Poverty Informed College

Riverland Community College

All College Day

- September 24, 2021

 Janelle Koepke
Dean for Institutional Advancement
Riverland Community College

Kim Nelson
Director of Grants and Alumni Relations
Riverland Community College

Heather Schutte
Beegle Certified Poverty Coach
Secondary Schools
What does it mean to be a “Poverty Informed College”?

● Context - demographics of our region

● Definitions - types of poverty, “poverty-informed”

● Call to Action - areas of focus

PBS: Barnes and...A Conversation with Dr. Donna Beegle
 INSTRUCTIONS:
● Start on the blue square
● Follow the directive on
moving forward/backward
Activity based on your personal
situation when you were
“Square of Poverty Walk” 18
● When you reach the end
of the row move down/up
a row and follow
numbering.
Context - Mower County
Context - Austin Public Schools
Context - Riverland Community College
● Riverland has grown in enrollment over the
last three years (FY2017 – FY2020).
● Of the students who applied for financial
aid, 68% qualified for the Pell grant.
● Students enrolled in Undergraduate School
from Austin, Minnesota have a Poverty Rate
of 36.3%.
● Students enrolled in Graduate or
Professional School from Austin, Minnesota
have a Poverty Rate of 7.5%.
 EXAMPLE Policies:
● Academic probation
● Student is repeatedly
Activity late to class
● Student who is
“Sacred Cow” homeless sleeps in a
vehicle parked on
campus
Types of Poverty...

● Generational Poverty

● Working-Class Poverty

● Immigrant Poverty

● Situational Poverty
Cost of Living in Mower County
Yearly Cost $47,084
Cost of Living Tool - helps gauge whether a
wage in a certain county will pay the bills and Hourly Wage $15.09
keep workers afloat.

MONTHLY EXPENSES
Results represent a simple living that meets basic Child Care $248
needs for health and safety.
Food $800
Health Care $519
Housing $798
Transport $789

Information based on Minnesota DEED, Labor Market Information, 2020

Other $438
Taxes $332
 40 hours/week at
$8.50/hour
Activity Monthly income (after
taxes) $1,307
“Paying the Bills”
$3,267 total monthly
expenses
Apartment rent 700

Birthday party gift: your child is invited to a friend’s party 10

Cable television 25

Car insurance: Final notice 150

Daycare: for two kids 400

Diapers: Out of diapers 15

Electric bill: Final notice before shut off 250

Field trip: Activity fee and sack lunch Teacher also needs chaperones 10

Gasoline 100

Groceries 400

Garbage service 39

Health insurance: You work for a small company, you have the option to buy your own family health insurance 900

Laundromat 30

Rent to own payment 25

Phone bill 49

Shampoo and soap: Out of both 6

Shoes: Child has outgrown their shoes 20

Snacks for school: Your child’s week to supply store-bought snacks for class 40

Toilet paper: Out of toilet paper 8

Water bill: Final notice before shut off 90

Reflection Questions
• What do you believe causes poverty?
• Where do your beliefs come from? (e.g., your parents, environment, community, media,
personal experience, etc?)
• How are your experiences and exposure to opportunities, while growing up, different
than the people struggling in poverty that you serve?

• Are you armed with the facts about poverty in your community?
• Are you able to suspend judgement and believe that people are making the best
decisions possible from their perspective?
• Are you willing to assist people who may believe and respond differently than you?
What can we do?

● Gain a deeper understanding

● Failure is not an option

● Collaborate and strengthen partnerships

Poverty Competencies - Foundational Skills
● Education and Self-Awareness About ● All Staff as Mentors
Poverty and Its Causes
● Building Resiliency and Positive Self-
● Assess Organizational Policies and Concept
Procedures
● Exposure Opportunities
● Partnerships and Resources
● Motivation/Value of Education/Planning for
● Staff Buy In the Future
● Collaborative Relationships ● Welcoming Families and Reaching out to
the Community
● Effective Communication Skills (oral
culture training)
Now What?
● Next-Level Professional Development Sessions
● Video Training and Book Reads
● Send a Team To Attend the Beegle Poverty Institute
● Send a Team to Become Beegle Certified Poverty
Coaches
● Host trainings in our communities
● Become and Opportunity Community
● Complete a Poverty Competency Assessment (PCA)
● Develop a custom training DVD and materials
 Janelle Koepke
janelle.koepke@riverland.edu

Kim Nelson
THANK YOU! kimberly.nelson@riverland.edu

Heather Schutte
heather.a.schutte@gmail.com