Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

Summertime, and the living isn’t easy. How families in poverty cope when schools is out

Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height discusses the many challenges that families living in poverty face when schools aren’t in session for the summer.

How are Indy’s children doing? From childcare to nutrition, the needs are great

Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height discusses the health and well-being of children in Indianapolis in response to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s recent release of its annual Kids Count Data Book.

Lost hope: Why more arrests won’t stop America’s plague of violent crime

Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height discusses the root causes that lead to crime and what needs to happen to reduce the violence.

‘Watering down their children’s milk’: How rising rent and higher food costs are hurting families

Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height discusses how high inflation, including a spike in housing costs, continues to force families to make hard choices.

What these Christian leaders have learned over a lifetime of ministry

Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Assistant Director Tim Streett offer encouragement and advice for young leaders serving in urban ministry.

Why breaking free of poverty is about far more than money

Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Assistant Director Tim Streett discuss the complex factors that keep millions of Americans trapped in poverty. We learn that breaking free from poverty is much more than just money.

What about my future?

Jay Height concludes the exploration of 10 essential assets for breaking free of poverty with a discussion of the importance of being future oriented and why acquiring enough money to meet basic needs is increasingly difficult but necessary for sustained self-sufficiency.

Why learning to advocate for yourself is essential for breaking out of poverty

Jay Height continues the conversation about the 10 assets that Shepherd Community Center’s leadership has identified as essential for a person to leave poverty behind permanently.  This episode focuses on the importance of being able to advocate for yourself as well as the need to understand and function in the mainstream culture.

Why strong, healthy relationships are an essential asset in gaining self-sufficiency

Jay Height explores why strong relationships are a critical asset for people to rise out of poverty.

How a puppet – yes, we said, puppet – is helping to inform and inspire kids at Shepherd

Steve Pennington, who provides a unique ministry and service in the community and at Shepherd Community Center, joins Executive Director Jay Height to discuss how he uses the art of puppetry to teach and inspire children.