Addressing Poverty Is The Focus Of Upcoming Workshop

A workshop aimed at addressing poverty in the Alleghany Highlands will be held at First Christian Church in Covington on Thursday, Jan. 17.
The workshop, which is being organized by the Alleghany Highlands Christmas Mother Program, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the church’s Family Life Center, located at 231 E. Fudge St.
Terie Dreussi-Smith, who helped author the book, “Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities to Build a Sustainable Community,” will be the featured speaker.
Dreussi-Smith of Taylors, S.C., formerly worked as a public school teacher and adjunct faculty member for several colleges. She is a full-time consultant for aha! Process Inc.
Businesses, agencies, churches, organizations and schools in communities that are using the recommended strategies from the Bridges Out of Poverty workshop have seen positive changes,   according to Dianne Garcia, who is helping to organize the local event.
Covered topics will include how to increase awareness of the differences in economic cultures and how they affect opportunities for success.
“This workshop is a comprehensive approach to understanding the dynamics that cause and maintain poverty from the individual to the systemic level,” Garcia said.
“Bridges out of Poverty uses the lens of economic class and provides concrete tools and strategies for a community to prevent, reduce and alleviate poverty,” she added.
There will be a registration fee of $25 per person  and all participants will receive lunch and a workbook. The registration deadline is  Saturday, Jan. 12.
To register, use a link at www.eventbrite.com or the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism website at www.ahchamber.com. Online payments can be made through PayPal.
Registration forms may also be mailed to Everyday Elegance, 208 Summit Dr.,  Covington, Va. 24426.  Checks should be made payable to: Bridges/Highlands Christmas Mother.  
“Please take a day to learn how our community can work together to reduce poverty in the Alleghany Highlands,” Garcia said.