The Spirit of Giving

As we approach the heart of the holiday season, the spirit of giving is at its yearly high. A lot of us are busy trying to find that perfect gift for friends and loved ones. This can be stressful. Why do we do it?

You’ve heard it said that giving is better than receiving. As a kid, I thought that was a really crazy idea invented by adults to stop us kids from complaining when we didn’t get what we wanted. But it turns out to be true… giving heartfelt gifts feels really great!

I know it may seem self-serving for me to tell you that making a donation to CANI will make you feel really good. But it’s true. Imagine the power of a gift that helps people who are struggling to make ends meet. Imagine a family who cannot put enough food on the table, or is facing eviction or foreclosure, or having their heat disconnected during this cold winter season… and then imagine that you can help.

Without question - in my twelve years at CANI - I have never seen the demand for help so great. We are literally getting over 1,000 calls per week for heating assistance. While we have been able to help more people in certain areas, we continue to have waiting lists in virtually every program we provide. And I know that we are not alone - our partner agencies are experiencing the exact same thing.

Unfortunately, this increased need has been coupled with more pressure than ever before on the resources we have to help people. CANI, like many organizations in our community, has seen funding cut severely or altogether for some programs. This very simply results in fewer resources to help people at a time when we have more people to help.

My appeal to you now is to consider a gift that will last longer than the holiday season. CANI is just one of many agencies in our community that can help you give a gift that you can feel really good about now and throughout the year. If you give to your United Way, your local food bank, or your favorite other social service agency - it will help people. You may even know someone yourself who is struggling – you can help that person or family directly.

If you have the ability to give, please consider a gift to those who are less fortunate – those whose needs may be greater than yours at this moment. There are so many ways you can help – how you do it is not important. The important thing is that you do it. 

Giving Thanks

It may be cliché to write about what I am thankful for – but I am going to do it anyway. After all, Thanksgiving is next week and we are supposed to reflect on all that we are grateful for in our lives, right? CANI is a huge part of my life, so I can’t help but think about all that I am thankful for through my work here.

First and foremost, I am thankful for the wonderful people that I get to work with each and every day. The employees at CANI are highly professional, highly skilled, and above all, highly dedicated to helping people and serving our mission. There are tough days in this business we’re in, and I watch you work hard every day to do all you can to serve the people of northeast Indiana. Thank you.

Here are some other things I am thankful for (in no particular order):

Our Funders (not to be confused with our founders – who I am also thankful for)

Obviously we could do nothing without you. You provide us with financial resources that help people. But more than that, I am thankful for the relationships that we have developed. You help us do our work better.

Our Individual and Business Donors

Donations are critical to us because they help fill the gaps of other funding sources. I know that there are many charities out there that are deserving of your gifts. I am thankful that you have chosen us and our mission as your cause.

Our Volunteers

In particular, our wonderful Board of Directors and Head Start Policy Council members. You help make CANI go every day. You provide excellent leadership and direction for this organization, and I am excited to get to work with you in the coming years.

Our Partners (of which there are many!)

CANI has many different programs, and I am proud of the partnerships we have developed in each one. We work closely with governmental entities, faith-based organizations, businesses, and many, many more. We could not do our work without you.

Our Clients

You may be in a tough spot right now, but we appreciate the opportunity to serve you. We see your love towards your family and how hard you work to meet their needs. It is inspiring! We will continue helping you in any way we can as you work toward your goals.

Our Communities

Whether you know it or not, almost every one of you is involved in some way with our mission to eliminate poverty. When you vote.  When you advocate for other people.  When you contribute to your church, school, or favorite charity.  When you help your neighbor or family member. I appreciate all that you do in the communities where we live and work.

So there you have it… now it’s your turn. What are you thankful for?

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

Dealing with fluctuating funding levels is not new for CANI. We administer lots of different programs and manage multiple funding streams… and they change literally every year.

