Poverty seems to be one of those issues with a stigma to it.

Certainly not everyone, but many people tend to turn their head the other way.

Maybe you’re thinking, “Lethbridge is wealthy, we’re a thriving community.” Well that may not be entirely true.

Lethbridge has the highest rate of poverty in Alberta, after Calgary and Edmonton, with13 per cent of the population living in poverty.

The Vibrant Communities model which, according to its website, is described as “a community driven effort to reduce poverty in Canada” was introduced in Lethbridge earlier this year.

Vibrant Lethbridge believes in making use of our most valuable assets: people, organizations, businesses and government.

The committee held a round-table session on Nov. 15 to bring those valuable assets together. With a turnout of over 60 people, it’s clear that the community cares about this issue.

That’s a great thing. Poverty can effect more than those in its direct path, overall it can affect an entire community.

Not a lot of people are aware of the issue, which in a way helps the poverty along.

Raising people’s awareness is important and according to Vibrant Lethbridge committee chairwoman, Renae Barlow, it’s what they’re focusing their efforts on.