Charting the Path with Mark Farley

Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev

Join Kosta and his guest: Mark Farley, Executive Director of UCHRA, UCDD and Core Partner of Empower UC.

In this episode: Many Americans are questioning how well state and federally funded services really work for this country and if the price tag justifies the outcomes. For anyone listening and thinking, this is just more government bloat - what do you say to them?

I want to talk about single parents because I know this is a part of our community you care for deeply. How is UCHRA, UCDD and EmpowerUC working to assist single parents and help to end the cycle of poverty for over 1,600 children in the Upper Cumberland? Why is it so important that we focus on these parents and kids?

The median home sold price in Cookeville for February 2025 was $340,000, with 10% down that’d be about $2,000 a month with current interest rates. The median individual income as of 2023 census data was $30,400 annually. Before tax for all of us bad at math that’s $2,533 per month meaning it’s mathematically impossible for the average single parent in Cookeville to afford a home. What do we need to do to make sure the people who work here can live here?

Find out more about UCHRA:
https://uchra.org/

Find out more about UCDD:

https://ucdd.org/

Find out more about Empower UC:
https://empoweruppercumberland.org/

🗣️ Join Us at the Poverty Alleviation Summit
📆 Tuesday, May 13, 2025
⏱️ 1:00pm - 5pm CT
📍 In Person: 1104 England Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501
🧑🏻‍💻 Online Registration: https://www.thepovertysolution.com/summit

Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.

This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market.

Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market:
https://www.misssallies.com