ATD Fourth World New York - What’s Been Happening
2024 is full of activities. Here are the highlights from the first part of the year. Many more events related to the 50th anniversary of the Fourth World House and our 60th anniversary in the country, as well as our regular programs, are in preparation for this important year. Keep in touch with us.
ATD Fourth World pursues Joseph Wresinski’s legacy
One of ATD Fourth World founder Joseph Wresinski's most important visions was "to get [people living in poverty] to appear in public, in the places where the future is shaped.” He stated that he would get "my people to climb the steps of the UN, the Elysée and the Vatican," where the voices of people living in poverty are not heard. On February 15, 2024, that wish came true once again when the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund opened their doors to ATD Fourth World Activists for the first time.
ATD Fourth World, in partnership with Oxford University, conducted an international participatory research project called The Hidden Dimensions of Poverty. The project took place in six countries: Bangladesh, Bolivia, France, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, and the United States. For three years, people living in poverty, professionals, and academics worked together to clarify how we define poverty and its multidimensional aspects.
The pandemic put the presentation of this project at the World Bank on hold, but finally, academics, professionals and people who have direct experience of poverty as co-researchers had an important dialogue there. The recording of the conference is online. Four ATD Fourth World Activists who had been very active in the research project traveled to Washington D.C. to be part of this important event. It was an opportunity to meet other ATD Fourth World members who had worked in similar processes.
The trip was also an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The March on Washington of 1963 was an inspiration for all the members who visited the Lincoln Memorial with a lot of emotion. Another poignant moment was the visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. From enslavement to segregation, to freedom and empowerment, our members felt connected and inspired.
Learning from Joseph Wresinski 36 years after his passing:
For ATD Fourth World members, February is a time to reflect on the legacy of Joseph Wresinski. For people who are not familiar with ATD Fourth World, February can be an opportunity to learn about our movement and a way to develop a new gaze on their knowledge of extreme poverty. In New York, on February 21, 2024, we organized an event in partnership with the Très Bons Documentaires collective and with members of the organization Français du Monde to introduce them to ATD Fourth World and our programs in NYC. It was also our first fundraiser of the year! The best way we found to tell the story of our movement was to show the movie Joseph the Rebel by Caroline Glorion (2012), followed by an introduction to our programs and ending with deeper reflections on the film. Each participant shared one or more words related to their discovery of the film and ATD Fourth World: dignity, humanity, solidarity, courage, powerful women, complexity, hope, words, immersion, distress... were some of the words. Each participant shared powerful thoughts and emotions about the injustices depicted in the film, which remain a reality for people living in extreme poverty, but they also recalled the ability to challenge the system thanks to unity and solidarity.
It was a pleasure to have them at the Fourth World House. We thank them for their generosity, this fundraising contributed to funding our trip to Washington D.C.
United Nations Commission on Social Development (CSocD)
The 62nd CSocD took place from February 5 -14, 2024 at the United Nations Headquarters, with the priority theme "Fostering social development and social justice through social policies to accelerate progress on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to achieve the overarching goal of poverty eradication.” ATD Fourth World participated in a panel about policy making and dignity and the Civil Society Forum, and also organized a virtual side event with ATD Fourth World Activists from ATD Fourth World Ireland and UN Special Rapporteur Olivier De Schutter. The recording and more details from the commission are available here.
Parallel event at the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations
The sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women took place from March 11 - 22, 2024. With the priority theme, “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.” Maryann Broxton, ATD Fourth World’s UN Representative, prepared a parallel virtual event on the intersection of gender, poverty, racism, and violence.
Celebration with a Purpose:
Babette Ayassamy, a longtime ATD Fourth World member, celebrated her birthday by sharing her talent and supporting ATD Fourth World. She prepared a fundraising mini-concert with her favorite songs from New York and Paris. All the benefits contributing to our children's programs: Story Garden, Tapori, and Festivals of Arts and Learning. Thanks, Babette, for this lovely moment of sharing!