We can end poverty, but this is why we haven't | Teva Sienicki | TEDxMileHighWomen

As the president & CEO of a non-profit, Teva Sienicki has experienced first-hand the devastating, cyclical nature of intergenerational poverty. In this inspiring talk, she argues that in order to end poverty once and for all, we need to treat the root causes of the problem, not just the symptoms.
Teva is passionate about building equity and closing the achievement gap for low-income kids. She transformed Growing Home, which began as a small shelter, into an anti-poverty organization that serves over 4,600 families annually. Winner of the Livingston Fellowship, her approach emphasizes innovation, analysis, and teamwork.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@fossrampant5826]

During COVID isolation I've been bingeing on these Tedx talks. This is one of the best I've come across, on any subject.

[@jackr2323]

No wonder you’ve been ‘isolated’ by a normal pathogen that has no difference in impact than any average annual pathogen.

[@surferxblood]

The Elite: How do we end world poverty? The Elite: We eradicate the poor. Depopulation, Vaccination, Abortion, Wars, Create Famine, Cancer, Poison Food & Water Just some tools of The Elites to Eradicate Poverty

[@raycom201]

@@surferxblood but if they eradicate the lower class, wouldn’t there be a new lower class?

[@evanprice5470]

You should check out Rutger Bergman’s TED talk. He has some amazing insights on the issue as well.

[@philsarkol6443]

@@evanprice5470 Rutger Bregman writer/historian from the Netherlands.

[@vsiegel]

You could solve that as a stone-cold economical problem: Invest in having healthy, educated citizens. Others did it, it pays.

[@SovereignStatesman]

You mean SLAVES. People have different ideas about what constitutes health and education. Other are DICTATORS.

[@vsiegel]

@@SovereignStatesman Not sure what you mean, but as far as I know there is quite a lot consensus about not being sick. Who are the slaves and dictators?

[@gregorythompson5334]

This requires people to be documented, and legally in the country, contributing. As long as you don't push the socialist mental disease...

[@SovereignStatesman]

@@vsiegel The World Health Organization measures "not being sick" by average lifespan; while the slaves are those who are deprived of choices regarding their own definitions of education and health.

[@gregy1570]

ya mean not paying for people who don't have their act together by any stretch of the imagination, to procreate?

[@thatAncientArtist]

This is so inspiring!! I'm going to school right now for my mental health certification and I have so much to say about this video. I agree with everything about this. I grew up poor and still in my 30s poor trying to make it work and am now being told I cannot continue my education just because of where I reside. on top of it all i have several disabilities and struggle daily. I am fighting it of course and will continue to fight and plan to help end poverty as well.

[@ubermom]

A habit of saving is a proven way to rise out of poverty, but our government poverty programs punish saving. If you have money in the bank, you can't get temporary help out of a rough patch. People learn not to bother saving. If they get a big EITC "tax refund," they blow it immediately in order to avoid losing their benefits. As a result they never have the resources to deal with a setback.

[@arvidpeterson]

this is spot on. if you're disabled in the U.S. and have medicaid to supplement Medicare, you are allowed $2000 in assets, typically. $2000. If you lose your home, can you find another one to move into with only $2000? The whole system was set up to promote dependence on the government across the whole spectrum of existence, including housing. The problem is that - besides being a killer of self-worth - that there is not and never will be enough government subsidized housing for people with disabilities. This model must end.

[@dennisholliday2454]

Also this system of capitalism is set up to keep you HAVING to buy stuff...just think at how often you need to repair (and don't even get me started on cars) something especially with all the cheaply made products from china things just don't last like they used to. refrigerators , stoves , washers, dryers, these essential household items could really set a struggling family back especially if the keep needing repairs..and again CAR is a WHOLE separate can of beans!!!

[@jdcaughman4598]

So true. My wife and I know a young couple from church with 2 children that have always lived on government aid. WIC, disability and several others. The husband is a mechanic but only takes cash so he doesn't report income. Last year they got over $8,000 tax refund. The wife made the comment, " It's free money!" I was so mad I corrected her by saying, "It's not free. I PAID that much in taxes. So you got money that I worked hard for." Now they're expecting another child and will get even more aid. So the cycle continues.

[@vip1ooo433]

Simple solution, don't rely on welfare to fund your children's future. I am serious. These democratic institutions are made to keep the poor beneath the poverty level. It is an endless feedback loop that makes poor folks addicted to social welfare (that needs you to make a minimum or sub-minimum wage). My immigrant parents suffered from the same thing, but they worked without government support; that is the only way to build and sustain wealth in this world. Working for yourself.

[@truthseeker3397]

Never thought about it from that perspective

[@kyle013579]

To save you some time she basically said,#1 don't rely on hand outs and the government. #2 work with your community and neighbors to get stuff done. #3 Educate your children so they aren't in the same situation. All three points are highly recommend.

[@DigitalLoom]

That’s not the answer though the answer is blind action of the distribution of all the trillions of dollars that should go right to people in a form of a million dollar check !!!

[@shurdell]

I disagree with your #1. She was talking to you/me. We are the ones not treating the root of the problem. We are the haves and they are the have nots. It is easy for us to pass the buck and stand in judgment but obviously, many of us have not walked in their shoes.

[@afh7380]

@@DigitalLoom nope, structural change is necessary, programs are necessary, not a million dollar check that is going to cause inflation and then vanish in years.

[@afh7380]

Thanks man, I was about to waste my time

[@LP-MeAndMyShadow]

"How china was lifted out of poverty." Good videos. USA could learn a few lessons. Also intergenerational kids are slower learners because parents fail to see the effects of drug and alcohol use on the fetus.

