Ending Poverty In Community (EPIC): A Toolkit for Young Advocates is an interactive, interdisciplinary curriculum for youth ministry programs and high school classrooms. The lessons will introduce participants to the epidemic of poverty in the United States and to the steps they can take to work with the poor in eliminating the root causes of poverty today. The curriculum comprises six lessons with classroom-ready handouts, warm-up exercises and reflection activities that reinforce student learning and inspire a faith response.

The first four lessons provide the foundation. Lesson 1 features a PowerPoint presentation that answers the question, “Who is poor in America today?”  In Lesson 2, participants reflect on the causes of poverty and the barriers faced by those who are poor. Lessons 3 and 4 help participants reflect on the epidemic of poverty through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.

The curriculum culminates in Lessons 5 and 6 with the Ending Poverty In Community (EPIC) Action Project – a strategy for identifying a local community need and working with the poor to address that need.

Finally, the Appendix provides additional action strategies and templates for participants to use to help educate others about poverty and to advocate with the poor.

To view each of the lessons, click on the navigation buttons to the left.

Photographs included in this curriculum © Bernard J. Kleina.  

Reprinted with permission.