Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

Executive Director Jay Height discusses how Shepherd’s partnership with Purdue University Northwest and the University of Southern California is leading to development of a virtual reality-assisted treatment program for young people dealing with chronic trauma.

Executive Director Jay Height explains how Shepherd is working with Indianapolis Public Schools to help families secure a good education for their children.

Shepherd Executive Director Jay Height discusses how spikes in rent and mortgage rates, along with rapid gentrification of urban neighborhoods, are hurting families as they struggle to pay for housing.

Executive Director Jay Height explains how Shepherd and its partners are helping families share positive experiences and build good memories together.

Shepherd Executive Director Jay Height discusses the continued challenges that many people in poverty face because of high food prices and increases in housing costs.

Shepherd Community Center Assistant Executive Director Andrew Green explores why so many students are missing so much school and how the community can help.

Assistant Executive Director Andrew Green discusses the challenges that people living in isolation face during the holidays and how Shepherd Community Center is helping them connect with their neighbors.

Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Assistant Director Tim Streett discuss both the necessity and the limitations of money in ending generational poverty.

Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Assistant Director Tim Streett discuss how building strong relationships and adopting a future-oriented mindset help neighbors break the cycle of poverty.

Shepherd Community Center Assistant Director Tim Streett, at age 15, witnessed the murder of his father as they shoveled snow in their driveway. Years later, Tim not only forgave his father’s killers but built a lasting friendship with one of the men.

Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Assistant Director Tim Streett discuss the essential role that faith in a personal God plays in helping people escape poverty.

Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Indianapolis police officer Adam Perkins talk about how the Shalom Project team builds relationships with neighbors.

Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Indianapolis police officer Adam Perkins discuss how the Shalom Project team uses community policing to assist neighbors on the near East side.

Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and paramedic Shane Hardwick talk about the lifesaving help the Shalom Project team provided a 13-year-old shooting victim.

Shepherd’s groundbreaking Shalom Project meets neighbors’ needs where they live Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Indianapolis paramedic Shane Hardwick discuss the innovative assistance the Shalom Project team provides to neighbors in need.

Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height discusses the many challenges that families living in poverty face when schools aren’t in session for the summer.

Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height discusses the health and well-being of children in Indianapolis in response to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s recent release of its annual Kids Count Data Book.

Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height discusses the root causes that lead to crime and what needs to happen to reduce the violence.

Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height discusses how high inflation, including a spike in housing costs, continues to force families to make hard choices.

Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Assistant Director Tim Streett offer encouragement and advice for young leaders serving in urban ministry.

Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Assistant Director Tim Streett discuss the complex factors that keep millions of Americans trapped in poverty. We learn that breaking free from poverty is much more than just money.

Jay Height concludes the exploration of 10 essential assets for breaking free of poverty with a discussion of the importance of being future oriented and why acquiring enough money to meet basic needs is increasingly difficult but necessary for sustained self-sufficiency.

Jay Height continues the conversation about the 10 assets that Shepherd Community Center’s leadership has identified as essential for a person to leave poverty behind permanently.  This episode focuses on the importance of being able to advocate for yourself as well as the need to understand and function in the mainstream culture.

Jay Height explores why strong relationships are a critical asset for people to rise out of poverty.

Steve Pennington, who provides a unique ministry and service in the community and at Shepherd Community Center, joins Executive Director Jay Height to discuss how he uses the art of puppetry to teach and inspire children.