Ledger

A photographic display featuring 50 photos and stories of people who have used an educational, social service, or career program to transform their lives from one of poverty to one of success is currently on display at the University of Washington Tacoma Library through Dec. 15.

The display, which originated at Hamilton College in New York, made its way to the University of Washington Seattle campus and then UWT. It is a part of the Access Project called "The Missing story of Our Lives – Poverty and the Promise of Higher Education." The program provides opportunities for higher education for single parents who may feel they are too financially strapped or incapable of succeeding in college.

Among the pictures and brief bios of success stories is an introduction by Access Project Director Vivyan Adair, which states that the Access Project’s goal is to work against devaluing poor people, claiming that the "pathology and degradation of poor women and families has proliferated in the United States," and that racist, classist, sexist and heterosexist assumptions of poor, single mothers led to the justification of punitive reform that allows them to make just enough money to survive.

"The reasons why people are poor can be very broad," said Ling Yeh, Diversity Resource Center Coordinator at UWT, who brought the exhibit from UW Seattle. "You shouldn’t judge people based on assumptions. It’s easy to criticize someone if you’re doing well." Yeh says that she has always valued the importance of education.

One of many examples in the display, which proves disadvantaged people with kids can step up and turn their lives around, is the story of a single mother named Chrystal who never before considered higher education because she felt she needed to devote all her attention to her family. She was barely able to get by and feared that her son would grow up thinking he had very little chance of a good future because his mother could not afford college for him.

Eventually, she learned about the Access Project, which took a look at her case and gave her an opportunity to go back to school. She could only describe it as a miracle, and quickly latched onto the opportunity to build a better life for her and her son.

"My intense desire for learning has finally caught flame amidst the stifling realities of life; through the Access Project it is being oxygenated to burn bright for the lasting legacy of education that will pass down to my son and his son," Chrystal said.

"It’s not a program just so victims can say ‘poor me,’" said Yeh. "It’s a program that gives people a real chance to improve themselves. It’s not just for poor people either; they can also help people who have struggled with health issues and abusive relationships."

For students interested in similar opportunities or who wish to do volunteer work, Yeh encourages them to visit the Diversity Resource center where they have a number of programs available and plan on adding more. Adair will be speaking about the Access Project on Dec. 7, 4:30 p.m. in the Snoqualmie room of the UWT library.