Celebrating 10 years of leadership: meet the new Experts on Poverty cohort!
In the fight against poverty, people surviving poverty know best how to solve it. Following their lead is the only way to truly end poverty.
RESULTS Experts on Poverty (EOPs) are a cohort of individuals who have personal experience with poverty. Their expertise is a guiding light for RESULTS priorities. They know what works and what doesn’t. They lead the way in dismantling the harmful and flat-out wrong stereotypes about poverty and those surviving it. This year, the EOP program celebrates a significant milestone: 10 years in action!
Over the past decade, EOPs have helped drive a shift in policy and narratives. Their stories in the media have brought attention to the poverty-fighting role of tax credits. Their insight has pointed the RESULTS network toward its groundbreaking housing work on a Renter Tax Credit. Their remarks have helped raise countless dollars for anti-poverty programs. And that’s only a snippet of what they’ve accomplished in the last 10 years.
Now, RESULTS is pleased to introduce the 10th cohort of EOPs (see below).
Here’s to another decade of transformative impact!
Candace Baker – Indianapolis, IN
Favorite self-care activity: creating fashion designs or going to the spa
Why did you want to become an Expert on Poverty?
To be a voice for those who don’t have one or scared to speak up about where they are. Growing up in poverty was something I didn’t like but I knew with the right support and mindset shift. I would overcome it and be able to support others by using my voice, advocacy and lived experience to advocate for those who need it the most by coming up against reprimanded policies.
Kali Daugherty – Milwaukee, WI
Favorite self-care activity: getting my nails done
Why did you want to become an Expert on Poverty?
To make sure policy makers hear from those impacted. I want to see things change for the better
Maureen Bowling – Lexington, KY
Favorite self-care activity: intuitive horsemanship
Why did you want to become an Expert on Poverty?
I became an Expert on Poverty because of my own lived experiences with financial insecurity and systemic barriers. Having to rebuild my life without resources gave me a deep understanding of the challenges so many people face. Sharing my story and advocating to end poverty is important to me because it brings authenticity to my work, amplifies the voices of others, and pushes for solutions that truly address the root causes of poverty.
Tiffany Tagbo – Oklahoma City, OK
Favorite self-care activity: reading and writing
Why did you want to become an Expert on Poverty?
My lived experience with poverty has deeply shaped my understanding of the struggles families face when trying to survive with limited resources. Having once been impoverished, I possess a unique perspective on the emotional, physical, and social challenges that come with it. This firsthand knowledge fuels my passion to help other families who are experiencing similar hardships. My journey from facing poverty to becoming an advocate speaks to my resilience and commitment to creating positive change. I understand that poverty isn’t just about a lack of money — it’s about limited access to opportunities, education, health care, and stability. This insight has driven me to become a voice for those who may feel unheard, particularly for at-risk populations and families with children who need support the most.
I’ve made it my mission to break the cycle of poverty for others, not just by addressing immediate needs but by working toward long-term solutions. My passion for change is what makes my work so impactful — it’s rooted in a genuine desire to lift others out of the circumstances I once knew all too well.
Ashley Dines – Las Vegas, NV
Favorite self-care activity: reading
Why did you want to become an Expert on Poverty?
I believe by sharing my experiences with others it can and will empower them to share their stories and together we can make changes for the others that come after us.
Kimberly Trigg – Salina, KS
Favorite self-care activity: getting my nails done
Why did you want to become an Expert on Poverty?
I wanted to become an Expert on Poverty because I’ve seen firsthand how the cycle of poverty affects individuals, families, and entire communities. My own lived experience has shown me the barriers people face when trying to escape poverty — barriers that are often invisible to those who haven’t experienced them. From housing instability to limited access to education and resources, these challenges are deeply personal to me. Sharing my story is important because lived experience brings authenticity and urgency to the conversation. Statistics and policies can feel abstract, but when people hear real stories, they humanize the issue and foster empathy. It also creates space for solutions rooted in reality, rather than assumptions.
Brazil Jefferson – Victorville, CA
Favorite self-care activity: reading
Why did you want to become an Expert on Poverty?
I wanted to become an Expert on Poverty because I want to be a leader and inspire change in poverty and other social issues. It is important because living in poverty limits your opportunities. I want to change that by raising my voice so action can be taken.
Clara Moore – Newark, NJ
Favorite self-care activity: crocheting and going to the spa
Why did you want to become an Expert on Poverty?
I became an EOP to learn more about policy and how to impact it, in search of community, and in hopes of getting to tell me story and lift stigma around poverty and talking about it.
Carla Ventura – Columbia, SC
Favorite self-care activity: walking
Why did you want to become an Expert on Poverty?
I wanted to become an EOP to let others know that they have a right to seek help if and when they need it. I also wanted to share my story to encourage others to go back to school and take care of their families.