11.6 million children in the U.S. are living in poverty. Children enduring poverty are more likely to live in high-crime areas and to exhibit oppositional defiant disorder as a byproduct of witnessing traumatic events. Chronic exposure to violent acts impact development of the brain, opening the door to a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break.

The issue is more acute at the state level. Luxe & Learn is based in California — the wealthiest state in the U.S. with a GDP of over $3.6 trillion. However, the state that has the highest number of children in poverty in the U.S., after Texas. As Matthew Desmond says, “Some lives are made small so that others can grow.”

While the poverty divide is a global phenomenon, in the U.S. there is one common factor seen time and time again: Cities that have the greatest gap between the rich and poor also happen to be cities with large Black or Latin populations.

Historically, Black and Latin communities have faced barriers to employment, reduced access to education, and disproportionate attention from overzealous law enforcement. As a result, these same communities often have disproportionate mental and physical health challenges. Over the last few years, Covid-19 has made matters worse.

Public and private initiatives for combating poverty during childhood and early adolescence are critical. Any effective intervention that helps children and parents from low-income backgrounds break the cycle of poverty is vital if the U.S. is going to create an equitable future for its youth.