 Seekers Church School of Christian Living Pat Conover June 16, 2009 Introduction and Worship (10 Minutes) Pat's Presentation (10 Minutes) Nobody can get the things they need to live well entirely by themselves. Money and the other things we need to live well are exchanged in families, groups, communities, organizations, institutions, businesses, markets, governments, etc. Poverty exists as a social fact when social relationships fail to create and distribute what is needed for everyone to live well. Session Three considered how to work within social relationships to help individuals. This session will consider how to change different kinds of social relationships so that more people may live well. Pat will differentiate the concepts of community organizing, issue and movement organizing, group organizing, creating non-profits, direct advocacy, and political advocacy. Plenary Discussion: Reducing Poverty through Social Change (60 Minutes)This discussion process will include 5 minute "huddles to give everyone a chance to form their thinking. Then the whole group parts of the discussion will be free exchange, not reports from the "huddles. Students are encouraged to speak out of the context of the kind of poverty they are particularly interested in and not in sweeping generalities. How can we make employment and starting small businesses work better for people in need? How can we make more benefits and services available to people in need? Homework for Session Five (10 Minutes)What does it mean to you to be a citizen? What are the landmarks you use to guide your action as a citizen? |