Bridging the Gap: A New Approach to Ending Poverty│Mary Cacioppi

Mary Cacioppi, founder and CEO of Bridges to Prosperity in Northern Illinois and Author of Economic Development that Benefits Everyone, joins host Kaycee Bunch to explore the connection between economic growth and community development in the fight against poverty. With 25 years of experience – from the Rockford Chamber of Commerce to leading impactful initiatives – Mary shares key insights on collaboration, systemic change, and her newly published book. In this episode, we explore: How economic and community development intersect to drive change The ‘Bridges Out of Poverty’ model and its role in systemic solutions Building a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy Why cross-sector collaboration is essential for lasting impact The Urban Institute framework and its influence on upward mobility Quotable: “It’s not just, hey, under-resourced folks, you know, you've got to build your resources and life stability, but it’s also, hey, community, here’s why these are challenges and barriers to people in our communities from getting ahead and truly staying ahead.” Resources and Links Connect with Mary Cacioppi on LinkedIn Aha Process Bridges to Prosperity The Urban Institute’s Upward Mobility Framework The Urban Institute Economic Development that Benefits Everyone – Book A Framework for Understanding Poverty – BookSpecial Guest: Mary Cacioppi.