CASSOPOLIS — Getting Ahead is the rigorous 15-week curriculum used in association with Bridges Out of Poverty.

In Cass County nine “co-investigators” spent 45 hours with nine “allies” analyzing poverty at the individual and community levels.

Participants learned about the hidden rules of poverty, conducted a community resource analysis and created individual plans for moving themselves and their families out.

Their efforts will be celebrated with a graduation party on Wednesday, Oct. 20, from 6:30 to 7:30 in room 141 of the Dale Lyons Building at Southwestern Michigan College.

Participant Kim Brown appreciated the analysis she applied to her life.

Even though she and her sister had been working on starting their own business for several years, she realized she had been coming up with excuses about why things didn’t happen.

Liz Springsteen reports changing the way she talks to her children when trying to discipline them. And she has been motivated to communicate with political leaders.

She feels the bonds created between the women in the class is highly empowering.

Graduates will share about how Getting Ahead inspired them at the graduation ceremony.

Bonnie Bazata, executive director of St. Joseph County, Ind., Bridges Out of Poverty, will be the keynote speaker.

Bridges Out of Poverty is coordinated by the Cass county Human Services Coordinating Council with technical assistance from St. Joseph County Bridges Out of Poverty.

Training was underwritten by Tri-County Head Start.

Cass County Council on Aging was instrumental in facilitating the sessions. For more information, contact Ruth Andrews at (269) 445-0269 or andrewsr3@michigan.gov.