How It Works

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ENVISION is a cross-sector initiative of UWGC that builds upon our organization’s primary impact areas—Financial Resiliency, School Readiness, and Connected Communities—to leverage the power and expertise across Charlottesville’s social impact sector in a coordinated approach to address generational poverty.

UWGC’s focus on poverty and equity derives from a strategic planning process in 2019 with broad input from community stakeholders. This new era of innovation was furthered by our emergency response work during Covid-19. ENVISION’s goals were developed thereafter to affect systems-level change among economically-disadvantaged individuals and families through partner-driven collaboration with area nonprofits.

Poverty in Charlottesville

17% of families in our regions cannot afford the essentials of life

Some experience deep poverty – lacking housing, employment, or reliable food access – while many work for an income that simply does not cover the costs of living in our community.

A single parent with 1 child earning $30,000 is estimated to spend an average of 97% of its financial resources on housing, childcare, and transportation. This leaves less than $1,000 per year for food, taxes, clothing, medical bills, etc. Local jobs in this salary range include Certified Nurse Assistant ($30,042), Receptionist ($30,050), and Groundskeeper ($30,980).

Of the nearly 11,000 families living this reality in our region, 35% are Black, a significant overrepresentation as Black individuals comprise only 1% of the total population. 

The Envision Ecosystem

Partners

Learn about Envision’s collaborating organizations

School Readiness

Learn more about Envision’s School Readiness goals

Financial Stability

Learn more about Envision’s Financial Stability goals

Connected Community

Learn more about Envision’s Connected Community goals