Breaking the Cycle of Generational Poverty Using Integrative Leadership

December 3, 2025

Breaking the Cycle of Generational Poverty Using Integrative Leadership

Ted Davis | 2019

Abstract

The thesis of this book is that, to reduce generational poverty, communities must forge and sustain resilient, cross-sectoral partnerships using integrative public leadership models capable of producing significant social change. The book examines the causes and perpetuators of generational poverty using two social change models—the structural-functional and the socio-psychological models. Secondly, the book defines and explains integrative public leadership for dealing with intractable problems. Thirdly, the book offers recommendations for specific community leaders (e.g., mayors, school boards, business executives, social services executives, and government executives).

Generational poverty occurs when two or more family generations are born in poverty, and therefore, lack resources to move out of poverty. There are four categories of the causes of generational poverty: lack of tangible resources, spatial disadvantages, lack of social and political resources, and lack of economic opportunity. These dysfunctions create an environment in which the impoverished learn to survive above all else. People learn and pass to subsequent generations survival behaviors and perspectives such as strong present-time orientation with little ability for delayed gratification and planning, a sense of resignation and fatalism, low self-esteem and a sense of inadequacy, low esteem for education, and distrust of organizations.

Integrative or collaborative public leadership fosters collective action by multiple stakeholders from various sectors of society, such as coalitions, that work together for the common good. The model brings diverse groups together and guides them in aligning efforts and resources to solve intractable problems. The collective impact model created by John Kania and Mark Kramer has been used extensively and effectively, and this book examines two case studies to illustrate it success.

Request Information

"*" indicates required fields

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Online or On Campus*

Online

On Campus

On Campus Degree Type*

Online Degree Type*

Choose a Program*

This program is designed for registered nurses looking to advance their degree. A valid, unencumbered RN license is required to apply.

RN License Confirmation*

I currently hold a valid RN license

Don't have your RN license yet? Explore other Regent programs.

High School Graduation*

Are you an employee or the spouse/dependent of an employee?*

Employee

Spouse/Dependent

Are you a JCI USA member or benefitted employee, or the spouse/dependent of an employee?*

Employee/Member

Spouse/Dependent

Email Address*

Company*

Agency*

Employee's Company*

Employee's Agency*

Company Email Address*

Agency Email Address*

Your Email Address*

Employee's Company Email Address*

Employee's Agency Email Address*

Employee's First Name*

Employee/Member's First Name*

Employee's Last Name*

Employee/Member's Last Name*

Your Email Address*

First Name*

Last Name*

I live outside the US

Address*