Community leaders across Windsor-Essex appear ready to tackle the ongoing issue of child poverty in the region.
ProsperUs, a group of local organizations, agencies, and residents released its Cradle to Career Report for winter 2022. It consists of a summary of the Cradle to Career initiative to date, which helps provide children with guidance to be successful from birth to their first meaningful employment.
"With over 40 partners, ProsperUs is a collective unlike any other in this community," said co-chairman Jim Inglis. "We’re sharing data, learning from each other, and planning together to design solutions to support local youth. We’re working differently to remove barriers and change systems so that all children can thrive."
A group of 160 residents, young people, community agencies, and subject-matter experts make up community action networks, which meet regularly.
"The Youth Community Action Network got my attention because they were focused on finding solutions for vulnerable communities," said Youth Community Action Network Youth Co-chair Karen Bernal. "They weren’t trying to lecture or make residents feel inadequate. They were asking for help from young, local residents and actually giving us a voice and the power to be heard and seen."
Among the solutions created by the action networks are wrap-around out-of-school programs in priority areas like Downtown Windsor, West Windsor, and Leamington. Other solutions geared toward elementary school students in those areas are in-school hot meal programs and mental health supports.
The report also pinpointed 50 barriers to success, which range from housing and nutrition to education and employment. Other themes identified as potential barriers included access to services and transportation, as well as technology.
Initiatives to encourage philanthropy are also included in the report, including an investors' table to find streamlined financial support for the Cradle to Career strategy.
The complete report can be found online.
