UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A partnership between students passionate about addressing barriers blocking students from securing their basic needs and the office of Student Care and Advocacy, a unit of Student Affairs, has led to the creation of a University-affiliated, registered student organization dedicated to combatting poverty and student hardship. Students United Against Poverty will act as student ambassadors for the Office of Student Care and Advocacy.
Students involved with SUAP will have the opportunity to advocate for students in need while creating impactful change in their communities. The organization will discuss the issues surrounding poverty and general student hardship at Penn State and beyond, while actively seeking solutions through research, volunteerism, and project execution.
“Our team is dedicated to meeting students where they are in times of need and really taking time to understand what hurts. As we integrate Students United Against Poverty into our operation, the benefits are infinite,” said Anna Barone, director of Student Care and Advocacy. “We will get to partner with students to collaboratively address barriers blocking students from being able to meet their basic needs on a systemic level, gleaning insight from peers on what strategies will be most efficient and effective, while still working hard to connect students with resources they need today. And the students involved in the organization will benefit from having the scaffolding and support associated with aligning with Student Care and Advocacy, an already well-established department within the University which serves students at all campuses.”
Najee Rodriguez, the co-founder of Students United Against Poverty and first executive director, stated that the organization's genesis resulted from collaboration between Anna Barone, Taylor Dorsett, co-founder of Students United Against Poverty and president of Lion’s Pantry, and him.
“After the release of the Student Advisory Board on Student Poverty’s recommendations, a new basic needs branch of Student Care and Advocacy was announced, dedicated to tackling basic needs insecurity,” Rodriguez said. “Taylor and I were ecstatic, but immediately wondered how we could continue the work of the student advisory board productively and sustainably, while also expanding the scope of support for our peers facing hardship. The result is Students United Against Poverty.”
The organization's purpose is twofold; the first is to address and combat poverty and basic needs insecurity on a systemic level, and the second is actively supporting students who may be facing any type of hardship during their time at Penn State. The student members will provide resources and education, organize projects and programming, and provide direct student support.
“The energy, care and compassion of this team of students is astounding,” said Leanne Lenz, associate director for Student Care and Advocacy and adviser for Students United Against Poverty. “Our members represent a wide variety of professional, personal, and educational backgrounds. As members of the Penn State student body, they are uniquely qualified to lead the charge toward ending poverty at Penn State and beyond through collaborative work with Student Care and Advocacy.”
With the affiliation to Student Care and Advocacy, students will have the opportunity to gain professional development skills and experiences in human services. The organization aims to inspire a lifelong commitment to not only combating poverty but also helping those who may be in need, beginning at Penn State.
“Students United Against Poverty is unique in the fact that there isn’t another organization like us at Penn State. We are students dedicated to advocating for our fellow Nittany Lions and making a lasting impact on our university. I’m honored to be a co-founder of this organization, and I’m eager to see how Students United Against Poverty flourishes in the coming years,” said Dorsett.
For students who are interested in fighting poverty and holistically supporting their peers at Penn State, applications for Students United Against Poverty will open in early January. Project Cahir Endowment funds will provide supplemental support to Students United Against Poverty in their efforts to educate Penn State students about civic duty and community around the issue of poverty and its effects.