Systemic Change Initiative
Promoting systemic change means offering holistic support that empowers people to make their way out of poverty and into self-sufficiency.
Three phases are designed to gradually increase resiliency against conditions that cause suffering and distress.
GETTING AHEAD PROGRAMS
Classes begin
*Jul 21, 2025 - Nov 5, 2025: Applications reviewed in June 2025, and acceptance notifications will be made by June 30th.
*Jan 19, 2026 - May 8, 2026: Applications reviewed in November 2025, and acceptance notifications will be made by December 30th.
*subject to change
Sessions to choose from:
Mondays: 9:30am - 11:30am
Tuesdays: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Wednesdays: 9:30am - 11:30am or 6:00pm - 8:00 pm
Program Goals
Working in a group learning environment, participants, become "investigators", and learn how money is only one of eleven resources to achieve success.
Resources participants learn to move from crisis to sustainability:
Social Capital Support System:
Friends, family, network.
Relationship/Role model:
Access to people who can help improve your outcomes.
Motivation & Persistence:
Energy, drive and planning
Financial:
How to use money to purchase assets and services.
Emotional:
Ability to control emotional responses, increase Integrity, build trust, and maintain safety.
Physical:
Health and mobility
Knowledge of Hidden rules:
Know unspoken cues and behaviors of different social environments.
Spiritual:
Belief in divine purpose.
Language:
Ability to use appropriate vocabulary and grammar for different social environments
Mental:
Cognitive capacity to master daily life challenges.
Program Benefits
Become an Investigator
If you’ve spent part of your life—or most of your life—struggling to get by, the idea of actually getting ahead might seem out of reach. Even if your story has been filled with barriers, vanishing opportunities, and setbacks, this program can change your next chapter. Yes, you have to write your own story, but you don’t have to do it alone.
UNDERSTANDING OF THE HIDDEN RULES
DIVERSE SUPPORT NETWORK
STRATEGIC PLANNING
PARTICIPATION STIPEND
Phase I:
Getting Ahead Program
Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World is a 16-week series for motivated people ready to change their life by acquiring the tools and support necessary to "get ahead" in today’s world.
Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World takes participants on a step-by-step journey to discover resources and build the resiliency necessary to overcome life's obstacles. This program helps participants build the life they want.
Sessions Include the Following Modules:
01
MY LIFE NOW
Investigate poverty; what is it like for us and our community?
02
THEORY OF CHANGE
Be free from solving the same problems over and over again.
03
RICH/POOR GAP
Research on causes of poverty; understand poverty from different perspectives.
04
HIDDEN RULES OF ECONOMIC CLASS
Learn, understand, and be able to use the Hidden "Rules" of the wealthy, middle class and impoverished.
05
IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE
Investigate formal register and negotiation tools.
06
ELEVEN RESOURCES
Investigate societal, community, relational, emotional, and financial resources.
07
SELF ASSESMENT OF RESOURCES
Conduct self-assessments.
08
COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT
Deeper investigation of community resources.
09
BUILDING RESOURCES
Create a treasure chest to achieve economic stability.
10
PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY PLANS
Develop a detailed plan for your future.
By December 31, 2025, program practitioners aim for 178 participants to complete Phase I.
Participants are selected based on the information provided within the application, along with their willingness to fully commit to all sessions of the program.
Sessions are held virtually.
Equipment is provided.
Phase II:
Getting Ahead GRADUATE Program
Cohort '24
The second phase elevates participants' commitment to improving their own lives.
Mentors become their teammate to provide the encouragement in achieving self-sufficiency and sustainability.
Cohort '24
Assists Graduates with developing a pragmatic action plan to their vision of a better life.
Guides Graduates in building financial, social, and emotional resources.
Provides Graduate with incentives once successes and milestones are achieved.
6 MONTH GRADUATE PROGRAM
MUST FIRST COMPLETE PHASE I
BEFORE ENROLLING
Phase III:
Getting Ahead ALUMNI Program
Continue your journey.
Become an Ambassador.
Connect. Teach. Empower others.
Continues exploring key community resources to maintain
self-sufficiency.
Provides educational workshops and online resources to stay motivated on journey.
ONGOING PROGRAM
Hosts
community job fairs, networking opportunities and recognition events throughout the year.
Provides alumni participants the opportunity to become mentors, facilitators, and even Vincentians to continue strengthening the community.
MUST FIRST COMPLETE
PHASES I and II
Participant Experience
Christy
Christy loved the getting ahead program. She states it was instrumental for her personal and professional growth. Christy has learned systemic poverty and how to overcome it. Although she remains at her current job, she states she now has a better insight on how to look for better opportunities. Christy has gone through the 16 week getting ahead program, graduate program and is now helping facilitate alumni program.
Mary
Mary had lost her job and had no income for over 3 months. Due to her lack of knowledge about available resources, this was a difficult situation to overcome. After participating in the Getting Ahead program, she has started to work through her situations and begin a new path to financial stability. Mary continues to refer other individuals to the program and hopes to become a facilitator for the program to help others around her.
Gloria
Gloria shares that the getting ahead program is an open environment to discuss situations that have impacted you, and how the resources provided in the program helped resolve those issues. She says what she liked the most was that resources cam from both mentors and other participants in the program. Gloria would like to participate more with the community and expand the information she has received in the prgram.