However, this year has been a little more stressful than normal for CANI and the families we serve through our Energy Assistance Program (EAP). Our ability to help people pay their utility bills is heavily dependent on a Federal grant that we receive each year. Last year our funding was over $6 million and we served over 12,000 households with those dollars.

Right now we are waiting on Congress to finalize their budget for the upcoming year. What you generally hear on the news is the debate surrounding the politics involved. What we see locally is the effect of the debate not being resolved – thousands of people calling us each week and no guarantee that we will be able to help them.

Because the Federal budget has not been resolved, we can currently only count on 25% of last year’s funding level. This 25% is funding that the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority has allocated out of their own reserves to get us going. At this moment, no Federal funding has been allocated to support heating assistance as we head into the winter months in Northeast Indiana.

As of this week, we have received enough applications and set enough appointments to expend all of the funding we have received so far – and it is not even November yet.

As I said above, fluctuations in funding is normal for CANI as it is for most nonprofit organizations. But the last two years – as both our economy and political environment have been in flux – have been particularly tumultuous.

The most difficult aspect of trying to manage our programs and funds in an environment of uncertainty is seeing the need and not being able to help. And the waiting…

Waiting until we know more so we can make decisions about how to help people the best that we can. One of our least favorite things to do is tell families, “We don’t know… call back later.” We know that families – more than any other time since I’ve been here – are under stress, struggling to make ends meet. But we simply do not know right now whether the funding will be there to serve them.

What I do know is that despite the environment we’re in right now, we have not lost our focus on our mission. We are going to continue to do whatever we can to help communities, families, and individuals eliminate the causes and conditions of poverty. There have always been obstacles to overcome. There probably always will be. But we will keep on making the most of all the resources that are available to us and keep looking for new and better ways to help people overcome their obstacles.

This I am sure of.

What is Poverty?

The Heritage Foundation’s recently released a report on the state of the poor in the United States entitled “Air Conditioning, Cable TV, and an Xbox: What is Poverty in the United States Today?”

This report does not provide the “full picture” of what it means to be poor in America. I fear it leaves out some imperative context needed to fully understand poverty and poverty-related issues. In short, there are more issues to consider than touched upon in the report.

First of all, we as Americans, tend to have a distorted view of what it means to be impoverished in America. It’s easy to look at people suffering in Africa and associate that with “poverty.” Truth be told, poverty is relative. It can mean everything from living on $1.00 a day in Ethiopia (global poverty), to qualifying for free or reduced lunches in the Midwest (poverty in our backyards.)

According to the Foundation’s findings, “the typical poor household, as defined by the government, has a car and air conditioning,” among other things. Additionally, the report states that “some 96 percent of poor parents report their children were never hungry at any time in the prior year.”

The Foundation posits that these items (car and air conditioner) are luxuries, not necessities. I would like to contest that the current era and standard of living needs to be taken into account. I realize there are alternatives to car ownership. Still, public transportation does not meet most people’s needs.  Reaching employers, schools, child care providers, grocery stores and all things we need in our lives simply make private transportation a key need for every family in America today.

As for air conditioners, the mere presence of one is not an indicator of income. It’s not unusual for a rental unit to have one included in the cost of rent; therefore there is no “extra” cost associated with it. What’s more in warm climates, where the temperature can be unsafe (100+ degrees in the summer), air conditioning becomes a health issue. Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to heat exhaustion, dehydration and other related issues.

I question the methodology for obtaining the data on child hunger.  Maybe most families are not going hungry because they seek help in the form of food banks or food stamps. (Proof that there is a need for anti-poverty organization like food banks.) Furthermore, there is a psychological component to this question. What parent would want to openly admit that their children are going hungry? The survey is only as accurate as the responses provided, no matter how off base they may be. The sheer embarrassment and guilt of not being able to provide for would certainly affect parents’ responses.

Reports like this offer a chance for public discourse surrounding issues like poverty. And for that reason, I am happy that the report seems to have started a conversation even if we all don’t always come to the same conclusions. Indeed there are always two sides to an issue. But poverty is so complex that we must not put too much stock in a single report that only speaks to outward appearances. There is generally a lot more going on below the surface.