[@gaillewis5472]

There is big money in oversight of poverty. That's it.

[@darthgraggus2690]

It is all about the DOLLARS AND CENTS. Pretty much the source of MOST of our problems.

[@scottblack7182]

Like ive always said..."where humans went wrong in our evolution , began when we started to covet shiney worthless things."

[@neverendingparty2060]

No it's not, no money, no goods to buy, less jobs, no money. You need people to have excess money to spend on other things to make money

[@San-lh8us]

@@neverendingparty2060 money is just a pass to resources that we made, we have more food than enough to end world hunger, and yet, the ultimate reason someone dies of hunger today is becaus they didn't have money(read: permission) to have food and avoid death

[@SovereignStatesman]

Gail Lewis: no, the people do not consent to their government. THAT'S "it."

[@67cuda38]

When seeking the right answers, we must first seek to ask the right questions. Seek the long term build, not the temporary fix. Give a man a fish, feed him for a night. Teach a man to fish, and feed him for a lifetime. Politics feeds on poverty, yet milks the worker, and creates laws of enslavement on every level, engulfing all aspects of life.

[@shahirkhan6344]

The best thing I have read today! Thanks a lot for sharing this amazing concept! May Allah bless you!

[@hollycruz5061]

some people are just oblivious but honestly working 40+ hours a week and getting paid low wages is simply a form of modern day slavery Tbh our time / life is the most valuable thing in the world we all are here on Earth for a matter of years and most Americans waste half of there precious life working just to barley get by trying to provide for family / pay bills ect , sadly some not ever owning houses cars nice things because they could never afford it much less having anything to pass down to the next generation 😭 it's the reality for millions and it's so tragic

[@67cuda38]

@@hollycruz5061 Slavery was never truly abolished, it just morphed and became all inclusive.

[@willhelmberkly3025]

@@hollycruz5061 If you look in the dictionary the definition of ingratitude is whining about a forty hour work week while watching a video on a global information network which houses the entirety of human knowledge in the comfort of a climate controlled dwelling.

[@willhelmberkly3025]

@@67cuda38 "Slavery a form of economy based upon the absorption of oxygen and the exhalation of carbon dioxide" Good call you nailed it.

[@rocferguson6739]

Unfortunately that was nearly 13 minutes of motivational speaking that didnt offer one single idea in how to address the actual problems she kept hinting at. Vague comments on complex issues bring nothing to the table.

[@MaruskaStarshaya]

If you don't hear "go take all money from middle class" it doesn't mean she didn't give a solution

[@ejej3084]

I don’t believe that you watch the entirety of the video.

[@rianroth1652]

bruh, she's just addresing, not really proposing a solution dum dum

[@gormenfreeman499]

Why is there a problem anyways? Its virtue signalling of one group unto another demanding they behave and live like them. The only thing that group can do babysit the other group cuddling them try to live like them.

[@jeffw5015]

@@rianroth1652 she said do a community survey 2. teach skills at a community center 3. ppl keep voicing their opinion. She was kind of vague and rushed it tho.

[@Kiwiwanderer]

I became a divorced non tertiary educated single parent of one at 28 years old. I stopped at 1 child. Worked 2 jobs. Paid my mortgage and bills. No social life, no dating, I’m a non drinker, non smoker, no holidays, no new furniture or clothes until I was 42. Any incidental money went on extra lessons etc for my daughter. I’m now 57 still work - but now I am mortgage free, travelled. Sacrifice. Delay gratification. Work ethic, focus, purpose., the ability to save. Stop consuming. Self responsibility. My now 28 year old daughter was like me and not academic - she started a Saturday dishwashing job at 15. From 16 she worked weekends and school holidays. Left school at 16 with no qualifications but only after she had a fullt8me job. She has worked full time ever since. She is a good saver , non drinker. This year she bought her first home alone in the hot Auckland market. Life skills and stubborn focus and not education is what solves poverty.

[@juliantheapostate8295]

People don't really want to be told how to succeed. They just want free stuff and they don't care how it's paid for

[@lightsbackon4042]

It is delusional, even preposterous for someone to fault the person in poverty for their circumstances. I remember us having to live without heat for a year with a newborn daughter due to affordability. There were even times when we had to choose between food or paying the electricity bill. I listened to your story about the young lady losing her home. It reminds me of us trying to find someplace to stay when we had no place to stay. I am a witness that poverty does mess with your heart, mind, body, soul, and spirit. I agree with her points and when we are on one accord, change takes place. Even though this video is from 2016, it is still relevant today. Thank you Teva, God bless you, and may your journey continue in a lifetime of success!

[@jgdooley2003]

The comments here seem to suggest that a 40 hour week with one worker who could support an entire family in the US at one time. This may have been true in the late 40's and 50's up to the late 60's but was far from the normal state of affairs in the US, and indeed much of the European and English speaking world. People forget the depression of the 1930's and the war based economies of the 40's where all family members working 60 or 70 hour weeks with very high taxes and enormous social obligations was the norm. It seems to me that the era from 1949 to 1969 was a sort of victory bonus for workers in the US, major tasks such as rebuilding Europe, defending against Russian aggression in the cold war etc meant that all able bodied workers were sorely needed and paid reasonably good wages. This is no longer the case, most manufactured items consumed by US and Europe are now made in the Far East and South Asia. Even the Chinese can no longer compete with the likes of Vietnam, Bangladesh etc as low wage centers of work. It is a false-hood to think that the present difficulties are unique or that other generations had a free ride and an easy time of it in their lives. Each 75 year lifetime will have its difficult times which need to be overcome in some form or another.

