New video launched tackles misconceptions about poverty
Cornwall, Ontario (Jun 10, 2022) – The United Way Centraide SDG launched a new video at its AGM on June 8, pushing the community to have an honest conversation about the realities of poverty across our region.
This 12-minute video addresses misconceptions about poverty through the perspectives of three people with lived experience: a young man who fell into addiction and fought to get his life back on track, a single mom who suddenly had to raise her kids on an unstable single income due to unforeseen circumstances, and a young woman who struggled for years to get the help she needed, and once she did, she was finally able to thrive in a way she never knew was possible.
“This was a really important video for us to invest in,” said Stephanie Lapointe, United Way Centraide SDG Campaign & Communication Coordinator, “We’ve been talking about poverty as an organization for nearly 80 years through the lens of the programs we invest in, but we felt it was important to broaden that conversation. Poverty is complex. And because of that, often misunderstood. If we want to move forward as a community in addressing this issue, we need to start by having a common understanding about what poverty is and what it looks like here in Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry and Akwesasne.”
The video, launched at the United Way SDG Annual General Meeting, was shared after it was announced that the organization invested more than one million dollars into the community last year which included the 16 agencies and 19 programs it traditionally funds along with new programs such as the Last Report Fund, Food Hampers, and Hope Bags that were three programs developed with local agencies to address the immediate needs of individuals facing food insecurity and homelessness.
“While we are extremely proud to have developed new partnerships and invested so much more into our community programs this past year, we can’t ignore the reason why these increases were needed. This past year highlighted the social inequities we always knew were present but were, for too long, hidden. We hope this video is the first step for all of us to start looking at poverty differently and breaking through the stereotypes to have an open and honest conversation. We want to work together with the community to ensure ours is one that everyone can thrive in.”
Watch the video here: https://www.uwtalkspoverty.com/
Download the annual report that provides more details about the programs and investments made in 2021-22 her: https://unitedwaysdg.com/wp- content/uploads/2022/06/AnnualReport_Final_Web.pdf
About United Way/Centraide Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry: The United Way of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry is governed by a local Board of Directors, who, with United Way staff and volunteers help to raise funds that assist agencies throughout Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry. Our mission is to improve lives by working together with priorities focused on moving people from poverty to possibility, healthy people, strong communities and all that kids can be.
For more information on United Way/Centraide SD&G, or to donate, visit unitedwaysdg.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Together, we are possibility.
