Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

The often brings speakers to help mentors navigate the murky waters of class and inequality

But next week, the Alliance hosts a more personal take on the cycle of poverty.

Dr. Donna Beegle lived in ‘generational poverty’ for the first 25 years of her life. The youngest of 6 children, Beegle is the the only girl, and the only member of her family who has not been incarcerated.

"So often we attend forums where a presenter lectures us on a topic they have studied. Rarely do we get to hear from a presenter on a topic they have lived," Tina Baldry, program director at the Mentoring Alliance wrote in an e-mail.

Beegle could have easily become a statistic: She quit high school in the middle of her freshman year to get married at the tender age of 15. At 25, she found herself with two children, no husband, little education, and no job skills – well on her way to repeating the cycle of poverty. 

Until, that is, a mentor entered her world. That mentor made it possible for Beegle to not only take the first step towards breaking – understand that she needed an education or a skill.

What followed were: self-confidence and a slew of degrees. Beegle earned a G.E.D., an A.A. in Journalism, a B.A. (with honors) in Communications, a Master’s Degree in Communications with a minor in Gender Stud-ies (with honors), and a Doctorate Degree.

Donna is the author of “See Poverty, Be the Difference,” and “An Action Approach to Educating Students Who Live in the Crisis of Poverty.”  Her family, and her work on breaking poverty barriers, will be being featured in an upcoming PBS documentary titled: Invis-ible Nation. Donna will be on CNN on April 18th at 7pm, on a show titled, “The Other America.” She was recently contacted by the Obama administration to lend her personal expertise to help combat poverty.

Beegle is president of Communication Across Barriers, a consulting firm devoted to improving communication and relationships across poverty barriers, and is the founder of The Poverty-Bridge Project, which provides direct opportunities for people living in the crisis of poverty.

Beegle will be passing along her message in a forum – co-sponsored by the Mentoring Alliance and Hanna Boys Center –  on Thursday, May 17.  

The actual presentation will run from 6:30 – 8pm, and will be held in the new auditorium at Hanna. There is no cost to attend.

Those wishing to take a tour of Hanna’s new Legacy Center can show up at 6pm, where there will be a half-hour Welcome Reception with light refreshments. (Dr. Beegle will be happy to entertain questions until 8:30pm.) 

For more information, please go to www.sonomamentoring.org, or call 938-1990.