The nonprofit child advocacy organization, Voices for Utah Children, is receiving a $50,000 grant to continue their work fighting intergenerational poverty.
The grant money is coming from the Aspen Institute as part of their newly created Ascend Network. Their goal is to find the leading organizations using what they call two-generation approaches to disrupt poverty and create economic mobility for families. Members of the group will then be able to share their findings with each other. Voices for Utah Children President and CEO Karen Crompton says that aspect of the project has them very excited.
“The beauty of this project is the organizations that received grants are very diverse both in the kind of work they do and where they’re located geographically," she says. "And the opportunity for peer-to-peer learning to identify evidence based strategies and solutions that address poverty."
Crompton says the grant will also allow them to progress the work they’ve already been doing for two years.
“The broad goal is to elevate the issue of poverty, make people aware that we have a situation that we can address. I think a lot of people aren’t totally aware," she says. "It’s a blind spot for many of us who don’t on a daily basis interact with people living in poverty.”
Voices for Utah Children is just one of the more than 50 organizations from 24 states that will receive the money. More than 250 organizations applied.