Workforce Development

Ascend Fellows Fighting Poverty Highlighted on MSNBC

May 14, 2013  • Sarah Haight

As part of the Institute’s 2012-2013 Ascend Fellowship, 20 cross-sector leaders are working daily to improve the lives of children and their parents through a variety of cutting-edge approaches. From issues such as early childhood education and social capital to workforce development and asset-building, the Fellows are seeking bold solutions for moving families beyond poverty toward educational success and economic security.

This past Sunday, the work of the Ascend Fellows was featured prominently on a special episode of the Melissa Harris-Perry Show on MSNBC, which focused on poverty and its deleterious impact on America and its future. Vivian Nixon, the executive director and alumna of College & Community Fellowship, spoke on her efforts to move two generations at once—mothers and their children—out of the criminal justice system and into strong post-secondary education opportunities.

Mauricio Lim Miller, the founder of Family Independence Initiative (FII), spoke about the importance of social capital for low-income families. His innovative group supports individual and family organizing to improve economic stability. The vice president of FII is Ascend Fellow Mia Birdsong.  Check out these powerful voices and breakthrough solutions in these clips:

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