Future Without Poverty teams up with Kentucky’s Majority Whip and Morehead State University’s Regional Enterprise Center
Syl Flores Jr. and Heather Flores from Future Without Poverty (FWOP) have begun their work in helping to reduce poverty in the Eastern Kentucky Appalachia region. The duo moved into their new West Liberty, Kentucky home in late May and will live there until the end of June. Their early reports state that the region is full of nature’s beauty and welcoming people with a pride rarely found in many places.
In an ABC 20/20 news special shown earlier this year titled Children of the Mountains Struggle to Survive, Diane Sawyer reported that roughly forty percent of Appalachia’s population still lives in poverty. Thus, like in many other places worldwide, the pains of poverty are still felt in places of spectacular natural beauty.
The purpose of Syl Jr.’s and Heather’s work in this region is to gain and build the community’s trust while receiving valuable input towards helping the proud people of Eastern Kentucky have a Future Without Poverty. FWOP is fortunate to be working closely with Morehead State University’s Regional Enterprise Center (MSUREC) and with Kentucky’s Majority Whip, State Representative John Will Stacy, in this initiative.
Upon reviewing Syl Jr.’s and Heather’s findings, FWOP’s grant writing team will work to submit joint proposals between FWOP and the MSUREC. The ultimate goal is to obtain funding to bring much needed economic development to the region. While the region is doing better than it was during Robert F. Kennedy’s 1968 “poverty tour”, unfortunately, it still has a long way to go. FWOP hopes that with our combined efforts, the path out of poverty for some will be made easier. Updates will be posted to the FWOP website as developments occur.