Conference At Community College Of Philadelphia Aims To Tackle Poverty
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A South Philadelphia nonprofit implemented a new solution to poverty and will host several political leaders at a conference Wednesday hoping the dynamic approach sticks.
The rags to riches dream has been told to Americans for years -- and it appears to work for immigrants. But for those born in America, scientific research shows it takes five generations to lose wealth and five generations to reverse poverty.
"Philly can't wait five generations," says Otis Bullock, executive director of Diversified Community Services. The organization runs two high quality early child care education centers. One is in the heart of Point Breeze at 22nd and Moore Streets, the other is in South Philadelphia near 16th and South Streets. Bullock says they employ a model "two generational" approach to tackling poverty by educating the children and aiding parents.
"Our centers are sort of a one stop shop, parents can come drop their children off and go upstairs to the parent resource center and get their resume done or get some help searching for a job," he says.
Bullock says supporting parents means more stable families and a better learning environment for children. This approach and the Diversified Community Services centers caught the eye of the William Penn Foundation, which awarded the non-profit more than $400,000 to focus on this two generational approach.
"Every family should benefit from the Philadelphia resurgence," says Bullock, "this approach will allow parents to raise their income and get more opportunities so that they can afford the new housing and benefit from this boom."
Diversified community services also runs affordable housing, after school programs for troubled teens and Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) to help parents improve their skills.
The 2Gen Are You In Conference will bring together government, childhood education and other leaders together at Community College of Philadelphia on Wednesday.
