Civic Engagement

Civic Engagement Program

In a vibrant city like Charlotte, it’s easy to overlook the fact that many are suffering amid affluence. Our Civic Engagement Program increases awareness of the complex issues facing more than 100,000 neighbors living in poverty.

Even families whose income is twice the Federal Poverty Level struggle to afford safe housing, reliable transportation, child care, utilities, food, and other necessities. An unexpected event such as an illness or job loss can send an accomplished person into a downward financial spiral.

More than 100,000 of our neighbors live in poverty. 

Empowering Advocates

The Civic Engagement Program engages and empowers the community to be advocates for people facing poverty by:

Increasing awareness of the complex issues that make it challenging for some neighbors to make ends meet
Encouraging community dialogue and participation in removing barriers to financial security
Changing attitudes and policies that create barriers to economic mobility

The most powerful advocates are customers themselves. We provide training to highly motivated individuals interested in sharing their story and effecting positive change for others living in poverty.

Poverty Simulations

Since 2008, Crisis Assistance Ministry has been the local lead facilitator of Poverty Simulations, a facilitated two-hour immersive experience designed to create awareness among participants of life at the bottom rung of the economic ladder. The simulation presents participants with real-life scenarios and challenges faced by people living in poverty and is immediately followed by a group debrief, during which participants reflect on the experience, discuss insights, and consider next steps.

Learn More: Poverty Simulations

Latest Advocacy News

VITA Celebrates 50 Years of Tax Preparation Assistance

For half a century, the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program has offered free tax preparation assistance to elderly, disabled, and low- and moderate-income households.

International Women’s Day Highlights Achievements and Economic Barriers

International Women’s Day is a great day to reflect on the too-often-unrecognized achievements of women around the world and to acknowledge the significant challenges they must overcome.

Charlotte Delegation Visits Montgomery to Study Racial Justice

A diverse group of about 90 Charlotte residents traveled to Montgomery, Alabama to explore America’s complicated history and ongoing story of racial injustice and social change. “We have to learn our history, ” reflected one participant, “so that we can pass it on to our children.”

Prosperity Now Ranks North Carolina 41st in Financial Health

The 2019 Prosperity Now Scorecard ranks North Carolina 41st out of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia in terms of the financial health of residents. The Scorecard calculates 52 outcome measures such as household income, access to credit, and net worth.

“Economic Mobility” – The Report that Started It All

“Economic mobility” is the centerpiece of nearly every Charlotte-centered conversation these days. Wondering why? Here’s the report that started it all: “Where is the Land of Opportunity?: The Geography of Intergenerational Mobility in the U.S.”, by researchers at Harvard and UC-Berkeley.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Evictions Series – Full Reports with Local Data

For the first time, the community has access to local-level details of where, why, and how tenants are evicted in Mecklenburg County. Inspired by the award-winning book, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, and author Matthew Desmond’s visit here last year, UNC Charlotte’s Urban Institute set out to study eviction at the local level.

Civic Engagement