HOW CAN I BECOME INVOLVED IN A WORKING GROUP

All Working Groups are open to participation from any person or organization that has an interest or would simply like to make a difference in reducing porverty. No level of experience or knowledge is required to become a member. There are no fees or dues in our organization, we simply ask that as a member, you become involved and give of your time and talents to help make a difference in reducing poverty across Eastern Idaho. Working Group meetings are typically held on a monthly basis, and each meeting generally last 2 to 3 hours. Locations vary, depending upon the particular Working Group. For more information about our Working Group times, locations, and general information, please contact P4P at 208.785.0059 or tomp@p4peid.org

• FINANCIAL EDUCATION EVENTS 
  
  
• FORT HALL
• Snake River Basin Business Association (SRBBA): Local business association established in Fort Hall with help from Partners for Prosperity. The goal of SRBAA is to assist tribal small business owners and entrepreneurs in small business development.
• SRBBA helps to provide training and assistance, such as the NxLevel training in partnership with Small Business Development Center in Pocatello, to native entrepreneurs in the Fort Hall community.
• Native Vendors: Group of micro-entrepreneurs in the Fort Hall community who organized to more effectively market and sell their crafts and goods both within and outside of the Fort Hall area.
• Partners for Prosperity recently sponsored the building of an outdoor vendors structure in Fort Hall, used by local crafters and vendors in the community.
• Bannock Language: This group was formed in response to many native community members’ desire in Fort Hall to preserve and teach the Bannock language. Bannock classes have been developed for many native community members to learn and preserve the Bannock language.
• LATINO COMMUNITY
  • Mercado Project: Group of individuals from across the region and the Latino community who organized to work toward building a Mercado incubator market in the Blackfoot area with the assistance of Partners for Prosperity.
  • The Mercado is a Latino-based market place where a number of micro-businesses reside. Many Latino goods and products are sold by different vendors and each of the businesses is able to share costs.
  • Latino Business Association: Group of primarily Latino community members who own or are working toward small business training and development. Recently established NxLevel training curriculum for community members in conjunction with the Small Business Development Center in Pocatello.
  • Grassroots community and civic engagement.  Helping to increase community-based involvement in local and state policy through non-partisan education

• Focus on early childhood education as a preventive approach to poverty reduction.
• Current projects and initiatives dealing with quality childcare, strengthening families and other aspects of early learning.
• Federal and private grants increasing early learning efforts across the region.

• Determine Math, Science and Technology programs and initiatives for poverty reduction.
• Explore career ladder options that relate to living wage employment in Math, Science and Technology fields.
• Focus on programs/initiatives that promote career opportunities for K-12 students in Math, Science and Technology.

• Focus on education of adults through higher education and training for better employment and a living wage.
• Explore career ladder options that fit within Adult Education and Training.

• Focus on building sustainable leadership for community members across the region.
• Classes currently being held to increase skills and provide tools for leadership development.

• Annual campaign to promote the use of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and other tax credits for low-income individuals and families in Eastern Idaho.
• Campaign consists of multiple partners who have helped to increase the awareness and usage of the EITC in Eastern Idaho.

• Statewide program administered by United Way of Treasure Valley that provides a matched savings for low-income individuals/families. Purchases under this program can be used for post-secondary education, small business, or home purchase.
• Partners for Prosperity provides technical assistance and limited funding to support the efforts of the IDA program, specifically in Eastern Idaho.

• Classes or projects that occur throughout the year with partner organizations or agencies, focusing on specific needs of low-income individuals or families.
• Examples over the past year include a food and nutrition course, basic computer training classes, and a blanket-making project.