Our Community, Our Children: The Impact of Poverty

By:  Jonathan Raber and Christy Unger

Through this presentation, participants will engage in an interactive discussion on poverty and its effects on our communities and our children. Participants will understand the barriers and challenges faced by many individuals and families in our area as they struggle through poverty; as well as learn ways to get involved in local initiatives to assist our children and our families.

Jonathan Raber is a community organizer who works for South Central Community Action Programs (SCCAP). Over the past 7 years he has developed a local community initiative called Support Circles, which builds relationships that inspire and equip people to overcome poverty.  Jonathan is also a community speaker and advocate for issues related to poverty. He serves on the Healthy Franklin County taskforce, the Franklin County ReEntry Advisory Board, and the Keystone Health Board of Directors.

Christy Unger has been the Prevention Coordinator at Healthy Communities Partnership for over six years.  In this role she coordinates and oversees prevention education in schools, after-school programs, and community agencies; and helps planned healthy alternative events for area youth.  Additionally, Christy has been the Student Assistance Program Liaison supervisor in Franklin and Fulton Counties for five years.  Coordinating the schools’ needs and looking to improve access to resources in the communities in both counties is a large part of Christy’s work.  She also continues to write grant applications to expand prevention programming and expand upon resources available to kids.  Christy serves as the Community Mobilizer for a new Chambersburg Communities That Care coalition, working to prevent risk factors and enhance protective factors of Chambersburg’s youth.  Christy participates on the Franklin County Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB), and is on the Board of Directors for a local non-profit afterschool program.  Christy works to increase awareness of the impact of poverty in the community.  Prior to her work at Healthy Communities Partnership, Christy was a high school math teacher at a private school in Tampa, Florida for three years.