Patricia Jackson: Part 1 — FIRSTHAND: Living in Poverty
82,765
Published 2021-04-07
See the rest of Patricia's story and much more at interactive.wttw.com/firsthand/living-in-poverty/s…
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About Patricia
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Patricia Jackson, her husband, and their children live in her mother’s basement in the Roseland neighborhood on the South Side. The family’s only source of steady income was Patricia’s low-wage job at a WIC grocery, until the coronavirus pandemic forced her to take time off. Now a remarkable opportunity has landed on Patricia’s doorstep: a nonprofit called the Family Independence Initiative offered her financial assistance with no strings attached. In the short term, these cash infusions will allow the family to keep their heads above water. Looking to the future, Patricia and her husband hope to get an exciting new business off the ground.
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About FIRSTHAND: Living in Poverty
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In Chicago, your birthplace often determines your destiny. Children born in one West Side census tract between 1978 and 1983 grew up to have a median annual household income of $16,000, according to Opportunity Insights. Does the American Dream exist in Chicago? In FIRSTHAND: LIVING IN POVERTY, WTTW explores intergenerational poverty in Chicago in a documentary series, reported stories, expert talks, and community discussions.
FIRSTHAND: Living in Poverty is part of the award-winning FIRSTHAND multiplatform, multi-year initiative focusing on the firsthand perspectives of people facing critical issues in Chicago.
www.wttw.com/firsthand
#FIRSTHANDwttw
All Comments (21)
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Watch the full season of FIRSTHAND: Living in Poverty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XYTIuHE2gc&list=PLs3qXjCE-VeQeBB4vT2a6x0J9SG68zyRA And watch the entire FIRSTHAND series: youtube.com/watch?list=PLs3qXjCE-VeQ6tn6Lc2_fMiaYS…
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They may be poor in money but they are richer than most in love
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Their father sounds like he was a wonderful man, instilled such great qualities in them!!!
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I wish my family was close like this. My parents were never supportive.. we had a very broken and dysfunctional family.. I grew up in a upper middle class neighborhood in northwest indiana and my parents always tried to make us seem like this perfect happy family.. and even though we were well off with money.. everything else was shit... I had no love growing up. Not everything is what it seems sadly. You can have money but still be sad and unhappy. God bless this family. I would’ve loved to grow up with them all.
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My dad will be gone 30 years in August. I miss him every day. I feel her pain on missing her dad. Keeping her and her family in my prayers.
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What a lovely family! Her parents did an amazing job raising her, and I'm wishing her and her family even more success!
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They’re not living in poverty! They’re living in peace and happiness from what I am looking at! Just a big beautiful family and they had their father around! More than what I had growing up and he instilled such importance in his daughter especially about being independent and loving yourself first. This has me tearing up. ❤️ I was always so jealous of those who had all of their family together and still am as my entire family is all spread out across the country. We may have the financial means through our careers but I live with a brokenness from feeling neglected by living in different homes with different people growing up. While I have a home, beautiful home with my husband and daughters, I feel lonely many days. I work from home in software and hubby works away all week out of the country. I am not complaining but from what I see from this family, they are HAPPY and they have each OTHER and that’s so important in life! ❤️
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I don’t see any poverty here. I see a large loving family.
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Not many families like this one, anymore. You're an inspiration to all of us.
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As long as God is in your life everything else will fall into place. God bless everyone who reads this.
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This family will go far in life. They have the right foundation. Bless and progress them Lord Jesus. Amen.
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It is not poverty, it is just the big, lovely family!
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Daddy left a great legacy. A great love of community.
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My mouth is watering at those hot dogs. Who else wishes they could be at that family party??
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Please please please make saving for an emergency fund priority people!! Budgeting helps to avoid stress from lack of money
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Now I like this family. Married 41 years, GOOD CLEAN GIRLS! I just lost my Dad recently and I had him EVERYDAY just like this sister. This family is going to make it! I support people like this.
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WIC is such a great program. When times were tough, it sure helped my family. God bless all who read this <3
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FII is a great program! Helping folks pull themselves up.
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2 minutes into the show and I want to go over to their house and hang out with them they seemed so happy and so full of joy we can all use some of that :-)
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I came from an upper class family and hell looking at your lovely family, I am dirt poor. Wish nothing than the best for you all!
