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The final draft of my economic empowerment toolkit is here. In the coming days, I will be presenting it to the network. I know I’m biased, but I think you’ll find that this tool kit is quite comprehensive. Now this tool kit is more general than specific. However, I see it as a refreshing reminder about what we hope to achieve and how to get there. This tool kit would detail a vast area if it were a map. My tool kit is also a good introduction to economic empowerment. As a novice in this field when I began my work, I created a document that meets regular people on their terms. It is straightforward, to the point, and, hopefully, effective. In the focus group I did with community action agency leaders, they praised the tool kit’s accessibility.
All of that said, I’d like to give a quick overview of the tool kit in this article. After the intro, there is the definitions section. I’ve discussed this before, but definitions are deceptively important. In this section, terms like economic empowerment and social mobility are defined. Although I wouldn’t consider my definitions definitive, they are an adequate place to start. Next is the barriers section. These are the barriers to ending poverty such as housing and generational wealth. With each barrier, I’ve paired some solutions. The fourth section is the general solutions chapter. This is for the solutions that don’t fit under any specific barrier or apply to multiple barriers. The next two chapters are full of links, and they are tools and grant opportunities. In these sections, one can find online resources. Finally, I ended the tool kit with a call to action.
I hope when my tool kit is released to the public, you find it useful. It has been an interesting and rewarding time creating it. I’ve learned so much, and I can’t wait for others to use my knowledge. Therefore, please look it over when you get the chance.
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