CANI's Service Delivery Model

In my last blog post, I spoke about CANI’s mission and the various aspects of what it all means. I wanted this time to delve further into our philosophy to reach every family and individual who lives in poverty and provide services in a timely, coordinated manner, so that they can leave poverty behind forever.

CANI serves over half of all the people in poverty in Northeast Indiana every year. Because of this, we are one of the few organizations that can have a true impact on our area’s poverty rates. The trick, of course, is having the system and resources in place to help move all of these families out of poverty for good. That is our challenge, but that is exactly what we’re trying to do.

What does this system look like? Typically a family comes to us for help with a single issue. For example: they need help with their utility bills, or a housing situation, or child care. But what we know is invariably these families have more than one issue they’re facing. If they can’t pay their utility bills, they likely have issues with other bills as well, or they are struggling in their employment situation, or are lacking a certain level of education. They may even be dealing with domestic violence or addictions issues. The point is:

Every family is unique, but almost always, their situation is more complicated than a single program or service will solve.

Our goal then is to build a system that no matter who comes to us or for what reason, we take the time to fully assess the family’s situation, not just their “presenting need” (the reason they came to us.) This process is undertaken together with the family, so that both parties see a more complete picture of the situation.

The key piece then is the next step. When multiple issues are identified we want to be able to provide services to families that meet all those needs, and in a timely manner. Timeliness is crucial. I often think about the finger in the dam analogy here. Families can fix one “hole” at a time, but if they can’t fill all the holes at once, the dam continues to leak and eventually gives way.

And when we speak about services to meet all needs, we’re working on that in two ways. First, and the most desirable, is to create truly integrated relationships with our partners within the community who can provide needed services. By “integrated” we mean, not simply giving a name and number to call, but actually providing access to the service, perhaps even delivering our partners’ service ourselves.

The second way is to add services that CANI itself delivers where it is determined that there are gaps in our community. (In future blog entries, I’ll explain more fully our concept of what the spectrum of family needs is, and more specifically illustrate our collaborative efforts with partners.)

We believe our concept is a good one, but our challenge - why this isn’t fully in place today - is that all this takes resources. Our grants and funding often are constructed in a manner that provides barely enough funding to simply deliver one service, certainly not to provide for the extra time we need to spend with a family to make this concept work.

But we are working every single day to develop those resources and make this system a reality. When we do, we’ll have even more impact on families and our community than we do today.

CANI's Mission or Why I Work at CANI

As I sit here contemplating what my first blog topic should be my mind keeps going back to our mission. After all, our mission is where it all starts. It’s what we’re all about. It dictates what every person in this organization does every day and how we do it.

And – while I love working at this place and love working with the people here – our mission is why I love this job so much.

CANI’s mission is to help communities, families, and individuals remove the causes and conditions of poverty. Sometimes, when we’re in a hurry to tell our story, we abbreviate that statement, and just say our mission is “to eliminate poverty.” While I think that is fine at times, our full mission statement is important because it conveys the full scope of what it will take to actually eliminate poverty in our community.

The first part of the statement talks about helping communities, families, and individuals. This is an important distinction. I usually describe this part of the mission as “macro” and “micro” level efforts.

Definitely, a very huge part of what we do every day is helping people on the “micro” level, with families and individuals themselves. Our basic philosophy is to reach every family and individual who lives in poverty and provide services in a timely, coordinated manner, so that they can leave poverty behind forever. (I will cover this more in my next post.)

But poverty is also impacted by bigger, “macro” types of issues like the systems and policies that affect people and the economic conditions in which they live. Tackling these issues requires work in advocacy, system-building, capacity-building, and economic development.

The second half of our mission statement is just as important as the first: “remove the causes and conditions of poverty.”

Obviously, our greatest hope is to get to the root causes of poverty, because ultimately that’s where true, lasting change will occur. We would much rather “teach someone how to fish” rather than “give fish away.” In fact, the bulk of what we do is developing programs and designing systems that help families get at the root causes of the issues they face.