[@devonseamoor]

Teva Sienicki, you're a woman to my heart and mind! Great presentation and fully coming from the core of your being. Thank you

[@daieast6305]

now if she can present viable solution then enlightenment arrives

[@lvteachme973]

It disturbing that the blame is placed solely on society. It is a fact that systemic structures significantly contribute to poverty yet individual choices are just as significant.

[@thebluntreport8850]

Naw.the system is more guilty... The system creates the dysfunctional environment that results in so many "bad choices" that iso many Americans are making... Bad choices are a byproduct of a lack of education.. bad educational systems created the uninformed individuals... We create a better system better choices will be the byproduct... Systems matter greatly

[@absolutfreak5012]

4:06 "Too often we focus on the immediate human needs without addressing the issues that create them" That sounds like how we deal with all our problems in this country. We don't want to do the hard work to fix the root causes, we'd much rather slap a bandaid on and let someone else figure it out in the future.

[@publicguy1664]

That's not completely our fault as citizens, that's the money in politics and the class war waged against us by the bourgeois (elite ruling class/ owners of the means of production). Where we do have the most fault is letting corporate power and rich elites fully capture our government. We have to get the money out 1st before we can ever accomplish anything else.

[@anonymousdude7982]

@Public Guy Here’s the thing-no one has to lose money to erase poverty, we need to copy Finland’s education system. It wouldn’t cost a dime more than current spending. We spend the same amount per student. And from what Ive seen the better education gets the higher the median income goes-slowly but surely. We don’t need to rob the 1 percent we just need to restructure education system, it’s a fairly simple concept, and sure the transition and planning might take a little funding but not much... And there are plenty added benefits to a restructure of education including but not limited to, cheaper healthcare (obesity is linked with poverty), less crime, and less police interaction which leads to less cases of police brutality. Look, the point I’m trying to make is that it isn’t a question of money, but a question of how you spend the money you have... Edit I’m not saying it is the fault of the “common folk”

[@anonymousdude7982]

@@publicguy1664 I’m just making this comment in hopes that you see my comment above it because I accidentally forgot to reply to the first time to you and now I’m not sure you will see it...

[@Narrowgaugefilms]

Does anybody notice what is missing here? It's not really a "what" but a "who" and the "who" is Dad. I happen to be a parent myself and I can testify that the idea of successfully raising children alone is absolutely mind-boggling to me: to never have somebody else to rely on, to never be allowed to have the flu or start dinner before you get home, somebody to go to the supermarket or watch the kids while you do. These families headed by teenage girls will always be at a disadvantage to households of two parents and no amount of raising the minimum wage and government housing can really work until we restore the two parent household.

[@heathbruce9928]

As if single mother house holds are the only ones who exist. As shown in this video, it is the only one being addressed. There are very little resources available for the single father households versus the single mothers. I went to apply for aid as I am a single parent of two, and have been for over10 years. And I can personally say that there are no locations near me for help. I had to work two jobs myself to try to support my children. The only reason it wasn't a third was because we were living with family. The support places around laugh you out of the building. Not very helpful there either.

[@rickarnold5123]

Statistically speaking it is the Father, But there are single fathers that are trying to raise children. Responsibility is a huge issue here. As in finish school, focus on a career, and other things that fall in that category, Then you can start a family, but with that said, our divorce rate is really high, and that would lead to single parenthood. So the question is how do we stop the cycle of the single parenthood, split up families, It has to start with the parents teaching there children morals, responsibility, hard work, etc. etc. Children that grow up in a single parent home is at a much higher risk to be a single parent also. So the cycle goes on and on. 50+ years ago it was common for most woman to stay home to be quote housewives while the father goes out and brings home the paycheck. Todays time thats almost impossible do to wages and cost of living also many other factors, I see everyday parent(s) struggle just trying to put food on the table and its very sad.

[@dondressel4802]

Feminism at its best Great post

[@whatsup2310]

Heath - Don't know where you live, but I know churches have programs to help families. I don't believe the program at my Church refuses help to single parent households. You have to go to the Office - to request help. Asking a Churchgoer for money usually won't get it done. The programs have stable members to mentor people with parenting, budgeting, education, housing, furnishings, etc.

[@Nyarlathotep_Flagg]

@@heathbruce9928 I have to ask, just like with the single mothers: Why are you raising them on your own? Did she just leave you? Did she go insane? Did she die? Or did you just leave her? Why havn't you looked for a partner to share your burden with? I personally decided never to have kids, because I know couldn't handle having to live with a partner for endless years.

[@TDupuis]

"start breaking down the crushing systems that keep people there"

[@bicyclist2]

She didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. No solutions discussed.

[@huyenanh3830]

exactly

[@heeyoungabc8688]

She's already talked about the solution and how she did it in last mininutes. Maybe you know as much as her but she did things to the community. How about you?

[@stayswervin554]

Lol fr

[@normallyerratic]

I also want to make awareness of public transportation. People are often choosing between cars or homes because of the price. Cars are very expensive. Some people don't even have car insurance, maybe due to history of driving. Enhancing public transportation can eliminate a lot of those issues. It can make it more affordable to live in a home.

[@Joeshua920]

The good speaker has well articulated the complex issues of poverty and inspiringly articulated that "leaving poverty education to the realm of the heart only, is dismissive of the seriousness of the problem we are trying to address", but she fell short of actually not doing that. Id advise the speaker to spend some years digging deeper into the myriad of deep academic and policy research in these issues, and marry these to her deep real frontline experiences. That can be very powerful insights for rest of the world.

