language of understanding, both for people living in poverty and for those who work with them—the two target populations of the Bridges initiative in Syracuse.

In mid-2005, Contact Community Services convened a group of leaders from 25 organizations throughout Syracuse to work collaboratively as the Bridges Advisory Committee. With its support, the initial Bridges conference generated such interest in Fall, 2005 that a team of twenty individuals from the following Syracuse organizations became certified Bridges out of Poverty Trainers in 2006:

• Catholic Charities
• CNY-Works
• Contact Community Services Inc.
• Huntington Family Center
• JOBS-Plus
• The Mary Ann Shaw Center for Public and Community Service at Syracuse University
• Onondaga Community College
• Onondaga County Department of Social Services
• Onondaga County Probation Department
• PEACE, Inc.
• The Salvation Army
• The Spanish Action League of Onondaga County Inc.
• Syracuse Police Department

Training is currently being conducted within these organizations, and the team of trainers continues to collaborate on a monthly basis in order to integrate Bridges training consistently and effectively.

A second successful Bridges conference was held in November of 2006, followed by a 3-day conference in January 2007. More than 1,800 people in our community have received from two to six hours of Bridges training. Several Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World workbook projects are also underway.

The focus of the Bridges initiative is on shared responsibilities, new insights, interdependence and solutions. This work is about connectedness and relationships; it’s about all of us.

For more information, please contact Chris Porter at 315-251-1400 or cporter@contactsyracuse.org .