The Hill County Early Childhood Investment Team invites area community members to a free workshop, Poverty 101, presented by Dr. Donna M. Beegle. The workshop will take place at Best Western Plus Havre Inn & Suites at 1425 Highway 2 Northwest on Friday, February 7, from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Dr. Beegle is a poverty expert, inspirational speaker, and recognized author from Portland, Oregon, who will share realistic strategies for individuals, organizations, and communities that want to make a meaningful and lasting difference in moving and keeping people out of poverty.

Born into a migrant labor family and married at age 15, Dr. Beegle is the only member of her family who has not been incarcerated. By age 25, she earned her GED and then, within ten years, received her doctorate in Educational Leadership.

In her motivational and informative Poverty 101 workshop, Beegle weaves personal experiences with research to provide insights for communicating and working more effectively across race, poverty, gender, and generational barriers.

Beegle is President of Communication Across Barriers (CAB), an organization whose mission is dedicated to broadening and improving opportunities for all people who live in "the war zone of poverty." As a consulting firm, CAB assists organizations and communities who want to improve outcomes for people living in poverty. The organization believes that society needs to fight poverty, not the people who live in it.

For 30 years, CAB has worked in all fifty states and eight countries. They provide seminars, institutes, and workshops for individuals working in higher education, K-12, healthcare, social service, faith based, business, and government positions or for anyone wanting to better understand poverty and gain tools for improving outcomes. Those interested in additional resources are encouraged to consult the organization's website: https://www.com barriers.com/.

On that website, Beegle is quoted as saying: "My education, my work, and my passion are to help people from all races who are trapped in poverty. I want them to have genuine options for lifelong success. This can only happen if the voices of those struggling with poverty can be heard and their perspectives understood.

"Poverty is resolvable, however, making a difference for people who live in the crisis of poverty requires a paradigm shift-a shift that moves us beyond stereotypes and judgment to a deeper

understanding of the causes of poverty and its impact on human beings. With this awareness, we can work together to provide genuine opportunities for people to move out of poverty."

Anyone wishing to attend this workshop should register by February 3 at https://www.eventbrite.co m/e/dr-donna-beeglepoverty-101 or call Tina Thomas, Family Engagement and Coalition Coordinator for the Hill County Early Childhood Investment Team, at 406-390-4772. Registration is free and lunch will be catered by Murphy's Pub for all registered attendees.