[@svillanueva1150]

I respect this so much. Thank you for posting.

[@marieg.9839]

I’ve been hooked on TED Talks since college. Love these so much!!

[@LittleRadicalThinker]

It's such heart broken to hear someone has a talk about poverty and get so close to the true cause and yet so far away like everyone else. Poverty is caused by the structure of the system yet not that you can change without flipping the system upside down, which is not anyone but a dictator with great heart and wisdom can achieve. Put as much effort you want, but at the end, without the structural changes of the system, it makes no difference at the end of the day.

[@garimasingh5425]

❤️💚💛

[@miainsel513]

Community is the key. That is why your new goals are working. People need a village to succeed. They are relying more on eachother and less on the government and other handouts. I applaud you and the people of the community you helped.

[@darrellblanchard2362]

Poverty is more a mindset than an economic status. If a person wants to change they have to change the way they think.

[@pngo1818]

Tremendous respect to her💗

[@starrymoonlitwinternight]

Teva Sienicki, you are a badass, warrior woman! Thank you for your voice.

[@mstrred76]

It can never happen as long as we refuse to call out bad behavior, and continue to subsidize bad behavior. Some decisions are better than others. And some decisions are just terrible, and lead to a cycle of poverty.

[@Baboonfromdatoon]

what 'bad behaviour'

[@michaelfreeman5381]

@@Baboonfromdatoon 1) Dropping out of high school, 2) having a kid before marriage, 3) getting married before 20. Avoiding those three things means you have a 92% chance of avoiding poverty. Those are just 3 examples.

[@Baboonfromdatoon]

@@michaelfreeman5381 nobody should experience poverty, stop being judgemental

[@michaelfreeman5381]

@@Baboonfromdatoon Inane response there, dude. There ARE people who should experience poverty. Lazy people for example. If you're able to work but unwilling, you should be poor. Additionally, if you're UNWILLING to correct poor life choices that put you in a bad place, then you should have to live with those consequences. (If you're willing to change but need help, THOSE are the folks we should be helping.) Stop being enabling. The original poster was correct.

[@Baboonfromdatoon]

@@michaelfreeman5381 what about people who are poor because of RACISM?

[@charlieoscar2339]

Try getting a job without an address. Try getting a job without the right clothes. Try talking to a bank, bill collectors, collection agency when you cannot pay without losing your home, without going to a food bank while working 3 jobs. Try working full time with a sick child. It's not as easy as many think. I am fortunate. My parents helped. They had the resources to do so. My late husband's family did not and would not. There is much more than just getting a job or 2 or 3.

[@johnr9763]

This is so true. Yet there are lots of self-righteous people who say there are enough good jobs and affordable homes for everyone. The self-righteous think that is true and that it lets them off the hook.

[@swingeasyguy]

then your parents could have helped buy you a proper set of clothes for interviews and invested in a resume writing service and job interview service to get a decent job

[@charlieoscar2339]

As I said, I was truly fortunate that my parents were there to help me ( and my husband ) and I will be forever grateful to them for doing those things for me. Not everyone has parents like mine.

[@daieast6305]

@@charlieoscar2339 some families are gone in an instant and still humans continue on earth...nobody gets out alive

[@TerreHauteRemoteGoat]

Definitely great work, and a necessary aspect of the solution, but the root cause is a system that requires a pool of poverty to force compliance among workers so that a few can become obscenely wealthy and rule over the many.

[@daieast6305]

so society is working well then

[@cscott9361]

Teva is so correct . Please listen to what she is saying . Poverty is caused by unrealistic expectations on the cost of just , existing , and is perpetuated by the ignorance of how our society is actually structured , to create unnecessary competition , to benefit the few .

[@davidmadison9369]

My theology professor used to always say that abject poverty will end when economists study ending poverty as vigorously as they study creating more wealth for the wealthy. When the same energy and investment goes into ending poverty as into creating wealth abject poverty will end. That doesn’t mean that everyone will have the same amount. It means everyone will have a roof over their head and food to eat.

[@lamichiganr326]

Poverty will always be with us, but it can be greatly lessened. We here in the Grand Traverse Area in our rural, tourist driven area have all of our non-pros and local officials involved to create a help network. It helped my family and we all work together to get people who ask for help to join us to create their own success story. It's about helping people feel they are needed and help them create and reach goals.

[@JB-kx9bx]

Universal access to birth control would be a good start to combating poverty.

[@lucymorales407]

Thank you for your kindness. ❤️

[@alaskacobain6484]

covered in goosebumps while listening to it ... So powerful that infiltrated my brain and heart.

[@garimasingh5425]

same 💛💚❤️🔥🌷

[@jesafrd58]

That you for not only lecturing but also doing !!! Great speech!

[@daieast6305]

less talk and more action is needed for positive progress

[@nathanwilson7929]

Step one: have a community meeting on whether or not 'Jackie' should have a kid.

[@MentoringGrowingLeaders]

It's a very good presentation and great strategy. However, I've been working on development for more than 25 years and I find it very very difficult to keep it sustainable from one generation to another

[@daieast6305]

and yet human beings continue on planet earth without ever asking your or my opinion about the matter

[@kathyperry5787]

Excellent! The whole person. Help to survive. Tools to live and flourish. Living wages. Without the raising prices that return people back to where they started.

[@fourq2049]

She is looking at the bigger picture and addressing the core issues which is something politicians seem to lack

[@garimasingh5425]

Exactly...

