Orion Communities’ Getting Ahead workshop is back — and our current session is already underway.
Every Monday evening through May 18th, a group of community members are gathering at First Presbyterian Church in Phoenixville to do something powerful: take an honest look at how poverty has shaped their lives and start building a plan for what comes next.
What Is Getting Ahead?
Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World is a free, 12-week interactive workshop for adults living in unstable situations or persistent poverty. But this isn’t a lecture series — it’s a hands-on investigation. Participants, called “investigators,” work together in small groups to explore the hidden rules of economic class, assess their own resources, and develop a personalized action plan for long-term financial and social stability.
Built on the nationally recognized Bridges Out of Poverty framework developed by Dr. Ruby Payne and Philip DeVol, Getting Ahead puts participants in the driver’s seat. You are the expert on your own life. Half of what happens in each session comes from the experiences and perspectives that investigators bring to the table.
What Makes It Work
Getting Ahead is designed to remove the barriers that often keep people from participating in programs like this. Every Monday session from 5:30 to 8:00 PM includes pizza dinners and limited childcare — because showing up shouldn’t mean choosing between learning and taking care of your family. Participants also receive take-home books and materials to continue their work outside of class.
And here’s something that sets this program apart: investigators who complete all 12 weeks receive a $400 incentive. It’s a recognition that the time and effort participants invest in this process has real value.
What Participants Walk Away With
Over the course of the program, investigators build skills across budgeting, employment, housing, transportation, healthcare, education, and parenting. But the most lasting takeaway is often the personal “future story” — a concrete plan grounded in real goals and supported by a network of peers who understand the journey.
Graduates leave with more than new knowledge. They leave with a community.
Interested in the Next Session?
The current workshop runs Mondays through May 18th at First Presbyterian Church, 145 Main Street, Phoenixville. An interview is required to join the program.
If you or someone you know is interested in the next Getting Ahead session, don’t wait — reach out now to get on the list.
Contact: 484-341-7354 / gettingahead@orionhope.org
