Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

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“Breaking the Cycle of Poverty” explores why poverty remains such a persistent problem in the United States and how individuals and organizations can help people secure economic independence and a higher quality of life.

Shepherd Community Center


    • May 15, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 14m AVG DURATION
    • 79 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

    How Christians can handle political tensions with love and kindness

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 27:51


    Shepherd Community Center's Chief Learning Officer Tim Streett and Redeemer Presbyterian lead pastor Charles Anderson discuss how Christians can interact with love and kindness for their neighbors, friends, families and coworkers during a time of deep political polarization and tension.

    Dr. Ben Carson: Alleviating poverty starts with relationships and with education

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 10:26


    Dr. Ben Carson, the famed neurosurgeon and former secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, discusses how ministries can help lift people out of poverty during his visit to Shepherd Community Center.

    Why are teens so stressed? Shepherd initiative works to reduce students' anxiety

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 14:25


    Executive Director Jay Height and Chief Engagement Officer Phil Edwards discuss Shepherd's collaboration with Indianapolis Public Schools to reduce students' stress and anxiety.

    How Shepherd is helping to improve students' mental health at a local high school

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 10:41


    Executive Director Jay Height and Phil Edwards, Shepherd's chief engagement officer, discuss an innovative program the ministry has launched to improve students' mental health at an Indianapolis high school.

    Back to the future: What a veteran pastor would tell his younger self about ministry

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 10:34


    Executive Director Jay Height talks about key lessons he's learned about serving in ministry during 30 years at Shepherd.

    Why strong relationships are essential for breaking out of poverty

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 20:18


    Executive Director Jay Height and Tim Streett, Shepherd's chief learning officer, discuss why building strong relationships is essential for helping neighbors break the cycle of poverty.

    Kindness and encouragement: How 2 students found a home at Shepherd

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 10:46


    Executive Director Jay Height and recently retired Grace Church teaching pastor Tim Ayres discuss how Christian leaders can thrive in ministry for decades.

    How to thrive in Christian ministry for the long haul

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 21:14


    Executive Director Jay Height and recently retired Grace Church teaching pastor Tim Ayres discuss how Christian leaders can thrive in ministry for decades.

    Happy New Year! Here's what lies ahead for Shepherd in 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2024 8:41


    Executive Director Jay Height discusses plans to celebrate Shepherd Community Center's 40th anniversary in 2025.

    Gap between ‘haves' and ‘have nots' grew in 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 9:33


    Executive Director Jay Height reviews the triumphs and challenges of 2024, including an increase in neighbors struggling with the high cost of necessities.

    How you can help Shepherd celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2024 11:14


    Executive Director Jay Height discusses opportunities to serve as Shepherd prepares to help our neighbors celebrate the holidays.

    How Shepherd got its start and where it's headed in the future

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 9:03


    Executive Director Jay Height discusses Shepherd Community Center's history and its future as the ministry prepares to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its launch.

    Violence in Indy shatters families and leaves neighbors asking: Where can I find hope?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 17:15


    Executive Director Jay Height discusses how a wave of violence is affecting our neighbors, our community and ministry leaders.

    Shepherd works with local builder to provide affordable housing in Indianapolis

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 14:25


    Executive Director Jay Height and Director of Housing Dennis Westlake discuss how Shepherd is working with partners in the community to address the urgent need for affordable housing in Indianapolis.

    Shepherd shows how a Christian ministry can partner with public schools

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 12:59


    Executive Director Jay Height discusses Shepherd Community Center's growing partnership with Indianapolis Public Schools to meet students' physical and mental health needs.

    How Dolly Parton and Shepherd are working together to teach kids to read

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 11:19


    Executive Director Jay Height discusses Shepherd Community Center's adult and children's literacy efforts, including its partnership with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

    How we can help our children thrive in a tough world

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 10:09


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height discusses how government, businesses and ministries can work together to improve children's lives.

    How Indiana can become the best state in the nation for children

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2024 10:27


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height casts a bold vision for the future of Indiana: how can the state become the best in the nation to raise a child?

    Shepherd's economic impact in Indianapolis pays huge dividends

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024 15:42


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height interviews Phil Powell, executive director of the Indiana Business Research Center, on the economic impact of Shepherd's work in the community.  

    Shepherd is taking innovative steps to address America's housing crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 13:40


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Shepherd's Director of Housing Dennis Westlake discuss the ministry's innovative efforts to help neighbors find affordable housing.

    How Shepherd is responding to America's critical lack of affordable housing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2024 14:01


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Shepherd's Director of Housing Dennis Westlake discuss how the lack of affordable affects neighbors in Indianapolis and through the United States.

    What does the future hold for Shepherd Community Center?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024 12:29


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height talks about the ministry's future as it prepares to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its founding.

    How should the community respond to the youth violence plaguing our city?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024 9:12


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height discusses how the church and the community need to respond to the surge in youth violence in Indianapolis.

    How inflation has left lower-income workers struggling to buy groceries

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2024 24:11


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Dave Miner of the Indy Hunger Network discuss the effects of inflation on low-income families.

    Why are so many people hungry when we're surrounded by so much food?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024 28:49


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Dave Miner of the Indy Hunger Network discuss why chronic hunger remains a persistent problem in Indiana.

    How Christians can help people struggling with substance abuse

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2024 20:14


    Guests Frank and Obed Santiesteban discuss the growing challenges of ministering to people who struggle with substance abuse.

