Center for Social Flourishing

Together we are well positioned to leverage our 32 years of experience promoting a free and virtuous society and our extensive work in addressing the causes and remedies for global and domestic poverty. Our capacity to convene poverty-fighting leaders and empower them is second to none. Through our work, we are able to:

Ground leaders in the philosophical principles underlying human flourishing, with a particular emphasis on free enterprise, limited government, human dignity, and the rule of law
Clarify the social nature of the human person and understand the importance of localized community cooperation and the positive effects of decentralization
Equip leaders with proven, practical tools and the networks necessary to close gaps within their communities, and thereby remove obstacles to lifting people out of poverty in a sustainable way

Connect those leaders to additional resources and institutions that have a complementary vision and capabilities for tackling poverty

Objectives

While there are many institutions that study best practices in the poverty-fighting space, Acton’s contribution is unique—and more relevant than ever. Our focus is on educating leaders in the core principles necessary for the application of those best practices. Without this rightly ordered philosophical framework, it is easy to derail even a proven system by divorcing it from its philosophical roots and infusing it with a faulty ideology. Grounded in foundational principles, the Acton’s Institute’s work is sustainable and enjoys long-term, positive effects.

Proceeding from our belief in the dignity and capacity of the human person and our desire to see communities flourish, our vision is to dramatically reduce future poverty through disruptive new ideas, practices, and decentralized policies, and by unleashing entrepreneurial synergy. The Center has plans to:

Produce a new documentary on domestic poverty as a sequel to Poverty, Inc.
Host our second Poverty Cure Summit and educational retreats for nonprofit leaders, conduct major research projects, and update our online presence
Create a grant program for poverty-fighting leaders and produce new publications on topics related to poverty

Through this work we will continue to build up a network of 500+ poverty-fighting organizations and offer them concrete support to expand their capacity.

Testimonials

“One of our Dean’s List students walked into my office and described his “this changed my life” moment after watching Poverty Inc. He arrived at college not having a career direction and found one in 1 hour and 31 minutes thanks to your work. Every freshman takes my course, so basically the entire college has seen it by now. Poverty Inc. is one of the most impactful, career-determining film products I’ve ever seen in a classroom setting. I’m not exaggerating. Again, this happens every fall semester.”

College Professor

“There’s a certain paradigm in which we try to help the poor and it comes with underlying assumptions and images about poor people. It comes with a good heart. They give us food, they bring us shoes, they dig us wells, and they encourage others to give. The problem is, it does not work. And yet, the icons of charity remain the same.”

Magatte Wade

“I confess I went to Acton University as a disillusioned communist-leaning intellectual, desperately wanting to help my poor inner-city church. I left with a fire to help the poor, but more importantly a framework to actually help them. There are many changed lives in the inner city of Houston because of Acton University.”

AU Participant

“You’ll never look at poverty and the Third World the same again.”

Michael Moore

“Compulsory viewing for anyone interested in social issues.”

Rathna Ramamurthi, India | Harvard Law School

Documentaries

Poverty Inc.

Learn More

Poverty in America (coming soon)

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