[@markarnold7759]

Yep...Its not in their best interest to fix the problem.....they would go out of business

[@jelenajankovic204]

Keep going lady . You keep the lead ,so give ways and eventually,if they make sense ,people will start to do them . But first, you kinda got to show them how .

[@paddlingrubberduckie8766]

I've been financially challenged for most of my life. As noble as her goals are, I have found that using a socialistic agenda doesn't work to solve poverty. Been there done that in my life. I found that work helps. I learned that I needed to know how heavy I was on others without being strong enough to lift and carry myself. So, I developed a plan. As a poor man this is what I need to succeed. Get government out of health-care and welfare. Put welfare at the doors of the churches completely. Fix the food starting at the soil. 13 minerals won't cut it. We need 77 minerals and poor people are lacking most of them. Focus on fats (3), amino acids (12), minerals (77), and vitamins (17). Now, set up small aquaponic green houses and neighborhood gardens growing small animals, fish, and hydroponic vegetables. Use the poor that are benefiting as labor to plant and harvest. Feed them from their own labor. Then the magic... they will grow too much for themselves. Think, better then organic food, chicken, rabbits, escargot, fish, and things like escargot caviar (sells for around $89.00 an ounce). Way less money to start and run. Healthier poor people. People that know how to grow the best food on earth as graduates. The income potential is very good. Capitalism solves problems better then begging from the quasi rich.

[@MrKongatthegates]

Crackpot

[@juless3568]

Teva is correct about addressing the issues that are the causes of poverty. The economic system that many people live in is unpredictable that having a big family is a luxury and to indulge leads to a wealth hazard and not just a health hazard.

[@ikawrom]

very happy that there are people like you acting and aiming to stop poverty. we all have to

[@LindaMcification]

clapping like seals, what is being done about it?

[@daieast6305]

everything is done 'about' it and nothing is being solved...maybe the problem is not the poor but rather the problem is the rich!

[@ericlawyer9211]

Once we learn how to love one another and treat people fair and equal. We can do miracles. Thank God for people like you.

[@th3gr81]

Teva is a beautiful human being.

[@AnarchoHumanism]

My only issue, is that families that cannot support children, should NOT have them! Why is this so hard to understand?!

[@leslieoertli2894]

Amazing!

[@havenosmellleavenoname382]

Leslie Oertli Amish-zing!*

[@kieranshiffler5196]

This is amazing!

[@havenosmellleavenoname382]

Kieran shiffler Amish_Zing!*

[@jamesburrows5404]

Wow! She’s very impressive.

[@robertwaynedavies]

Ms. Sienicki’s talk was heart-felt, well-intended and an appreciated contribution to a difficult and complex topic. However, correct me if I’m wrong, but she seems to have misinterpreted the Harvard study she mentioned in her talk. As she described, the study noted that people from certain geographic areas were better educated and had higher standards of living than average. It appears to me that the social networks in these geographic areas used peer-support and peer-pressure to create higher educational and living standards for their people. Ms. Sienicki then spoke of her group’s efforts to foster night-schooling and social networks among single moms and other people in an impoverished neighbourhood. Her idea is that a school-centred neighbourhood will improve standards of living. The Harvard study did not imply that education levels created higher standards of living, and I don’t think they do, even though that is something I once taught. I now believe that isn’t so. It’s the social network that creates a standard of living. I believe Ms. Sienicki would have greater success if her group fostered long-term relationships between people in her impoverished neighbourhood and people in wealthier neighbourhoods, creating new social networks to improve education and living standards. Such a task wouldn’t be easy but could be worthwhile.

[@Redactedlllllllllllll]

Some people believe in the just world theory, hard to debate a belief.

[@SovereignStatesman]

Ferrando Davis: that's also called "blame the victim."

[@steve7215]

Wow - A Powerful Message! Thank You for all you are doing to change the direction of Poverty in our community and the world.

[@maxinaeus1191]

I'm a mathematician that became a public school alternative education math teacher. I sacrificed income to fight this problem. What I learned is that poverty, and its associated problems, are not a result of a failure in our systems. They are the planned result of systems that are carefully designed to maintain poverty. The working poor are simply a replacement for the slaves that built this country. Even criminals have become a cash cow for those on the other side of the fence. We have enough resources to provide food, housing, healthcare and education for everyone in this country. But it is more profitable to keep people struggling for things that we have sitting at the ready.

[@rickroberts5331]

I woke up this morning with exactly this question on my mind.

[@yashgulave8366]

It's been proven time and time again that rule of law is the best solution to improve a nation's economy. A country needs to let industry flourish and get out of its way by streamlining and standardising their bureaucracy. A huge reason why a lot of African countries are poor is because they are either controlled by a monarch, a crazy dictator or worse their own military. To truly let them flourish, these countries need to establish free market capitalism in their country and also implement democracy.

[@tfshao]

Is U.S. a country of rule of law? Doesn't U.S. have flourishing industries? So, why is Teva talking about poverty in the U.S.? Did you miss the summary part of her talk?

[@yashgulave8366]

@@tfshao Just because a country has rule of law doesn't mean that there will not be a single poor person in that country.

[@Makehimfamous]

One thing I noticed about her initial story of the woman and kids in the shelter was that there was never mention of a father. Now maybe he died or something, but I find that there are a lot of men that are not owning up to their responsibilities when making children. It is a lot easier to provide for a child in a two income home. People need to take some personal responsibility when making children and wonder they could afford it or not. We need to make stronger child support laws so that the burden of childhood poverty does not fall on the rest of society.

[@Ausf]

The fathers probably don't have any money either. So that wouldn't change anything.

