WFA Grantee Spotlight: Statewide Poverty Action Network
Statewide Poverty Action Network (Poverty Action), which does critical work to engage low-income women in the political process, is one of the Women's Funding Alliance's (WFA) 2008 Civic Engagement and Leadership Development grantees. Poverty Action strives to eliminate the root causes of poverty in Washington and embodies an extensive and diverse network of people working together to influence decisions in the state capitol to ensure a better future for all. Poverty Action is focusing some of its efforts on reaching low-income citizens to engage them in the political process through voter registration, education and turnout, as well as ongoing civic engagement activities.
Poverty Action knows that involving women like Judith Whiteley is central to effecting lasting change in policies and in our communities. Judith lives in Auburn and has been homeless twice in her lifetime. Her most recent experience with homelessness came when she became disabled and had to close her landscaping business. For a time she slept in her truck in parking lots until she was finally able to get public assistance to pay rent and base living expenses. During this time, Poverty Action contacted Judith through its 2004 Vote for a Change Campaign.
This contact with Poverty Action was life changing for Judith. Not only did she vote in the 2004 election, but she was inspired to further develop her leadership and involvement in the political arena. She went to Olympia to meet with Representative Geoff Simpson. During this meeting Judith shared her personal story and asked Representative Simpson to support Poverty Action's legislative priorities. Since then, Judith continues to be involved with the work of Poverty Action and uses her voice to advocate for change.
Because of Judith's own experiences with both domestic violence and poverty, she has a strong understanding of the realities for low-income women and the impact on them as the gap widens between the rich and the poor. Judith emphasizes that "people need living-wage employment, accompanied by affordable education to gain skills employers need." She also mentions that health care for all and early childhood development is critical for people to thrive.
As an avid supporter of Poverty Action and opportunity for all women, Judith urges that "we need to do so much more…I hope you'll join me in the fight to ensure that everyone in Washington State can have a better future."
