Our journey following the evolution of the Shared Humanity Project  is coming to a close. But for Mark Bergel and Katherin Phillips, it’s only the beginning. Their goal of eradicating poverty in the United States, an ambitious one, is also one the country can’t afford not to meet. We’ve followed Shared Humanity Project through each step of the way. We catch up with our Change Makers one more time, as they look to the future of SHP—and hopefully a more equitable future for all.

Raising Funds and Raising Voices

They’ve done the work of creating and launching the National Plan to End Poverty. Today, Mark and Katherin are directing their energies toward increasing their reach with valuable financial and human resources.

“We are embarking on a major fundraising effort to raise the support needed to launch a true national campaign. We know it will take a lot of exposure to get people to turn their attention to the plan and believe that their actions will make a difference. We seek to build a community of ‘actors,’ people taking action, from all sectors and from across the country. Geographic diversity is critical, ensuring that it really is national in every way, so a large part of our time will be spent in purposeful outreach to people, seeking their feedback and engagement.”

Power to the People

For SHP, “helping” isn’t about imposing their own ideas about poverty on others. That’s why they rely heavily on data to understand the nature of poverty all around the country. As Mark and Katherin look ahead, they also will rely on people by prioritizing listening to those who experience it firsthand.

“Our backgrounds have included a great deal of time with people who know the challenges, who know what it takes to find economic security when it has not been part of their lives previously. We are reaching out to individuals who live or have lived in poverty to learn from them and invite them to help lead the movement. Building a movement led by people with first-hand experience is at the core of our work and of our national plan.”

Communication, Collaboration, and Evaluation

A key part of Katherin and Mark’s future planning includes launching a public relations campaign and partnering with others working in the poverty space. But how will they know when they’ve succeeded?

“The first year will largely be one in which we spread the word about SHP’s existence and the need for people of all ages and in all parts of the country to engage. We are reaching out to organizations that are doing effective, innovative work around the country to end poverty and build relationships to create shared successful outcomes. As for SHP’s success, we will measure it by the number of people engaging in poverty solutions, as well as in our other initiatives.”

A Micro and Macro Movement

As they enter their second year, Mark and Katherin are targeting two new initiatives: social change on a large scale and working one-on-one to advise other organizations striving to end poverty and offering support as they get off the ground. 

“We are interested in large-scale social change. Once we are effective in helping people in this country gain economic stability and change the systems that provide support, we want to lead discussions of what is possible for individuals and our society. More specifically, we know that there is tremendous potential left untapped on a micro and macro level, and we also know that the current, conditioned approach to life does not do justice to what we can accomplish together. An important part of that is helping other organizations. We are currently working with two women as they start their nonprofits. Both organizations are focused on providing services to youth who live in low-income neighborhoods. They each have great ideas and we are helping them file paperwork, operationalize their ideas, and start to raise funds. We are also working with an established nonprofit to help the executive director grow the organization’s programs and fundraising.”

Pride, Partnership, and Progression

We asked what theses Change Makers are most proud of—and what they see when they look to the future.

“We are most proud of the plan—the data, the action guide, and the framework for people across this country. There is nothing like it. And if used, it will generate outcomes. Where do we see ourselves in five years? At the forefront of poverty discussions and progress. We expect that the country’s understanding of how to address poverty, and of the individual and collective responsibility for it, to improve significantly as a result of our work. In ten years, we hope that we are well on our way to eliminating poverty. We know how many people in this country want to create positive change, and we expect to have an effective tool for them to use in doing so.

Best Wishes for Future Success

PIR would like to thank Drs. Mark Bergel, Katherin Phillips and everyone affiliated with the Shared Humanity Project, for allowing us to follow their journey and share their insights with the .ORG community. We hope their experiences in creating, building, and positioning SHP for the future will inspire others to form their own .ORGs to help make the world a better place. To learn more about the Shared Humanity Project and help advance their mission of ending U.S. poverty, please visit www.sharedhumanityproject.org.