However, to comprehensively fight poverty, we cannot ignore the conditions of poverty.

This is where Maslow’s hierarchy of needs applies in our world – people need to have their basic needs met before they can concentrate on higher needs. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to focus on things like getting an education or building assets when you must be focused on things like how you’re going to eat today or where you will be sleeping tonight.

Can we ever eliminate poverty?

In my 12 years at CANI I’ve had many, many people tell me that we can’t. But I believe emphatically that we can! It’s a huge job – and it might take longer than I’ll be around – but here’s the very simple reason why I know we can do it…

I see families we serve leave poverty behind all the time.

Why do we presume that not everyone can do it, when we have proof that so many can? It’s CANI’s challenge, and privilege, to help all families and individuals in our community leave poverty behind forever.

The Internet is for Everyone

The Internet can provide a wealth of information and can add real value to our lives. However, low-income families often lag behind their middle income peers when it comes to access to the Internet. This is known as the “digital divide.” According to the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, 63 percent of families with incomes under $30,000 use the Internet; while 92 percent of families earning $50,000-$74,999 are online.


Think of the daily tasks you perform online: banking, completing applications, and even staying informed about current events. Imagine if you didn’t have this convenience. It’s easy to take such a tool for granted. As more and more offices and institutions are becoming paperless, the need for high-speed Internet access is becoming imperative.

There are multiple benefits for low-income families when services are provided online. With access to information and the potential ability to submit applications any time, families are not limited to applying for benefits in-person at local offices within specific timeframes. Also, transportation is not a barrier when you can take care of business from a computer anywhere.

At CANI, we try to accommodate families’ schedules, but it’s impossible to cater to everyone. That’s why Internet access can be very important, especially for working parents who might not have flexible schedules. We offer several of our applications online, but a lot of families still depend on on-site appointments to get assistance because they may not have access to the internet.

Many individuals rely on resources like the public library system to do online tasks. We are fortunate to have a great library system in Allen County that offers this resource and many others, but not every community has that.

CANI has recently learned of a company who is trying to make the Internet more accessible for low-income families. Comcast is offering an Internet Essentials package to families whose children receive free school lunches. Internet Essentials is aimed at helping more students and families have access to the Internet. In addition to a lower price, the Internet Essentials package offers a low-cost computer available at initial enrollment and access to free training.

We applaud companies who are willing to offer services at a fair price to people who have limited incomes. This is a step in the right direction.

How well do YOU tip?

Next time you go out for a meal, here’s some food for thought. How well do you tip?

As you likely know, servers rely on the bulk of their income to come in the form of tips. The base pay of $2.13/hour is barely enough to fill up a tank of gas, let alone support a family.

The truth is low-wage jobs like food service are among the most popular for our clients because they don’t require higher education. Still that doesn’t mean they don’t work just as hard as their college educated peers. So, next time you’re enjoying a meal out, think about the story behind your server or cashier.

Here’s one:

Tina is a recovered drug addict. She is on the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program, which involves housing assistance, along with case management to educate families on how to break the cycle of homelessness.

Tina works full-time at Burger King and if it weren’t for the program she would not be able to pay her full rent. According to her case manager, she is trying to become self-sufficient, paying a portion of her rent and utilities. She receives food stamps assistance, but still has to rely on food pantries to feed her family.

What is most challenging is that her hours are not consistent. Unlike a standard 9-to-5 job, she cannot depend on a 40 hour work week to make ends meet. Tina will more than likely need to be on income based housing until she can find employment that will bring in sufficient income.

Unfortunately, Tina’s story is a pretty common depiction of the everyday struggles of the working poor. Millions of American breadwinners, like Tina, work hard to support their families. But, despite their determination and effort, many are mired in low-wage jobs that provide inadequate benefits and offer little opportunity for advancement and economic security. If you’re curious about the state of working families in Indiana, check out this report from the Indiana Community Action Association.

