THE RURAL DISPARITY
Northeast Indiana Poverty Initiative
We believe everyone should have the chance to live a life of dignity—so they can pursue their dreams. Yet, each of our neighbors faces unique challenges that prevent them from accomplishing their goals, and they need additional resources to help them overcome barriers. But these barriers don’t appear in silos. They intersect indefinitely, and this creates a cycle of poverty.
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Faced with challenges distinct to rural communities, we must collaborate to develop innovative solutions that will reduce the rate of poverty and homelessness, and ultimately improve our neighbors’ economic security; physical health and safety; mental, emotional and spiritual well-being; and ability to navigate resources.
Led by Fortify Life, The Rural Disparity is an initiative that seeks to educate community members, instill empathy for our neighbors and engage leaders in collaborative discussions around the unique needs of rural communities like DeKalb County.
OUR GOALS
Raise awareness of poverty in our communities
Challenge the perceptions of poverty and encourage neighborly acts of kindness
Convene our community’s leaders to develop data-driven solutions to poverty
OUR PLAN
Just like our community’s needs, this initiative will continue to evolve based on what we learn along the way. Our first steps toward building a stronger system to support our neighbors include community roundtables, a public awareness campaign and a community dashboard.
Community Roundtables
A series of roundtables will cover intersectional topics that contribute to poverty and homelessness. Regional and local stakeholders will focus on data collection and processes and the analysis of complex trends and patterns, with the goal of finding solutions to reduce poverty.
Community Poverty Dashboard
A community dashboard will house all of the data and information collected through this initiative and beyond—serving as a resource for nonprofit organizations, policymakers, first responders, funders and more.
Public Awareness Campaign
A PSA (public service announcement) campaign will feature a series of videos to highlight these critical community issues, providing greater insight and developing actionable ways to engage in meaningful solutions. The campaign will be shared throughout Northeast Indiana to foster collaboration—because poverty and homelessness do not stop at county lines.
FOCUS AREAS
Economic Security
Resource Collaboration
To learn more about this initiative or get involved, contact Mitch Figert, Executive Director of Fortify Life, at 260 568-2658 or mitch@fortifylife.org.
This initiative is made possible with support from NIPSCO and the NiSource Charitable Foundation.