Advocates at the RESULTS Pacific Northwest Conference talk scarcity and the importance of action

What’s your first memory of scarcity?

Nearly 40 volunteers gathered at RESULTS’ Pacific Northwest Conference in Washington State in May. As they went around the circle introducing themselves, they described their first memories of scarcity.

Three were homeless at some point during their childhood. Another struggled with food running out each month.

Two went through dramatic changes in economic security when their fathers died.

One described transportation scarcity. She and her mother and siblings endured long bus rides and walks to grocery stores and services because they couldn’t afford a car.

Someone else joked about length scarcity. She didn’t get new clothes as a foster child, and her legs grew taller than her pants.

Those who had more secure childhoods felt the weight of scarcity through their parents. Many had grown up in hard times, like the Depression. Decades later, they still maintained strict frugality. Or, they hoarded food.

The volunteers had traveled from Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, and even Canada for the two-day conference. They understood that scarcity can be traumatic. And it can have long-lasting impacts, from chronic health problems to generational poverty. The group also talked about the importance of equity and inclusion to combat issues of scarcity.

Zelda Foxall has been a RESULTS volunteer for over a decade. She’s committed, in part, because RESULTS “is more open and comfortable in trying to understand what’s going on in this country in response to race and national origin.”

To help deepen that understanding, she invited award-winning DEI educator and organizational consultant LueRachelle Brim-Atkins to lead a session. LueRachelle titled it “Do You Really Think DEI Is Important Now?” At a time when DEI efforts are being undermined, the session’s resounding answer was “yes.”

LueRachelle led participants through a thought-provoking conversation on the roots and realities of DEI. She began by exploring the social construction of race—how it was created to justify inequality rather than based on any scientific fact.

She then traced the history of DEI initiatives. White women have been the primary beneficiaries of affirmative action policies. A 1995 U.S. Department of Labor study found that out of 7 million jobs created through such efforts, more than 6 million went to white women. Those policies opened doors. People on the receiving end got new job opportunities and the right to open a bank account. But they have not equally addressed institutionalized poverty and inequity across all communities.

A key concept discussed was the danger of “universalizing the particular.” That’s when specific experiences of oppression are dismissed or overshadowed by generalized responses. For example, replying to “Black lives matter” with “all lives matter.” That ignores the unique and urgent injustices facing Black communities. LueRachelle compared it to calling the fire department when your house is burning, only to be told, “all houses matter.” DEI, she emphasized, is about directing support to the communities that are on fire.

This session was a powerful reminder that DEI is not just a buzzword. It’s a vital framework for justice and systemic changes. It’s about building a world where everyone feels valued and can thrive.

Stigma is the opposite of diversity, equity, and inclusion. People struggling with poverty almost universally experience it. To help change that narrative, Maureen Bowling shared what she called “the sacred nuances of a lived experience of poverty.” Maureen is one of RESULTS Experts on Poverty, a cohort of volunteer leaders with lived experiences of poverty.

“I’m someone who lived inside the safety net systems,” she told the group. “I didn’t choose to. My story with poverty began when I was born.”

U.S. safety net systems provided nutrition, housing, and healthcare. They built a bridge to a better life for Maureen and her children. She’s a first-generation college student with a master’s degree in social work.

Right now, draconian cuts threaten programs that helped Maureen meet critical basic needs. The proposed “reconciliation package” in Congress could leave millions of Americans without adequate food or medical care. Maureen reminded us that programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and housing assistance “can be tremendously effective when properly supported and adequately funded.” (Read more about Maureen)

On the last morning, volunteers gathered with laptops, notepads, and pen and paper, ready to write. They were informed about the current state of our U.S. and global policy priorities. They were inspired by the stories they’d heard and shared. And now they were galvanized by a request from a long-time volunteer and former board member from Alaska.

Roger Hudson has attended the Pacific Northwest conferences for decades, but an illness kept him home this year. When offered, he said he didn’t want get-well cards. Instead, he asked his fellow advocates to write letters to the editor.

They wrote dozens, and some were later published. Today and tomorrow, these advocates show that our stories and our action matter.