“Giving a Hand Up, not a Hand Out” is the phrase that embodies the mission of my partnering organization, the Community Action Partnership for Madison County (CAP). CAP is an anti-poverty agency established in 1986 in response to the under-addressed yet overlooked poverty in Madison County. Through its eight services, including Women, Infant, and Children (WIC), Temporary Services, Housing and Homelessness, and Early Head Start, this organization strives to provide residents with the tools, education, and a lending ear to help low-income families achieve self-sufficiency even after CAP’s assistance. My partnering with this non-profit could not have been at a more opportune time. Given the events unfolding on a governmental level, the fate of agencies like CAP remains uncertain. However, in my role as a data analyst for their 2025-2028 Community Needs Assessment, one thing became explicitly clear — low-income Madison County residents need these programs now more than ever.
As of 2023, about one in 10 Madison County residents lives in poverty. The root causes of poverty have proven to be a lack of preschool education, employment, healthcare, child care, and housing. Despite many cases of poverty having the same catalysts, the rate of poverty varies across different demographic categories. Geographically, those living in the southernmost regions of the county have the highest poverty rate, aside from Hamilton. Gender-wise, more females live below the poverty line (52%) than males (48%). Age shows that children and young adults under the age of 18 make up over a quarter of those who are experiencing poverty. The examination of race reveals that white people make up 89.2% of those living below the poverty line. However, there is already an underrepresentation of historically marginalized groups living in the county. So, when examining the rate of poverty within these racial groups, those who are identified as Hispanic, Black, or “some other race” have much higher poverty rates: Some other race (29.6%), Black people (28.6%), and white people (9.3%). CAP acknowledges the complexities of poverty and strives to reduce its prevalence.
This summer, I assisted with CAP’s Community Needs Assessment. This report highlights the social, demographic, and economic status of residents. The organization conducts community-driven data collection to identify the community’s most pressing needs, uncover gaps in available services, and raise awareness of existing resources. The community data was derived from community and employee/volunteer surveys as well as focus groups. I was tasked to answer the research question, “How do the community input data and themes align or contrast with the Community Service Block Grant Domains and any existing CAP services?” I conducted data analysis and created vignettes to address this question.
Regarding data analysis, I quantified qualitative data. More specifically, I identified the needs of the community discussed in the focus groups and paired each need with a corresponding measure within the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) domains. This was to showcase the most pressing needs that must be prioritized for the community’s well-being. In addition to data analysis, I also created vignettes. I interviewed the eight program managers to gain a deeper understanding of the specifics and nuances of their respective programs. Then, using this information, I wrote six vignettes, fictionalized accounts of participants who resemble those in the community who would benefit from CAP’s services. This humanization of the data provides a more emotionally evoking strategy to convince government officials that continued funding of these programs is integral to the survival of these communities. The 2025-2028 Community Needs Assessment is now completed and is expected to be published within the next several weeks.
I am a rising senior double-majoring in neuroscience and Africana and Latin American Studies (ALST). Following my graduation from 91ɫ, I have decided to pursue a Master’s in Public Health. My intended scope is to study addiction within the context of marginalized communities. Not only did this opportunity verify my occupational goal, but it intensified it. Seeing the data unfold in front of me alongside hearing the stories of current residents who rely on CAP has filled me with a sense of urgency to mitigate community health disparities. I have learned and honed soft and hard research skills that will aid me in my time in graduate school and beyond. I am overwhelmingly grateful to Julie Dudrick and the Upstate Institute for allowing me to delve deeper into my intended career field. The nuggets of wisdom that I have received during my time will take me far. — Zemira Meade ’26