I wanted to understand homelessness, so I checked myself into a men's shelter. In 2003, I co-founded Hoskins Park Ministries in Charlotte with a formerly homeless man, and I lived with men off the street for six years. Their lives challenged assumptions I had brought with me.
As executive director, I also competed with other agencies for funding. That convinced me there had to be a better way to connect people with the work that needed their support—not simply reward whoever delivered the strongest sales pitch. Engaging Poverty 101 grew out of that conviction: help people understand the work so they can make informed decisions about where and how to engage.
— Thomas A. Wheeler