MILWAUKEE — Poverty in our community affects all generations, especially children.
It's one of the topics a Summit on Poverty will explore October 7 and 8. It will be held at The Wisconsin Center hosted by Social Development Commission (SDC) and Marquette University.
Minister Craig Sanders, took us to 34th and Lloyd for an important reason, "This area needs to know that people still care..."
Sanders not only grew up blocks from there, he is an outspoken leader with the Social Development Commission, helping families find resources to get out of poverty.
Marquette's Dan Bergen says they want their campus to help be part of the solution, "We see that there are challenges here in our own neighborhood and so were partnering with these organizations to address things like housing and safety."
A core issue is the effect poverty has on our children. Penfield Children's Center collected data showing: 97.6% of children in the Behavior Clinic had experienced at least one traumatic event" and "...43.7% had experienced at least five traumatic events..." which "...include child abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, witnessing domestic violence..."
Kari Walters, family therapist in the behavior clinic at Penfield Children's Center shares why this is connected to poverty, "Families have to live on a day to day basis you know and that's whether having enough food to get by that day."
Sanders says some children fear speaking up. Which is why he is hoping this summit will find solutions that will affect generations to come.
You can register for this event, and finding scholarships for people unable to pay by clicking here.