You can do your part to help by leaving a fair tip. Remember, every little bit helps.

Take the summer "on"

The school year is over. For most, summer conjures up pleasant images: swimming pools, ice cream, baseball games, family vacations. For many low-income children the summer isn’t always a day at the beach. Still, there are ways for YOU to help and make a difference in a child’s life:

Low-income children and youth often miss out on fun childhood experiences due to money constraints or transportation issues.

How you can help: Donate money to CANI’s Youth Program or serve as a mentor for a middle-school aged student for a career shadow session. Mentors are needed in the following professions: Teacher (2), Mediator/Facilitator, OB-GYN, Lawyer (2), Nurse, Special Education Teacher, Physical Therapist, Forensic Scientist, Pet store owner/Veterinarian (2), Police Officer, and Video Game Designer. Mentors will need to commit to 3-5 days during one of the following weeks: June 27, July 11 or July 18. This is a great opportunity to empower youth and enhance your company’s reputation. Contact Rachel Eldridge for more information.

How you can help: Support Wellspring’s Summer Day Camp program – one of the few free Day Camp options available during the summer.

How you can help: Become a Big Brother or Big Sister – this will help not just during the summer, but all year long.

Many children rely on the school system for two square meals a day. What happens in the summer? Are they eating healthy food or any at all?

How you can help: Donate food to a summer program or food bank. Locally, Community Harvest Food Bank has a Kids Café, where they serve hot meals for children in need.

Many students who struggle academically are assigned a tutor during the school year. This is great, but they need year-round attention to improve or stay on track for the next year.

How you can help: Volunteer for a summer volunteer opportunity through Learn United. Low-income students fall behind academically during the summer because they are not exposed to the same kinds of learning opportunities as their wealthier counterparts.

Music: Comfort in the storms of life

The other night I had the pleasure of listening to a talented musician play at a local coffeehouse. Unbeknownst to most, the man is a CANI client. The man, Mike,* fell into a cycle of homelessness and therefore poverty.

When I interviewed him nearly a year ago, he had just found affordable housing through a CANI program. The Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) involves case management and housing assistance to help people learn how to break the cycle of homelessness. Case worker Gwen Brown has been working with Mike the past year and has helped him get back on his feet. He has since maintained gainful employment and seems to be on the right track.

In the interview Mike mentioned his love of music and past experience as a musician. It seems he has pursued his passion and I am happy for him. I imagine it takes a lot to pick up the guitar after putting it aside for so long.

As I listened to him play a variety of folk and rock songs, I was overwhelmed with joy. It was clear by his facial expressions that he was on “cloud nine” doing what he loves. Music has the ability to take away pain, something he alluded to in a few songs he had composed and performed. Studies have shown the power music has to calm, comfort and reduce stress. Still studies are only as valid or relevant as their real-life anecdotes that support them. Mike certainly re-affirmed this concept for me.

I wish Mike the best and hope he continues to play.

*The name has been changed for confidentiality reasons.

What does it mean to be Middle Class?

What exactly is a Middle-Class income? If you consider yourself among the Middle Class you’re in the majority, according to a recent report from the Pew Research Center.

Unlike the Federal Poverty Guideline, which lays out specific metrics, this term seems elusive. Still, people seem to have assigned their own meanings and definitions to this social class. Put simply, this is a label people assign to themselves or their peers. I think the same holds true with poverty, except that people aren’t as willing to associate themselves with this label. Poverty can be a dirty word in some circles.

Even at CANI we face this issue. Our families come to us for help but they don’t necessarily want to be labeled as “low-income” or “poor.” We are sensitive to that stigma and do our best to acknowledge that.

If you aren’t poor, then does that make you Middle Class? The survey’s findings indicate that 53 percent of adults describe themselves as Middle Class. Demographic data shows that the median family income is about $52,000. About half of the respondents who identify as Middle Class earn between $30,000 and $100,000 annually. But about one-in-ten (9 percent) earn between $20,000 and $29,999 annually, and another 12 percent say they make under $20,000 annually.

