Albert Einstien famously once said that “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” It is time that government and nonprofit programs try some different approaches to help families get out of poverty. There are some excellent pilot models to consider, such as Mobility Mentoring in Boston.
In the knowledge-based economy, snapping the cycle of poverty is more complex than ever. The latest brain science research shows that poverty causes chronic stress, which can act as a roadblock to progress, preventing people from planning for future success. Mobility Mentoring pairs low-income people with trained mentors, who use a coaching method rooted in the latest brain science. Mobility Mentoring aims to overcome the extreme stresses of poverty, by improving focus, planning, and decision-making. It’s designed to help people achieve future-oriented goals, despite the immediate challenges of poverty that pop up all around.
