02 May Radically Accepting Poverty
May 2, 2013
“Radically accepting the poverty of one’s own life and community while simultaneously depersonalizing it makes possible a certain kind of growth/development – especially if one is simultaneously involved in activities that engage the underdevelopment that accompanies poverty.”
Lenora B. Fulani
So says Dr. Lenora Fulani in her just-released, ”Helping the Poor to Grow A Special Report on Solving the Poverty Crisis in America.” Lenora is a developmental psychologist, grassroots educator, political activist and co-founder (with Fred Newman) of the All Stars Project. She didn’t just say these words at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). She showed its power.
This happened last Sunday at an invited Presidential Session, “Education, Poverty, and Development: Breakthroughs in Addressing the Subjectivity of Poverty,” I organized and chaired at the AERA Annual Meeting in San Francisco. Lenora gave a version of her paper and then interviewed three young people who participate in the San Francisco Bay Area All Stars. (The All Stars Project also operates in NYC, Newark NJ, Chicago and Atlanta.) They spoke openly and intimately with the audience about their lives, touching upon ways that being poor narrowed their identities, limited their hopes, and made them feel they didn’t belong to the broader society. When asked how it felt to be in the Hilton Hotel addressing a ballroom full of professionals, they said, “Great.” “It’s a relief.” “We need to speak about poverty.” “We need to grow.”
The Speakers
Professors A. J. Franklin of the Boston College Lynch School of Education and David Grusky, director of the Stanford University Center on Poverty and Inequality, added passionate and important commentary. They highlighted some of the characteristics that make the All Stars uniquely successful. The organization brings development back into the education equation. It’s been a pioneer in using performance—on stage and off stage—to help young people from poor communities to develop. It’s also 100% independently funded. Professors Franklin and Grusky urged that we follow in the footsteps of Fulani and the All Stars: buck the orthodoxy, reject the established wisdom on who young people are, how to help them, and how to fund projects—and help our kids to grow.
Many in the audience cried. I believe everyone in that room grew right then. We were having a new kind of conversation together. And people grow from that.
Kathleen Keenan
Posted at 17:52h, 02 SeptemberI so appreciate finding this article. I live in poverty in a senior apt complex. I hope I can find a way to do something to feel a part of a community. Thank you for your service to humanity.
loisholzman
Posted at 00:40h, 11 JulyThanks for your comment, Diana. I am not familiar with Harrisburg, sorry to say. But there must be some organizations and activities like the Boys & Girls Clubs, some parenting groups, community garden groups, maybe even a theatre group for kids or for adults, Widening the world…that’s where development comes from. Good luck. Do a Google seach. Talk to neighbors, friends, people in organizations, teachers.
Diana Sheppard
Posted at 12:46h, 10 JulyI am a single mother of two children. Just last week my 11 year old daughter said she was bored. When I asked why she replied “because we’re poor”. I went into my spiel about how that is a relative term and how she could get some exposure to what real poverty is. I agree that we don’t have money for everything we’d like to do but what we are truly poor in is connections outside the home. I keep thinking that my opportunity is slipping away as my daughter gets older to give her some formative experiences with a community of young and old people who have play as their main reason to get together.
Do you have any advice on where to find or how to start a group of people “involved in activities that engage the underdevelopment that accompanies poverty.”
We’re in the Harrisburg area of PA and would appreciate any response.
loisholzman
Posted at 15:53h, 28 MayThnk you so much for your thoughts on the session. They mean a lot!
Come visit anytime!
Jrene Rahm
Posted at 12:10h, 28 MayThis was the best and most powerful session at AERA, it was a priviledge to listen to youth and to participate in this session. Thank you for sharing with us and making this session happen. It helped me refocus on the need to bring development and learning back together but did so much more.
The All Stars Project is amazing and most important, you are amazing, the youth who talked to us and reminded us of what it is all really about. Let’s keep working together and move forward together.