The bottom line: this term is relative and difficult to pin down. A social and economic construct, it makes Middle Class a messy concept. Is someone making $40,000 a year in New York City considered Middle Class? What about a $100,000-a-year plumber in Nebraska?

So, how about you? What do you consider Middle Class?

Mental Illness Plays a Part in the Complexities of Poverty

A new study suggests people with low incomes are more likely to suffer mental illness than their more affluent peers. It also found that a decrease in income is associated with increased risk of anxiety, substance abuse and mood disorders.

There is solid data to back this claim. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 35,000 adults aged 20 and older who took part in the U.S. National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions. The participants were interviewed twice, three years apart.

The results were astounding. Participants with household income of less than $20,000 per year were at increased risk of incident mood disorders during the three-year follow-up period in comparison with those with income of $70,000 or more per year.

Likewise, participants whose household income dropped between interviews were also at an increased risk of mood and anxiety disorders and substance abuse, compared to participants whose income didn't drop.

At CANI, we have firsthand experience with mental illness and its corollary relationship to poverty. The Shelter Plus Care program helps pay a portion housing costs for people who are homeless and battling a mental illness, HIV/AIDS or substance abuse. Currently, two thirds of our clients on this program have a diagnosis of a Serious Mental Illness (SMI).

There is hope in the form of success stories like Kim, a client on the Shelter Plus Care program. Kim lost her husband in 2006 and subsequently her source of income. With no family support and suffering from mental illness she was left to fend for herself. Desperate for help, she inquired at the CANI office in Steuben County. Soon Family Development Support Worker Sandra Smith connected with Kim.

Over the past three years, Sandra has helped Kim find a safe and affordable place to live, secure food; obtain prescription medications, and perhaps most importantly, find a source of income.

Eliminating poverty is a complex task. Family Development provides the intensive coordination of services, assessment, action planning, and ongoing support needed by many families in order to move them out of poverty. Programs like Shelter Plus Care allow CANI to provide extra help to individuals coping with mental illness.

Be a not-so-secret-activist

The other night I tuned into a great new show on ABC called “The Secret Millionaire.” I’m not normally one for reality TV, but this program held my attention.

The premise of the show is that self-made millionaires are sent to spend a week in the nation’s poorest areas and find the “Good Samaritans” in their communities. As you can imagine, these affluent business people get a jolt of reality as they reside in local housing on welfare-level wages.

Along the way they encounter selfless individuals who continually sacrifice everything to help anyone in need, and ultimately encourage others to do the same. Here’s the best part: at the end of the show they reveal their true identity and donate their own money to these local heroes.

While most of us are not millionaires, I think the show still has a relevant message for everyone who wants to make a difference. We can all do good deeds in our communities. That doesn’t cost a dime. Volunteer at your local soup kitchen. Offer to baby-sit for the single mother next door. Cook a meal for an elderly person. If you want to make your commitment public, you can post a comment right here on our blog. We would love to hear about the good deeds you’re doing; don’t keep it a secret!

Remember, any global change starts locally. As Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round…

Working in the Development office at CANI, it’s easy to feel removed from the daily goings on of the people we help. However, a recent experience allowed me to reconnect with what makes working at CANI so worthwhile.

Every year, CANI Head Start performs a self-assessment, as required by the federal government for grant funding. This process ensures we are providing quality early childhood education by meeting or exceeding system and service requirements. By using the Self-Assessment processes, Head Start sites can annually assess how specific aspects of their program’s operations impact services delivered to children and families. Self-Assessment is not an isolated event, but along with ongoing monitoring, is an integral part of a program’s planning cycle. The hope is that every year the program improves so that we can provide the best early childhood curriculum in the nation.

CANI Head Start calls for staff and community members to volunteer their time to help with this tedious but important process. I agreed to help and was assigned to ride the bus for pick-up and drop-off for Head Start students at the East Wayne Street Center. (Note: CANI Head Start no longer offers bus service. The East Wayne site operates separately from CANI Head Start but has an association with the agency.)

