Grand Rapids knows how to take on hard problems together. Through the 100 in 100 campaign, our community moved more than 225 people experiencing chronic homelessness into permanent housing, with nearly all remaining stably housed. The Downtown Pathways Project now builds on that momentum, uniting business, philanthropy, nonprofits, and local government around a bold goal: ending chronic homelessness in Grand Rapids.

That same spirit of communities solving problems from the ground up sits at the heart of POVERTY TRAP, a new national documentary that examines how big plans to end poverty broke the promise of America and what communities are doing to renew it.

Join the Grand Rapids Chamber and Acton Institute for an invitation-only advance screening of POVERTY TRAP and a panel discussion featuring the filmmakers and others after the showing.

You will be in good company, with other leaders of nonprofits, government and civic organizations from across the region to continue the conversation during the panel discussion and reception.
 

EVENT AGENDA

• ​4:30 p.m. | Heavy hors d'oeuvres and beverages available

• 5:00 p.m. | Welcome and introduction; film begins

• ​6:50 p.m. | Q&A with filmmakers and local leaders

• 7:15 p.m. | Networking and refreshments

• 7:45 p.m. | Adjourn

​EVENT LOCATION

Acton Institute, 98 E. Fulton Street

EVENT ATTIRE

​​The event dress code is business casual.

From the creators of the award-winning documentary Poverty, Inc. comes a new film about social and material poverty in the United States. 

POVERTY TRAP examines how big plans to end poverty broke the promise of America—and what communities are doing to renew it.

From the legacy of urban renewal and the War on Poverty to today's sprawling network of social programs, many attempts to fight poverty have kept people stuck. As Lee Moore of Jackson, Mississippi puts it: "It's hard to make it out."

Drawing on more than 130 interviews across 16 states, the film traces a sweeping story of policy failure and lost communities, but also redemption—finding purpose after prison, dignity reclaimed from addiction and homelessness, and revival around “a little garden” in South Dallas.

POVERTY TRAP exposes the tragedy of treating human struggle as a technical problem to be managed and solved by experts. It points toward something different: the untapped capacity of people to transform their own lives and communities. 
 

ABOUT THE ACTON INSTITUTE

​Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Acton Institute is a leading educational think tank that conducts research, publishes, and offers educational programs for religious leaders, students, business leaders and policymakers around the world. For more information, visit acton.org.