HEAR MY VOICE

Goal
Decrease stigma and NIMBYism (“not in my back-yard”) within our community by fostering a collective understanding of the causes and experiences of poverty and effective solutions.

Why It Matters
People with lived and living experience of poverty bring valuable knowledge and perspectives that can help inform community solutions. Building understanding of the causes and experiences of poverty can help reduce stigma, strengthen community connections, and support more effective and inclusive approaches to poverty reduction.

What We’re Doing
The Coalition works with community members and partners to:

• Host or support election-related forums and encourage voter participation.
• Share local data, stories, and information that increase understanding of poverty and its impacts.
• Create opportunities for people with lived and living experience to help shape solutions and inform decision-making.
• Encourage diverse participation and membership within the Coalition, including key influencers, change makers, and decision makers.

Related Resources
Visit our Local Data page to learn more about poverty in Elgin St. Thomas and our Local Resources page for information about local services and supports.