Constellation Lab
Research in Action is partnering with Constellation Lab (CoLab) to lead a study on solutions to poverty to enable communities to thrive. Working with Co-Lab staff and community organizations, RIA is collaborating with youth and families with lived experiences of poverty to shift investments from philanthropy to align with the visions of directly impacted communities and end intergenerational poverty.
Partners
Constellation Lab
Constellation Lab (CoLab) catalyzes, funds, and supports actionable research on poverty-fighting solutions. CoLab invests in evidence to inform funding and community efforts to strengthen and scale effective solutions to reduce intergenerational poverty and support thriving people, families, and communities in Minnesota and beyond.
Problem
Public and private funders have historically made decisions about investments and programming to reduce poverty without consulting people who have actually experienced poverty. This has led to ineffective responses that have left too many families and youth stuck in the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
Process
In this first-of-its-kind study, RIA is working directly with youth and families with young children in Hennepin, Ramsey, and St. Louis counties to understand their needs. By providing a survey to parents and guardians with children aged 10 and under; young adults under 30; people with a self-described lived experience with poverty; and folks living in one of these three counties, we were able to understand what these communities actually need from philanthropic and government actors to end intergenerational poverty through strategic investments.
Solutions
The Pass the Mic survey — open until May 31 — will uplift key solutions from directed impacted communities. If you or your organization want to get involved, please support our outreach by reviewing our Action Toolkit.