The accompanying map highlights the most recent census data for individuals whose incomes are below poverty, and those whose incomes go up to 149 percent of poverty. Why is it important to count individuals just above the poverty rate?

The answer is that the federal definition of poverty has not changed much in recent years. Many reasonably argue that its definition is too constricted. Those whose incomes are just above poverty are generally employed, but are not earning enough to create savings assets for a home, an education, or simply to have an emergency financial cushion. In rural North Carolina, there are approximately  493,777 individuals in this income class -  13 percent of the total rural population.

Overall,  32 percent - nearly one third of all rural North Carolinians - are either in poverty or have incomes in the 100 to 149 percent of poverty income range.

As advocates for change in our communities and in the state, it is helpful to understand more about what constitutes our "poor" population. There is diversity within the population that must inform our response strategies for both policy and practice.

To illustrate this, we've also categorized the poverty population by those whose incomes are 50 percent or less of poverty income and those between 50 and 100 percent of poverty.

Those with incomes at 50 percent or below the poverty level income make up  328,844 individuals or  eight percent of the total rural population. I would say these individuals are chronically poor and in extreme poverty.

There are  779,431 individuals,  11.5 percent of the total rural North Carolina population, with incomes between 50 and 100 percent of poverty income. Research suggests that a significant percentage of this population bobs in and out of poverty based on family circumstances, a lost job, a recession, or lost health insurance. Many, but not all, are working.

I suspect that policy and practice for those in extreme poverty might be different than our policies for those whose poverty situation is more short-term and who are generally working.

And I also suspect our policies are different for those who are between 100 to 149 percent of poverty income, who are usually employed, but nonetheless without the financial cushion to respond to emergencies or save for opportunities.

Without looking at numbers, how do you think this breaks out in your community? Do you know individuals/families who represent one of the three income breakouts I've described? How do we  advocate for them? How do we  work with them? And, perhaps most important, how do we  be with them?

I'll have more thoughts on this in the Rural Center's April newsletter later in the month! 

Congress begins a two-week congressional district work period, April 10-21. This is a perfect opportunity to meet with your member of Congress at home. Legislative focus continues to be health care reform, tax reform, transportation and infrastructure, trade, and finalizing federal FY 2017 appropriations and beginning the process on FY 2018 appropriations.

(Not sure who represents you in Congress? Find out here!)

• inform consumers at the point of sale about what information they collect, how it can be used, and the circumstances under which it will be shared;
• obtain affirmative consumer consent before sharing sensitive customer information including financial, health, Social Security and precise geo-location information, as well as content viewed; and
• allow consumers to opt-out of having their non-sensitive information shared.

One additional nominee, Michael Regan (Department of Environmental Quality), is awaiting Senate committee hearing, and Cooper has yet to name heads for two agencies: Department of Revenue and the Department of Information Technology.