[@judiohara1399]

Thank you for your incredible work! We are sharing this with our future nurses!

[@simonginger3179]

I was born into poverty but when I was growing up I was always ahead of the class still am still when she said that studies show impoverished kids fall behind without a statistic like 2 in 4 or 3 in 4 because not all poor kids are behind I was ahead, and so was my little brother, but that was mostly because our mom taught us her college work at very young ages. so to that statement here is a short story on how that isn't always the case, and most if not all my friends are poor but lot's are very smart and either average or higher.

[@andik70]

Spoiler: unfortunately it didnt work out.

[@tijnblub6221]

andik70 explain?

[@andik70]

@@tijnblub6221 when I posted the comment I researched the project and if I remember correctly it didnt turn out as envisioned. (The talk is a couple of years old, so one can cross check ambition with reality)

[@tijnblub6221]

andik70 thats a shame, can you link it for me?

[@juliantheapostate8295]

The Visions of the Anointed rarely work out. Thomas Sowell explains this well

[@danielsykes7558]

I want this woman to run for public office. She makes such a difference in her capacity at her non-profit, but her values and oratory skills are needed in local, state, and national government. I want us to have a military corps of social scientists devoted to solving poverty and inefficiency. That would be my goal. A well-funded unit of experts using our tax money to solve real world problems.

[@jessieayala2970]

Thank you

[@user-tn6vc7kc4g]

Peace, mercy and blessings of God. I am from Iraq, from the Sunnis, I ask for humanitarian assistance .... WhatsApp ... [phone]

[@lucenaemory387]

Great presentation! Could some one who has more of a grasp on technology than me, please, send this to every state and U S senator and representative. What we're doing now is not working and she makes some really good arguments on why what she's proposing will work. Start it small scale, like they did, but in every state. Gotta start somewhere

[@virgiljacas6388]

I am very proud to work for her and the mission that Metrocaring represent. Impact the place where they live !!!.

[@rp1645]

Virgil. I'm sending this now it's been a year sense you wrote. Just interested. What progress have you seen. I find in my hood people are not even interested in talking to you.

[@daieast6305]

pride is the sickness that keeps the human from improvement...no wonder there is no progress

[@chrisp2481]

"stop being born poor, growing up poor and ending up poor." perfectly said

[@kpizzleforizzle5541]

Haha

[@daieast6305]

easier said than done...but said so poorfectly i can hardly stand it

[@deesalmon9632]

😂😂😂

[@MrToontuber]

All those failed poor persons. We must bla bla bla bla.

[@louisesumrell6331]

I haven't even listened to this yet, and I know how to end poverty. Hitch said it twenty years ago. "To end poverty, simply empower women." Now I'll listen to it and see if that's what she says, and who she attributes it to...

[@louisesumrell6331]

Oh. I said "simple", not, "easy".

[@louisesumrell6331]

Getting men to give up even a little power is like pulling teeth.

[@briandiehl9257]

@@louisesumrell6331 THey already did give up power in the sixties.

[@juliantheapostate8295]

Those single mothers seem pretty empowered to me. They made all their decisions. Seems to me they might be better off if they were a little less 'empowered'

[@TheDarkbeautiful]

Thank you for your contribution

[@karlabc9251]

Omg 90% of these comments 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

[@rodshop5897]

I know, right?

[@RaniVeluNachar-kx4lu]

See Dan Price, Gravity Payments announcing paying employees minimum base salary $70K/year. That is $40K more than the proposed $15/hr.

[@economicdevelopmentplannin8715]

Wealth and poverty are relative. Relative to another, one person will always be wealthier or poorer. Therefore there's no way to eliminate poverty, just like you can't eliminate shortness or short people. Someone will always be shorter than another, stronger, faster, darker, etc. These are relative terms.

[@midwestron8576]

Nice program. I like these programs that help people become productive citizens and go to work.

[@lancelot1953]

Having been raised in poverty myself (stealing food, sleeping under bridges, ....) upon graduation, I spent two years working for the poor in Alabama (USA). Most of the middle class community did their BEST FOR the poor - but the less fortunates had an incentive to remain in a state of dependency: 1- More kids out-of-wedlock (i.e. without a father) were born - the state was paying, they were not using birth control as it would prevent them from having children (child=federal/state money), 2- Kids were not completing high-school - "it is hard/boring to study" - they repeated the same mistakes as their absent fathers/elders, 3- Many young adults did not want to work the jobs available (jobs were available, they were physical or required some training which my "clients" did not want to invest in, and did PAY). They made more by living at the expense of the tax payers/state/federal government and being free considering than "being boxed-in a regular job". Lets us stop blaming the system! Our society can help but poor people have to really want to get themselves out of misery (see three issues above); take their responsibilities, society cannot do that for them. Ciao, L (former Public Health official)

[@JDiculous1]

ah, the old "pick your up by the bootstraps" adage. ok boomer

[@daieast6305]

the fathers were and are not absent...they are in prison or killed in the military death cult

[@wyattguilliams9472]

Hey how are you.... I saw to someone I don't know but knows me I know the feeling

[@MarioRugeles]

She proposes a very practical approach.

[@eternalwaze2889]

The belief system is the main issue for making a person stays in poverty

[@zachsabe]

both of her examples pointed to single mothers..and the issue was never addressed.

