Author DeVol addresses sustainability and poverty at local forum

Sunday, November 23, 2014
Phil DeVol

Community sustainability expert and author Phil DeVol spoke to a workshop of local leaders on Oct. 29 at the Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics

The event was sponsored by Transformers and was made possible thanks to an Impact Grant given to Transformers by the United Way of Putnam County.

DeVol is the author of "Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities," "Bridges to Sustainable Communities: A system-wide, cradle-to-grave approach to Ending Poverty in America" and "Getting Ahead in a Just-Getting-by World."

During the workshop, 78 members of the community listened to DeVol discuss key points and action plans in order to help communities such as Putnam County put an end to poverty.

He explained that in order to reduce poverty, all the necessary people to be "around the table." This includes individuals, institutions and community/policy makers, as well as the poor, middle class and wealthy.

This is called the Triple Lens approach.

DeVol also discussed the causes of poverty. He explained that poor choices by individuals are not the only cause of poverty. Three other causes must be taken into consideration in order to minimize poverty in a community: human and social capital found in the community (availability of resources), exploitation of individuals in poverty and political/economic structures and policies.

Many other key topics were also discussed during the three-hour workshop. The participants adjourned for a catered lunch, and a select group met for an afternoon session with DeVol to begin creating an action plan for the Putnam County community.

For more information about Transformers and its affiliated programs, go to www.gobinumc.org/transformers or email gctransformers@gmail.com.

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