Community members and local citizens in Penhold came together to discuss poverty and how it impacts communities during a focused conversation with the Central Alberta Poverty Reduction Alliance (CAPRA).
“It was a discussion on the barriers right now in the community (with regards to CAPRA pillars), what's being done, what could be done and who should be involved,” said Jennifer Blaylock, coordinator with the town's Family and Community Support Services office. “We talked about how as a community, can we help one another and help the community as a whole to battle poverty.”
About a dozen local citizens came out for the recent meeting to discuss poverty and some of the related areas.
“The two pillars (of CAPRA) that the group spoke about at Penhold's conversation were economic security as well as early childhood development,” said Blaylock. “Those aren't the only pillars of poverty reduction but those are the two that we discussed that evening.”
Citizens discussed a number of topics, noted Blaylock, including the high unemployment rate across the province, the lack of jobs, rising food prices and the cost of living, as well as those individuals and families on fixed incomes.
“Some discussion was on (general) areas that are affecting everyone right now in Central Alberta, Penhold not being an exception,” she said. “Our economy is a big concern.”
Several CAPRA meetings were held across the region between January and March, with the most recent one at the Memorial Hall in Penhold on March 24.
For more information on the Central Alberta Poverty Reduction Alliance, visit its website at www.capovertyreduction.ca
Jennifer Blaylock
"We talked about how as a community, can we help one another and help the community as a whole to battle poverty."