[@MaruskaStarshaya]

she pointed out about importance of educating those kids and force parents to change their mindsets

[@jamesperry2052]

@@MaruskaStarshaya...THE PROBLEM IS THE SINGLE MOTHER BUT NO ONE IS ADDRESSING THE REAL PROBLEM!!! WOMEN MUST NOT HAVE ANY CHILDREN UNTIL THEY ARE MARRIED AND FINANCIALLY STABLE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE POVERTY RATES OF INDIVIDUALS IN AMERICA, THE HIGHEST RATE OF POVERTY IS WITH THE SINGLE MOTHERS!!! THIS IS A FACT!!! SO, WHY ISN'T ANYONE EXCEPT FOR ME TELLING WOMEN NOT TO HAVE ANY CHILDREN UNTIL THEY ARE MARRIED AND FINANCIALLY STABLE? IS IT THIS WAY BECAUSE WOMEN DO NOT WANT TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND GET ANGRY WHEN SOMEONE TELLS THEM TO BE? PLEASE REPLY WITH HONEST FEEDBACK!

[@Downsolow]

Where are the father's? Why are they not being held financially accountable? She wants more money,change jobs. BTW it's not Jackie's fault she's poor it's her mother's choice. And by default her non existent dad's. Third wave feminism and welfare are the biggest ones at fault.

[@too.much.finance.8429]

@@jamesperry2052 so... what you're saying is that poor people and single mothers shouldn't have kids?

[@Darebear691]

@@too.much.finance.8429 Yes.

[@gofa4201]

Sad. Fatherless families are also to blame. Men need to "man up" to the table and be fathers to their children. Teva you're a good person and I love you're approach to this. Open volunteerism and exercising liberty. God bless you.

[@vip1ooo433]

That is the importance of marriage! But the so called liberty also creates radicals like the modern infinite way feminism movement. If men "manning up" is somehow offensive, then it doesn't offer much leverage to criticise fathers who leave. What you said is definitely factually correct.

[@jamesperry2052]

NO...NO...NO!!! WOMEN NEED TO BE MARRIED AND FINANCIALLY STABLE BEFORE THEY HAVE THEIR CHILDREN!!! PERIOD!!! WOMEN MUST STOP LAYING DOWN AND PROCREATING WITH MEN THAT DO NOT CARE ANYTHING ABOUT THEM!!! PERIOD!!! WHEN ARE WOMEN GOING TO FORCED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FORR THEIR ACTIONS???!!! PLEASE REPLY WITH HONEST FEEDBACK!!!

[@jenningscunningham642]

I think women need to woman up and be good wives and stop divorcing or driving men away.

[@juliantheapostate8295]

People don't change. If you pick the wrong partner that's it, you're screwed

[@funbrothers96]

@@jenningscunningham642 its like that old riddle what comes first the chicken or the egg men need to be good men too , it is 50/50 balance and its Mothers we should Learn from as well as fathers

[@tigerlillyjilly]

YES

[@bthansencom1]

It's the 'Give a fish or teach to fish' parable with the added difficulty of changing the culture to a fishing culture. Admirable...

[@juancassinerio1580]

give them and Universal income and no real education

[@stayswervin554]

Lmfao

[@kemohere]

We started with early childhood development.... or teaching people to be better parents.

[@daieast6305]

at the same time alienated half of the parenting equation...so much for equal rights vanished into air of prejudice from top to bottom providing fertile ground for social programing to the max

[@darrendwyer9973]

hey, here's the wrap :- I don't work for money, I work only for myself, but my work produces no income. Am I a bludger because I was born disabled? I work, but need support in order to achieve some kind of decent life. What I don't get is that poverty could be stopped entirely with just a few strokes of a pen. Trouble is, our politicians are the true bludgers. They start and fight wars instead of committing to a world where there is less deliberate killing. Remember, soldiers are paid murderers. That's it. My rant.

[@MaruskaStarshaya]

Do you have family? Do they care about you? Do you care about people who have cancer? Or about old and alone people? You guys always think only about yourselves and blame others for doing the same.

[@terrythompson7535]

Malthusian positive check on population

[@MrKongatthegates]

Murder is a crime. Soldiers are not commiting crimes as they are doing what society asks of them. They are more like heros and you owe your existence to them but thats my rant.

[@acehale3355]

So our soldiers are murders?......... wow I guess you dont like the freedoms you have.

[@swingeasyguy]

@@MrKongatthegates ya those allied murdered poor nazis, they should be tried for war crimes

[@Zulu369]

Extraordinary!

[@georgegordner7795]

I feel hopeless, I am disabled and a senior. circumstances beyond my control have left me impoverished looking for help out. The line for people needing help is long. Someone please help me out.

[@daieast6305]

there is no 'out' ...the people down in the pit have all the lifelines between themselves all tied together to keep them down there. society is dangerous!

[@DawnHEFLEYBARNETTE]

Amen sister! I agree, but we also need job security besides a decent living wage. We also need affordable housing.

[@juliantheapostate8295]

'We need more money in the system but we also need lower prices'. What we really need is more people reading economics

[@funbrothers96]

@@juliantheapostate8295 just Reading alone is a challenge for many , also with new commers to each nation the language barrier is very difficult, with translaters on these phones could help i would believe. but Language and communication plus economics would be top two , just had an idea the Constituiton of america should drop few off the list and put as example the second amendment " the right to economics" and "Learn Latin or Greek or what ever is your nations Language" Peace...

[@yashparmar5901]

People can never get rich until and unless they are financially literate.

[@Lcab-bh3wx]

If you spend all your money or buy all you want you will be poor...

[@iwontreplybacklol7481]

Met a fiance college graduate working for doordash and uber who blows his money of nights out and partying, so being financially literate doesn't really mean anything.

