"The polish word for poverty is bieda. In traditional Slavic mythology, bieda is an immortal being that brings misfortune, hardship, misery and grief to people. She can not be destroyed.
As a first-generation Canadian, I have seen poverty destroyed. My parents escaped from behind the Iron Curtain and made their way to Calgary in the early 80’s. Their journey was only possible through an intersectionality of strategies - early learning and adult eduction, community care, employment, housing and food security. However all of these strategies came from within their community and I only wonder how their lives would have been different now if they had had policy support such as living wages, educational support or affordable housing as new Canadians.
I work for VCC because I believe that poverty is not an individual burden, but a systemic and cultural one. The complexities of poverty can not be solved simply with income, but rather through an intersectional approach that acknowledges the root causes of poverty. Enough For All engages with these complexities and that is why I am proud to be a part of this mission."
