PEOPLE for PEOPLE COMBATS POVERTY and VIOLENCE

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25403643

Since its inception, People for People has recognized the interconnectedness of the most serious hallmarks of a community in poverty; for example, the fact that drug addiction leads to desperate acts in order to feed the habit, which, in turn, lead to violence, which results in deaths, often of innocent bystanders. As well, children growing up in a culture of poverty, addiction, gang activity and hopelessness tend not to care about working hard for their own educations, because they can’t envision a future for themselves worth working for in the first place. Much of the time all they ever see is suffering which leads to disillusionment. So many times, they fall prey to drug dealers who promise them quick money and tricked-out lifestyles if they will run drugs or money for them, and before they know it, they are fully involved in the life and probably “using” themselves. Young women who have grown up in households dependent on welfare may not have any role models to teach them what it means to get up in the morning and go to work. They may seek out a man to support them, or try to sell themselves in order to live. If they have babies before they have a way to support themselves, then they have to seek out public assistance and the generational cycle repeats itself.

So many of the dynamics of poverty are repetitive and passed from generation to generation. The news story found at the above web link is only one which illustrates the influence that the older generation has on the next, younger generation. In this case, there is a 13 year old knee-deep in heat-sealing bags of drugs, under the tutelage of her own mother! In another location mentioned in this article, the main supplier of drugs for the street was a 60 year old woman!

The programs and initiatives of People for People are designed to combat these destructive dynamics, which only serve to feed the cycles of poverty and violence, through education, mentoring, counseling, assistance in becoming ready for and finding self-sustainable jobs, financial help through the PFP Credit Union, quality low-cost child care, and eventually, even a place where youth and their families will be able to participate in sports, basketball, fitness activities and family events in a safe, off-the-street community center, now in the planning stages. (You can see a short video about this at www.pfpexpansion.org)

People for People is always changing and growing to fit the needs of the surrounding community in which it is located. It is always relevant to what is going on in the city of Philadelphia, and it is always searching for new ways to change up the face of North Central Philadelphia so that its residents and stakeholders of tomorrow will know less poverty and heartbreak than do the families here today. If you would like to be a part of the change that People for People brings to this area, please visit our web site at www.peopleforpeople.org and send in your contribution today. You never know whose life might even be saved through your donation. People for People, Inc. ...
WE CHANGE LIVES!