How do you defeat poverty? Is it possible to fund the dreams of a family that has never been able to afford a home of its own? The challenges seem so daunting, born of stubborn societal problems. Where to begin? Calm and purposeful, tutor Nancy Welch opened a children’s book printed in big, block letters on pages filled with bigger ideas.
“The world is full of shapes,” said Welch, reading to a girl in the library of a Denver-area elementary school. “What shapes can you see?”
Her young listener’s eyes filled with the wonder of possibility.
Energizing those tough, initial steps for big dreams is the goal of Stride, a local agency that annually assists more than 200 low-income families in Jefferson, Arapahoe and Adams counties.
Stride works to take the homeless off the street, trains single mothers longing to break the chains of public assistance, and strives to turn the aspiration of owning a house into reality.
“What we’re trying to do is break the cycle of generational poverty,” said Sarah Maxwell, a Stride executive.
Since 1991, Stride has claimed a 70 percent success rate in helping families, more than 90 percent headed by a single parent, become economically self-sufficient.
To eliminate dependence on welfare, Stride develops an individual, comprehensive plan for every client, and the components of the plan can include help such as vocational training, job-search assistance and affordable housing, with rent set at 30 percent of the family income.
Successful Stride families can even receive aid in purchasing a first home. The assistance takes the form of tackling credit problems or matching funds for a down payment. Through 2005, Stride reported, 30 former clients have become homeowners through its program.
One of the nagging fears of every single parent is addressed by Stride’s effort to fill after-school hours with chances to grow. Scholarships can be awarded for music lessons or athletic fees. Retired teachers such as Welch provide tutoring in math or language arts.
“There’s fairly strong evidence to suggest that (children who) participate in sports or other after-school programs are less involved in criminal activity,” Maxwell said. “But, more important, we’re trying to show these kids a direction so they can become more confident adults.”
Every house, every education and every solution to a daunting problem begin with a single building block.
“This is a cube,” said Welch, putting down a book filled with photographs of shiny skyscrapers and drawing a block on a sheet of paper on the library desk. “Have you heard of this word before? Have you seen a cube in places outside this book?”
“Yes,” replied the young student, face aglow with the joy of knowing the right answer. “It looks like an ice cube in my freezer. I know what a cube is.”
That’s pretty cool, don’t you think? Stride believes big ideas can be born of self-reliance.
Season to Share
Post-News Season to Share, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, gave more than $1.73 million to 56 agencies last year serving children, and people who are hungry, homeless or in need of medical care. Donations are matched 50 cents to the dollar, and 100 percent of the donations go to the charitable agencies. To contribute, please see the coupon on Page 3B, call 888-683-4483 or visit seasontoshare.com.
