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OUR VISION IS TO BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POVERTY AND PROSPERITY.

Our vision includes a commitment to the following:

ELIMINATING POVERTY: We do this one person at a time by helping participants find employment, increase assets, reduce debt, improve transportation, increase credit scores, purchase homes, register to vote, acquire social assets, further their education, access healthy foods and work toward justice.

CREATING CHANGE: We want more than to eliminate poverty one person at a time; we want to change the system that keeps poverty in place - and we can by changing public policy. We also want to change how individuals, families and in fact, our entire community views and deals with poverty - and we can do this too, by connecting the prosperous to the poor.

BEING INNOVATIVE: We’re not here to tell people what they need, they know what they need. We’re here to teach them how to get there. We provide the tools and support to do so in a holistic, multi-dimensional, coordinated way - and this is not how things are typically done.

OUR WORK ENTAILS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH FOR LONG-TERM PROSPERITY.

Our work includes a commitment to the following:

• Financial coaching, products and services
• Career coaching, education and training
• Green jobs programs and conservation work
• Leadership development
• Anti-racism and public policy work

HOW IT HAPPENS: Cherkesha started with Community Action Duluth back in 2008. She came to us, struggling to make ends meet after leaving a local shelter; a single mom, without a GED, working part-time at a telemarketing service.

In the past four years, she has been able to take part in everything we do: Green job opportunities, leadership development, education, career and financial coaching, social support and many financial services including matched-savings accounts and tax preparation.

Today, Cherkesha works part-time while pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Human Services, is saving to purchase a home in a matched savings account and gives back by volunteering at our tax site in her 'spare time'!

"There are no words to describe how much of an impact Community Action has had on my life or the overwhelming support I have received and continue to receive. I could never repay what has been done for me but now I am able to look forward to a day where I can be the one giving back the kind of support I've received from Community Action Duluth." - Cherkesha J.