New Mexico State University will host the Poverty Immersion Institute from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 25 and Thursday, May 26 in Milton Hall, Room 50. The Teaching Academy and Student Engagement are co-sponsoring the event that features presenters Donna Beegle and Elia Moreno from Communication Across Barriers.
The intensive two-day Poverty Institute offers a grounded understanding of poverty and what individuals can do to more successfully assist people in moving out – and staying out – of poverty. The training will teach participants how to communicate more effectively with those living in poverty; use activities, modeling and dialogue to understand and practice the core concepts; and provide concrete strategies and materials to make a difference.
“In 2019 and 2020, NMSU was among six universities nationally recognized as a Social Mobility Innovator,” said Tony Marin, assistant vice president of student affairs. “The Poverty Immersion Institute is part of our ongoing efforts to better serve students at all levels of the economic spectrum. We are so proud to have programs and services in place that are constantly evolving to meet the non-cognitive factors our students face that have the potential of impacting their performance in the classroom."
"We welcome a speaker on poverty with direct experiences and who has persevered through the challenges of an impoverished background to earn her Ph.D. and take the cause of reducing poverty as her work.”
“The Teaching Academy works to enhance teaching on campus by providing professional development for faculty, staff, graduate student instructors and, in this case, the community,” said Tara Gray, Teaching Academy director and associate provost for faculty development. “We are just so happy to sponsor this event and to welcome community members concerned about and/or working to reduce poverty.”
The pre-registration and registration deadlines are 5 p.m. Friday, May 20. NMSU faculty and staff should pre-register at Training Central at https://trainingcentral.nmsu.edu and email confirmation to teaching@nmsu.edu. The event is first-come, first-served. Community members can contact Pete Carreras at teaching@nmsu.edu or 575-646-2204 to register. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Beegle is an authentic voice from poverty that speaks, writes and trains across the country. Born into a migrant labor family and married at 15, Beegle experienced 28 years of homelessness. By 25, she earned her GED certificate and then, within 10 years, received her doctorate in educational leadership. Beegle has partnered with state agencies, politicians and other organizations to implement community-wide approaches to improving outcomes for citizens in poverty.
Moreno wrote “Permission to Rest and Living Intentionally,” a book that portrays her own personal journey and hard-earned insights on the importance of adding value to the lives of others in just 90 seconds. She is the national program director for Beegle Communication Across Barriers and national director of community outreach for the No Excuses University Network of Schools, a growing network of 250 schools who promote college readiness for all students, especially those living in poverty.
To learn more about Communication Across Barriers, visit https://www.combarriers.com/.