Organization: ATD FOURTH WORLD MOVEMENT INC
Mission: ATD FOURTH WORLD MOVEMENT IS THE UNITED STATES BRANCH OF THE INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT ATD (ALL TOGETHER IN DIGNITY) FOURTH WORLD, AND INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION WHICH AIMS TO ERADICATE PERSISTENT POVERTY AND EXCLUSION THROUGH PARTNERSHIP AMONG FAMILIES IN POVERTY AND OTHER MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. MEMBERS FROM DIFFERENT SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS ACT TOGETHER FROM THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF: THE INALIENABLE DIGNITY OF EACH HUMAN BEING, THE NECESSITY TO LEARN FROM FAMILIES LIVING IN PERSISTENT POVERTY, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL PEOPLE TO UNITE AND STRIVE TOGETHER TO END POVERTY.
Activities: TRAINING AND PUBLIC INFORMATION ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: - INTERNSHIPS AND A VARIETY OF LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL GATHERINGS FOR ONGOING PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ATD FOURTH WORLD VOLUNTEER CORPS. - FIELD PLACEMENTS FOR STUDENTS IN THE SOCIAL WORK FIELD, AS WELL AS INFORMATION SESSIONS FOR SERVICE-LEARNING VOLUNTEER GROUPS IN ORDER TO GIVE A HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE OF OUR APPROACH OF PARTNERSHIP WITH THOSE IN PERSISTENT POVERTY - PARTNERSHIPS WITH ACADEMICS IN SOCIAL POLICY RESEARCH (BOSTON) CREATE CONVERSATIONS AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY, ACADEMICS, BUSINESS LEADERS, AND POLICYMAKERS. - PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND EVENTS INCLUDE PANEL DISCUSSIONS, CONFERENCES, AND COMMEMORATIONS OF OCTOBER 17, THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY. IN THESE FORUMS PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY EXCHANGE THEIR KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, AND EFFORTS TO OVERCOME POVERTY WITH OTHER CONCERNED CITIZENS. - PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING BOOKS, REPORTS, NEWSLETTERS, AND E-NEWSLETTERS UPDATE OUR MEMBERSHIP ABOUT OUR PROGRESS AND INVITE OTHERS TO JOIN OUR WORK. - THE WEBSITE WWW.4THWORLDMOVEMENT.ORG FEATURES UPDATES ON OUR PROGRAMS, ADVOCACY, AND MEMBERSHIP. - OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ATDFOURTHWORLDUSA, FEATURES DISCUSSIONS OF CURRENT EVENTS, ATD FOURTH WORLD PROJECTS, AND OTHER PERSPECTIVES.
ACTIVITIES WITH FAMILIES AND CHILDREN INCLUDE: - STREET LIBRARIES (NEW ORLEANS, NEW MEXICO, AND NEW YORK) OFFER COMMUNITY ORGANIZING THROUGH READING AND ART ACTIVITIES IN UNDER-RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY USE STORIES, CREATIVE ACTIVITIES, AND COMPUTERS TO PROMOTE AND STRENGTHEN A LOVE OF BOOKS, CREATIVE DISCOVERY, AND CONNECTION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. OUR TEAM IN GALLUP, NEW MEXICO RUNS STREET LIBRARIES IN AN OPEN-AIR MARKET AND IN A DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORHOOD WITH NATIVE AMERICAN AND LATINO CHILDREN. OUR NEW ORLEANS TEAM OFFERS STREET LIBRARIES IN DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE 7TH WARD AND THE NY TEAM RUNS THEM IN BROOKLYN IN A SHELTER FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES IN QUEENS. IN APPALACHIA, WE OFFER SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS WHO HAVE LITTLE ACCESS TO THEM. - ADULT PROGRAMS (APPALACHIA (VA), NEW YORK, NEW ORLEANS, BOSTON) INCLUDE DISCUSSION FORUMS, SKILL-SHARING WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, HOLIDAY GATHERINGS, AND CULTURAL OUTINGS. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS ADULTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE GATHER TO SHARE STRUGGLES AND ASPIRATIONS, MERGE KNOWLEDGE, CELEBRATE, ADVOCATE, AND BUILD PEACE BY STRIVING TOGETHER TO END POVERTY. A PRIMARY EVENT IN THE YEAR IS ALWAYS THE PUBLIC COMMEMORATIONS OF OCTOBER 17, THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY. - ARTISTIC PROGRAMS (GALLUP, NM, APPALACHIA) THE APPALACHIAN LEARNING CO-OP PROMOTES THE EXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND CULTURE, AS LOCAL RESIDENTS LEAD AND BENEFIT FROM COMPUTER CLASSES, MUSIC WORKSHOPS, QUILTING CIRCLES, WEAVING PROJECTS, AND VARIOUS OTHER TRADITIONAL OR ARTISANAL CRAFTS. THESE STRENGTHEN AND HIGHLIGHT THIS REMOTE AREA'S RICH TRADITIONS OF WORK, STRUGGLE, AND HOSPITALITY. IN GALLUP WORKSHOPS WITH STUDENTS HELP BUILD INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS ON THEMES SUCH AS DINOSAURS AND SPACE THAT SERVE AS A TRAVELLING RESOURCE FOR AREA CHILDREN. - COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ANTI-POVERTY ORGANIZATIONS (NATIONAL) STRENGTHENS EFFORTS TO OVERCOME POVERTY LOCALLY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE COLLABORATIONS BUILT OPEN UP CHANNELS FOR FAMILIES IN POVERTY TO ACCESS ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE JOINT REPRESENTATION AT THE UNITED NATIONS, RUNNING ART WORKSHOPS TOGETHER, AND SHARING STORIES THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVES AND PUBLIC EVENTS. - ACCOMPANIMENT AND SUPPORT IN ACCESSING BASIC RIGHTS (NATIONAL) HELP ENSURE THAT VULNERABLE FAMILIES BENEFIT FROM SERVICES SUCH AS HOUSING ACCESS, EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, JOB TRAINING, AND LEGAL AID.
NTEE category: International, Foreign Affairs & National Security
Secondary category: Community Improvement & Capacity Building