Our latest podcast features an interview with Dr. Brandy Faulkner, the Gloria D. Smith Professor of Africana Studies in the Department of Political Science at Virginia Tech.

In our discussion, Dr. Faulkner addresses issues around poverty, class and socioeconomic status. She challenges the long-held notion that anyone living in the United States with a ‘bootstraps’ mentality can be successful and argues that much of the nation’s growing problem with poverty should be blamed on systemic causes and not the actions (or inaction) of individuals and families who struggle to meet even the most basic of needs.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
U.S. Census Bureau data website – http://www.data.census.gov

United Way – http://www.unitedway.org

Southern Poverty Law Center - http://www.splcenter.org/

Virginia Organizing - http://virginia-organizing.org/

Sponsor Information:
Teen Connections https://www.plannedparenthood.org/pla... Contact: Malinda Britt, PPSAT Community Health Educator Malinda.Britt@ppsat.org / (540) 315-2130