    How to welcome our new neighbors: Migration is changing how we do ministry

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2024 19:53


    Executive Director Jay Height discusses ministry needs and opportunities surrounding migration, immigration and refugees with guests Frank and Obed Santiesteban.

    How isolation and loneliness led to a ‘friendship recession' in America

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024 14:28


    Executive Director Jay Height explains how each of us can help overcome the epidemic of loneliness and isolation plaguing our neighbors.

    Shepherd partners with Purdue and USC for virtual reality treatment of trauma

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2024 8:16


    Executive Director Jay Height discusses how Shepherd's partnership with Purdue University Northwest and the University of Southern California is leading to development of a virtual reality-assisted treatment program for young people dealing with chronic trauma.

    Why Shepherd is partnering with Indianapolis Public Schools to improve education

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2024 7:21


    Executive Director Jay Height explains how Shepherd is working with Indianapolis Public Schools to help families secure a good education for their children.

    How the surge in housing costs is hurting families living in poverty

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 9:52


    Shepherd Executive Director Jay Height discusses how spikes in rent and mortgage rates, along with rapid gentrification of urban neighborhoods, are hurting families as they struggle to pay for housing.

    How building positive memories can help strengthen families

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2024 14:21


    Executive Director Jay Height explains how Shepherd and its partners are helping families share positive experiences and build good memories together.

    Should I buy food or medicine? Why inflation is still hurting people in poverty

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2024 11:54


    Shepherd Executive Director Jay Height discusses the continued challenges that many people in poverty face because of high food prices and increases in housing costs.

    Chronic absenteeism is the latest crisis in education. Here's how to help.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2024 13:03


    Shepherd Community Center Assistant Executive Director Andrew Green explores why so many students are missing so much school and how the community can help.

    Together for the holidays: How Shepherd is helping people connect

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2023 12:04


    Assistant Executive Director Andrew Green discusses the challenges that people living in isolation face during the holidays and how Shepherd Community Center is helping them connect with their neighbors.

    Why money is important but not all that is needed to break free from poverty

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2023 19:44


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Assistant Director Tim Streett discuss both the necessity and the limitations of money in ending generational poverty.

    Why strong relationships are essential for leaving behind poverty

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2023 17:19


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Assistant Director Tim Streett discuss how building strong relationships and adopting a future-oriented mindset help neighbors break the cycle of poverty.

    A gunman murdered his father. Then Tim Streett found the power to forgive.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2023 40:39


    Shepherd Community Center Assistant Director Tim Streett, at age 15, witnessed the murder of his father as they shoveled snow in their driveway. Years later, Tim not only forgave his father's killers but built a lasting friendship with one of the men.

    Why personal faith is essential for escaping poverty

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 19:18


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Assistant Director Tim Streett discuss the essential role that faith in a personal God plays in helping people escape poverty.

    A new way to do policing: Why building relationships can prevent making arrests

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2023 15:07


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Indianapolis police officer Adam Perkins talk about how the Shalom Project team builds relationships with neighbors.

    How Shepherd's Shalom Project helps neighbors through community policing

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2023 28:52


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Indianapolis police officer Adam Perkins discuss how the Shalom Project team uses community policing to assist neighbors on the near East side.

    Shot in the chest: How a member of Shepherd's Shalom team saved a child's life

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2023 17:38


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and paramedic Shane Hardwick talk about the lifesaving help the Shalom Project team provided a 13-year-old shooting victim.

    Shepherd's groundbreaking Shalom Project meets neighbors' needs where they live

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2023 15:06


    Shepherd's groundbreaking Shalom Project meets neighbors' needs where they live Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Indianapolis paramedic Shane Hardwick discuss the innovative assistance the Shalom Project team provides to neighbors in need.

    Summertime, and the living isn't easy. How families in poverty cope when schools is out

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2023 12:40


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height discusses the many challenges that families living in poverty face when schools aren't in session for the summer.

    How are Indy's children doing? From childcare to nutrition, the needs are great

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2023 14:23


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height discusses the health and well-being of children in Indianapolis in response to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's recent release of its annual Kids Count Data Book.

    Lost hope: Why more arrests won't stop America's plague of violent crime

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2023 12:41


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height discusses the root causes that lead to crime and what needs to happen to reduce the violence.

    ‘Watering down their children's milk': How rising rent and higher food costs are hurting families

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2023 13:44


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height discusses how high inflation, including a spike in housing costs, continues to force families to make hard choices.

    What these Christian leaders have learned over a lifetime of ministry

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2023 23:10


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Assistant Director Tim Streett offer encouragement and advice for young leaders serving in urban ministry.

    Why breaking free of poverty is about far more than money

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2023 22:03


    Shepherd Community Center Executive Director Jay Height and Assistant Director Tim Streett discuss the complex factors that keep millions of Americans trapped in poverty. We learn that breaking free from poverty is much more than just money.

    What about my future?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2023 13:57


    Jay Height concludes the exploration of 10 essential assets for breaking free of poverty with a discussion of the importance of being future oriented and why acquiring enough money to meet basic needs is increasingly difficult but necessary for sustained self-sufficiency.

    Why learning to advocate for yourself is essential for breaking out of poverty

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2023 11:32


    Jay Height continues the conversation about the 10 assets that Shepherd Community Center's leadership has identified as essential for a person to leave poverty behind permanently.  This episode focuses on the importance of being able to advocate for yourself as well as the need to understand and function in the mainstream culture.

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