[@RichardChappell1]

@@iwontreplybacklol7481 Going to school and being educated are two completely different things. Apparently he was not financially literate regardless of his degree. Or he didn't care and was choosing to live that way.

[@paula3280]

Great talk Teva, let's hope enough people get inspired?

[@LaShawnLatera]

Real talk!

[@bert-janwiegeraad4208]

You can't buy a decent house with an entry-level job, but you can have three children who are even more expensive.

[@juliantheapostate8295]

@Usha It's the lack of 'judging' that gets people into such harsh circumstances in the first place

[@LivingDead53]

In my city, they put low income housing in nice areas with better schools.

[@johndee9956]

I hope that they are keeping an eye on these properties, and not let the residents destroy and degrade them. Must be a nice city !

[@whatsup2310]

In my city, the people in the nicest schools redistricted in such a way so as to make sure that demographic changes prevented any low income people from being in elementary schools with their children.

[@spike.strat1318]

Was there any change in school rating , achievement test scores and the like? Not being snarky, genuinely curious.

[@roderickclerk5904]

@@spike.strat1318 You are not being snarky. That is a perfectly reasonable thing to consider.

[@daieast6305]

you have a city? how nice, i want a city too! can i illegally immigrate to your city or would you call that an invasion?

[@wangeciirene2287]

This's phenomenal 👏🏾👏🏾 Poverty is with us because we choose to🤔

[@sarthakkulkarni5797]

Great speech!

[@sarthakkulkarni5797]

And a great woman. Inspired!

[@patrickdodds7162]

Poverty is a two-prong problem. To end it requires personal responsibility of a poor person. ALSO, it requires outward opportunity to pull that poor person out. It's about the inner and outer. A poor person needs the discipline it requires to received an education, BUT they also must be provided with a quality education to begin with. To stay in good health a poor person must develop nutritious eating habits, BUT a poor person must have ready access to nutritious food. A poor person has to stay off of drugs, BUT they also need affordable housing. Do you see where I'm going here? If we do nothing but point fingers this problem will never be solved.

[@atwaterpub]

BLAH BLAH BLAH "I don't want to get involved"

[@patrickdodds7162]

And you know this how?

[@atwaterpub]

Intuition and guesswork. I could be wrong. Hopefully I am.

[@patrickdodds7162]

I volunteered last month helping with a homeless shower truck where I live.

[@atwaterpub]

We spend too much time telling the poor how they should live and not enough time listening to them talk and trying to understand what their life is really like. We are all talk and no listening.

[@TopsideCrisis346]

I wonder if anyone from the Seattle city council even knew about this Ted Talk...

[@operavocalsvideos9545]

make a system that works forever and for everyone, to house everyone, and end homelessness and the housing crisis, and to end hunger

[@daieast6305]

nor did they care

[@sjtkumar978]

Need more such initiatives

[@carolsawatzky1530]

We can solve it if we believe we can and should spend money on others instead of on a 3rd TV and x-box etc for our homes

[@MyChilepepper]

Everybody should work hard with whatever means they have and be happy. Life is only a test. You are certainly not going to carry your wealth to the grave.

[@johndee9956]

Hopefully not too hard, look at what the "Dalai Lama" has to say in this quote: "Man surprised me most about humanity. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money in order to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived."

[@peacewillow]

hard to "be happy" when you are forced to live under a bridge...

[@LeopoldMidas]

If everybody were able to get a good job, then who would do all the work?

[@paulod27]

robots. DUUHHHH

[@chadbourneglashoff9787]

LeopoldMidas A.I artificial intelligence the robots are coming. As the American Workforce will all be losing their jobs in the next 10-15 years,truck drivers will no longer have a job sooner than that, change more than one can imagine but think of the Industrial Revolution soon in our future! The Paradigm of quantum computing!

[@vip1ooo433]

Then you would have to redefine "good job". If you see a good job as a hob people look forward to , then okay. But the free market (capitalist) is built in a way that there will always be lower paying jobs. There will always be a high podium if you allow people to work at different paces. That is the American dream.

[@chadbourneglashoff9787]

vip1ooo ! They don't call it the American dream for nothing, cause you have to be asleep to believe in it!

[@chadbourneglashoff9787]

And you're forgetting one every important aspect of capitalism, it's doesn't care whether or not it's a person or robot increasing the efficiency of productively and decreasing overhead by removing the human resource department in the equation. I mean look where all the jobs, Asia.The phone that i have in your hand right now was designed in San Francisco well Palo Alto South Bay by Apple computer and built-in China. It only took how many years for over what 2 billion people to have cellular phones? Yes things are going to be moving a lot faster more so than the Industrial Revolution that's how technology works, we're not ready for it we are in a paradigm shift. Most human are conditioned to live each day filled with stress to accomplish his/her daily task of work! So what do you do when you no longer have to work? Self refect that's going to be the hard, as our dogma is the worship of comfort and consumer goods! Its no longer religion or so called traditional American values; Honor, Pride, integrity that's out the window long gone. AI comes into play we will not know what to do because our brains are programmed just like a robot us we're going to get way more lazy! All the information is there go on TED Talks on KZbin the scientists and program developers and CEOs of all the tech companies explain it all!

[@DarkMoonDroid]

This is very good. One thing I think you may be missing, tho, is the concept of "hostel". There are more nomads in the U.S. now than there have been in quite a while. They don't get "counted". But you can see them in places that have seasonal work opportunities. This is not a social pathology. And if we integrate it properly it doesn't even have to be a problem. We don't have to blame anyone. All we need to do is build appropriate infrastructure.

[@johndee9956]

Wow! I just love reading all the comments ! Woo Hoo !