Podcast

Episode 4: Voices of Lived Experience

20 October 2021

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel catches up with Sue Gwynn from Poverty Talks! to chat about the importance of engaging with the voices of lived experience. Hear about why Poverty Talks! challenges perceptions around poverty, how models and systems keep people in poverty, and why poverty is a trap.

Published 20 October 2021

Updated 6 April 2022

This episode of Let's Talk Poverty discusses how it can be a struggle to move past basic needs to more executive thinking, how we’re all reliant on each other in some way, expectations for Calgary’s new city council, innovations like pay what you can markets, and how youth lend hope for the future.

In this episode

  • Nothing about us without us – why it’s critical that organizations seek out the voices of lived experience
  • Insight on why it’s important to ask people what they need and not just assume that we know
  • Reflections on engaging with youth and creating space for them to share their solutions to complex issues like poverty

Three key takeaways

  • How solutions to poverty can come from those experiencing poverty
  • Understanding barriers created by poverty and how poverty is a trap – why it’s a constant education in what’s causing people to stay in poverty
  • Why engaging with perspectives that differ from your own lead to better, more innovative, solutions

About Sue Gwynn

Sue Gwynn is a community advocate, a board member of Canada Without Poverty, and the current Chair of Poverty Talks! Sue works with Samaritan’s Purse on a project in the northeast of Calgary and has been working in poverty reduction and food insecurity for many years. She believes that poverty is an injustice in our society, and something that is unjust must not remain. Seeing that the value of someone should never be measured in the amount of money they have, rather their value should be measured in their own potential for joy.

About Poverty Talks!

Poverty Talks! is a grassroots organization in Calgary devoted to bringing the voices of those living in poverty to the forefront of civic and community dialogue. Through community conversations, speaking to city council at times of public input, holding public events - such as the annual International Day of the Eradication of Poverty event, and social media, Poverty Talks! elevates the voices of people in poverty to be a strong and engaged part of discourse in all areas of life. Poverty Talks! is an advisory group for Calgary’s poverty reduction strategy Enough for All.

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