Panel Discussion on Poverty

Posted on Nov 27, 2018
 
Franco Savoia
Moderates Our Panel
 
 
 
Panelists Nigel,
Amber and Susan

 

 

 

Tim Heaton introduced club member Franco Savoia, who led the panel discussion on poverty. He opened the discussion with a quotation from Nelson Mandela. "Poverty is not an accident. Like slavery and apartheid, it is man-made and can be removed by the actions of human beings.” The City of Calgary, United Way and Calgary Rotary clubs are addressing the problem through the Community Hubs initiative. He then introduced panelists Nigel, Amber and Susan, who shared their first-hand experiences with poverty. The panelists shared their perspectives on the following questions.
 
 
What does Christmas mean to you?
  • Nigel spoke of the most meaningful gift he ever received: $20, which he used to reach out to his family.
  • Amber spoke of the importance of family, and of being able to count on her parents to raise her son as she worked through her own issues.
  • Susan, a self-described Christmas fanatic, spoke of the importance of celebrating the season with family.
 
What's the best way to deal with people who are soliciting?
  • Nigel encouraged charitable giving, and reminded us that money given to people on the street doesn't always go to "bad" things.
  • It is important to remember that addiction is the underlying cause of desperation.
  • Amber stressed the importance of not undermining the dignity of people on the street. It is never bad to acknowledge someone by wishing them a good day.
 
 
What's the best way to deal with people who refuse help?
  • While it is difficult to allow people to be homeless, you cannot force people to leave the street.
  • Often it is difficult to live with people while continuing to love them. Boundaries must be respected.
 
What's one thing that could make a big difference?
  • Nigel indicated that he experienced feelings of resentment towards Christmas when he was living on the street because it is the only time of year when people are focused on kindness and giving. As people suffer throughout the year, it is important to think about being kind throughout the year.
  • Amber stressed that everyone has something to give, and everybody should be valued. It is important to be aware of the factors that keep people in poverty.
  • Susan expressed the importance of digging deeper to find the true meaning of Christmas.
 
Therese Takacs thanked our panelists for sharing their stories.