We’re confronted with poverty in the District every day, whether it’s the homeless man we pass on our way to work, or the woman who rushes past hoping not to be late for her second job. It’s easy to become desensitized to the issue since we see it everyday. However, we need to remember that poverty is a serious problem here in our nation’s capital and that only way to solve it is to come together as a District and insist that our citizens deserve better. This is where Defeat Poverty DC comes in.
Defeat Poverty DC launched in March 2010 as a coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to eradicating poverty in the District. This coalition works to generate discussion among elected officials and candidates about how to deal with D.C.’s poverty. Defeat Poverty doesn’t itself take positions on political issues, but rather insists that politicians work together to find solutions for the problems faced by the many people living at or below the federal poverty line. The coalition supports policies that:
- Make work possible
- Make work pay
- Make basic needs (housing, food, healthcare, etc.) affordable
As part of making work possible, Defeat Poverty urges political leaders to work to improve adult literacy. Here at DC LEARNs we know adult illiteracy is a serious problem in the District so we applaud Defeat Poverty for its efforts to start a conversation among our elected leaders. Combating illiteracy is one of many steps that our community must take in order to defeat poverty in the District.
No changes can be made in the District without the help of its citizens. We must remember that we have the right, and the obligation, to demand action from our leaders. Defeat Poverty DC and DC LEARNs believe that if we encourage our leaders to act, we will be one step closer to improving the lives of thousands of District residents.
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