The bus ride was a great way to see how students interacted with one another, the bus monitor and the driver. They were all upbeat and excited about beginning or ending their day at Head Start. All were adorable in their own right. Some sang; some slept and some just took it all in.

These children, like most children, seemed as though they did not have a care in the world. They have loving families who want them to succeed. Their families may not have the same level of financial resources as others, but the amount of money you have does not affect the bond you have with family. At the end of the day - families are families.

Make no mistake, some of these children’s families are probably facing hardships that you or I may never face, but to see the children’s faces – you would never know.

So if you need a pick-me-up, I recommend you spend an hour or two with a bunch of pre-school-aged children. I guarantee you won’t take life nearly as seriously. C’mon…how can you keep a straight face when you are singing about monkeys?

Finding the Right Fit for College

At CANI, we recognize that higher education is the foundation required to earn a livable wage, provide for your family and live a healthy productive life. But are all higher education institutions equal? Does it matter if you go to a for-profit or a non- profit school?

Last October, new rules were released by the Obama administration to strengthen federal student aid programs at for-profit, nonprofit and public institutions. The new rules are meant to protect students from aggressive or misleading recruiting practices among other things.

According to the U.S. Department of Education’s Web site, students who attend for-profit colleges account for only 11 percent of America's college students, but they represent 26 percent of all student loans and 43 percent of student loan defaults. It’s likely that those students—many of whom are low-income— will be hounded by creditors for the rest of their lives.

Indeed a college diploma can open many doors. Higher education can lead to a better paying job, which in turn can lead to an increased level of economic security. Education, income and basic needs create interdependent building blocks for personal and community prosperity.

If you are considering enrolling in higher education, here are a few points to consider:

• Choose a school with regional or national accreditation for the department or degree program you’re studying in;
• Beware of claims of high, i.e. 80% or 90% job placement after graduation. These numbers seem too good to be true and are generally not substantiated;
• Be sure the school offers qualified instructors with job experience or advanced degrees.

If you or a family member are interested in pursing higher education and need help get started, CANI is here to help. Contact our Family Development program, (260) 423-3546.

Remembering Our Roots

Community Action has lost its father. Last week, the world mourned the loss of R. Sargent Shriver, Jr. at the age of 95. Mr. Shriver was a distinguished public servant and a visionary leader whose work laid the foundation for the Community Action movement as we know it today.

As Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity in the Johnson Administration in the mid-1960s, Shriver developed a multi-faceted “War on Poverty” designed to transform the economic and social roots of the conflict over civil rights in America. Like the Peace Corps, the programs of the War on Poverty - including Head Start, Job Corps, VISTA, Community Action Program, Legal Services to the Poor, and Foster Grandparents - continue to serve Americans today.

This man serves as an inspiration for those everywhere who wish to make a difference in the world. This quote pretty much sums up his work:

"It is not what you get out of life that counts. It's what you give and what is given from the heart."

More than anything his death serves as a reminder of the importance of giving back. I hope you will do the same!

You can read more about his Community Action legacy here.

A Second Chance?

A few weeks ago we heard the heartwarming story of a homeless man who gained national attention for his “golden voice” after being discovered by the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch.

The man, Ted Williams, went from panhandling on the side of the road to an overnight sensation. As I read deeper into his story, I found out that this man once had a successful radio career, but lost everything due to drug and alcohol addictions. He fell into a cycle of homelessness and was reduced to begging on the side of the road in Columbus.

It’s amazing how life can change drastically in the course of one day. Since his “discovery” Williams has received queries from big names like the Cleveland Cavaliers, MTV, Entertainment Tonight, and others.

This story illustrates the power of a second chance. People become homeless for any of a number of reasons. Maybe if more people changed their attitudes about homeless people (and people down and out in general) the world might be a better place.

Click here to watch the CBS interview, where he shares his journey.