In the realm of program management, there's a crucial yet often overlooked factor that can make or break the success of initiatives: lived experience. At Key Players Consultancy, we firmly believe that integrating lived experience into program design and implementation is not just beneficial but imperative for creating lasting impact. In this blog, we explore this position as it relates to critical areas like
economic equity, financial empowerment and workforce development to provide context. Let's delve into why this approach matters and explore the following examples that underscore the significance of lived experience to the creation of effective solutions.
Economic Equity and Financial Empowerment:
Achieving economic equity requires more than just redistributing resources, and delivering a one size fits all approach—it demands an understanding of the systemic barriers that perpetuate inequality. Lived experience can shed light on these barriers in ways that data alone cannot capture. For instance, a program aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among marginalized communities may overlook the lack of access to capital or networks that aspiring entrepreneurs face. Moreover, lived experiences acknowledge that many systems have opened the doors of access to participants who are not truly economically and socially disadvantaged thereby reducing the efforts to create a level playing field. Those who have lived experiences are often more equipped to create workarounds to mitigate the impact of these unequal systems.
By actively involving individuals who have faced economic hardship in real and sustainable ways, program managers can co-create solutions that address root causes. In the aforementioned example regarding entrepreneurship, this could involve providing micro-loans tailored to the needs of underserved entrepreneurs, providing access to real and measurable economic opportunities, reducing the cost of business by eliminating the burden of costly and unnecessary insurance requirements, forced business relationships and lengthy contract payment terms. Studies have shown that initiatives informed by lived experience are more likely to yield sustainable outcomes, with participants reporting higher levels of satisfaction and more importantly, long-term success.
Here are 3 examples of ways to achieve Economic Equity and Financial Empowerment to provide context:
1. Access to Financial Education and Resources: Providing comprehensive financial education and resources is essential for empowering individuals to make informed financial decisions and build wealth. This can include workshops, seminars, and online resources covering topics such as budgeting, saving, investing, and debt management. Partnering with local community organizations, schools, and financial institutions to offer these educational opportunities ensures accessibility to a wide range of individuals, including those from marginalized communities. Additionally, offering programs that provide access to affordable banking services, such as low-cost checking and savings accounts, can help individuals establish a strong financial foundation.
2. Support for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development: Entrepreneurship offers a pathway to economic empowerment, particularly for marginalized individuals who face barriers to traditional employment opportunities. Providing support for entrepreneurship and small business development can include offering mentorship programs, business incubators, and access to capital through micro-loans or grants. Additionally, providing training in business skills, marketing, and financial management equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed. Partnering with local chambers of commerce, business associations, and government agencies can help create a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurship within communities.
3. Promotion of Financial Inclusion and Access to Affordable Housing: Access to affordable housing is a fundamental aspect of economic equity, yet many individuals, especially those from marginalized communities, face barriers to homeownership due to factors such as limited income and credit history. Promoting financial inclusion and homeownership opportunities can involve initiatives such as down payment assistance programs, affordable mortgage options, and housing counseling services. Additionally, supporting initiatives to increase affordable housing supply, such as community land trusts and mixed-income developments, can help address housing affordability issues. Collaborating with local housing authorities, non-profit organizations, and financial institutions can facilitate the implementation of these initiatives and ensure they reach those who need them most.
By implementing these strategies, communities can work towards promoting financial empowerment and economic equity, thereby creating opportunities for individuals to achieve financial stability, build wealth, and contribute to the overall prosperity of society. Lived experiences elevate program success.
Workforce Development:
In the realm of workforce development initiatives aimed at marginalized communities, the integration of lived experiences stands as a cornerstone for success. Statistics and proven examples vividly illustrate the validity of this approach. Consider this, according to a study by the National Skills Coalition, over 60% of jobs in the United States require some form of postsecondary education or training. However, marginalized communities often face significant barriers to accessing such opportunities, ranging from systemic discrimination to lack of affordable education and training programs. Moreover, individuals from marginalized communities are often bogged down with survival thereby making educational advancement secondary to mere survival. These realities must be acknowledged, considered and accounted for if real change occurs.
In response to these challenges, programs that actively involve individuals from marginalized backgrounds in their design and implementation have demonstrated remarkable effectiveness, due to the creation of relevant and real solutions beyond the textbook. Take, for instance, the Year Up program, which provided low-income young adults with intensive training and internships in high-demand fields.
By incorporating feedback from program participants who have firsthand experience navigating barriers to employment, Year Up has achieved impressive outcomes. Over 90% of Year Up graduates are employed or attending college within four months of completing the program, with average starting salaries exceeding $53,000 per year according to their website. These compelling examples confirm that programs informed by lived experience are more likely to garner support and participation from the communities they serve, because they embody a sense of trust, ownership and investment in the outcomes.
Key to note, the validity of lived experiences in advancing workforce development initiatives for marginalized people and communities is indisputable. By centering the voices and perspectives of those directly impacted, programs can achieve greater relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability, ultimately leading to increased economic mobility and empowerment for all. Yet in many communities these programs are often spearheaded by well-intentioned professionals with very high-level academic achievement but no relevant lived experience. This often leads to a disconnect resulting in participants being pigeon holed, into a few sectors. It is no surprise that there may also be a significant lack in program outcomes and extremely high poverty rates continuously observed in certain communities. We invite you to fact check this point.
Integrating lived experience into program management efforts is not just a box to check—it's a fundamental principle that drives meaningful change. Whether it's advancing economic equity, improving access to meaningful workforce development initiatives in emerging industries such as Artificial Intelligence for example, or combating discrimination, the voices of those directly impacted must be central to the conversation.
At Key Players Consultancy, we're committed to working together with decision makers who we value as key players, essential to champion the benefits of lived experiences and empower organizations in order to create lasting impact beyond performative measures. Further, we acknowledge that generations of people’s lives are at stake and that drives our commitment, based on our very own lived experiences. Together, let's harness the power of this emerging approach to build a more just and equitable world. In this manner, no one’s voice is left behind, muted or misunderstood and everyone wins! Give Key Players Consultancy a call today!
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