Who is Stephen Ralph?
- 12 years as direct
or of Anti-Poverty Initiatives, Evansville Christian Life Center - Born in Kansas City, Missouri; raised in Southern California
- Relocated to Evansville, Indiana, in 2008
- Husband to lovely wife, Angela, and father of four
- Worked as a healthcare professional for 15 years
- Classically trained musician
- Grew up in generational poverty
- Experienced homelessness for two years
Stephen Ralph’s credentials, degrees, and certifications
- Nationally certified pharmacy technician, Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
- Journeyman—Guitar Institute of Technology, Musician’s Institute, Hollywood, California
- Member—American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
- Free agent policy advocate / media coordinator, Evansville Chapter—RESULTS International
- Bridges Out of Poverty trainer—aha! Process
- Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World facilitator—aha! Process
- Workplace Stability consultant—aha! Process
Stephen Ralph’s work history
- Director of Anti-Poverty Initiatives—Evansville Christian Life Center, Evansville, Indiana
- CHOICE program coordinator—Evansville Christian Life Center, Evansville, Indiana
- Exhibits coordinator—Children’s Museum of Evansville, Evansville, Indiana
- Certified pharmacy technician—Kaiser Permanente, Greater Los Angeles Area, California
- Freelance musician—composition, studio session, and live performance, Greater Los Angeles Area, California
Stephen Ralph’s aha! moment
My aha! moment came in 2008 when I briefly I fell into homelessness. It was a grim time in my life, and there were choices that I had made that contributed to my situation. But as I tried to regain my life, I encountered difficult barriers I had not anticipated. The United States was suffering from the greatest economic downturn since the Great Depression. The conditions in my community were no better, as livable-wage jobs and affordable housing were nearly impossible to find. There were predators to avoid and other challenges to navigate. Thankfully, I emerged from my struggle with the help and support of others, but also with a conviction that if we are to solve poverty in the United States, we must constantly reevaluate everything we are doing. We must have the courage to listen and understand the challenges of poverty so we can address it at every level and create a future that is equitable and inclusive.
Stephen Ralph’s passion
As a person with lived experience, my passion is to positively impact what is being done about poverty and homelessness in Evansville, Indiana, and around the nation. As a program director, Bridges trainer, Getting Ahead facilitator, and federal policy advocate, I have had the privilege and opportunity to serve on numerous boards and governing bodies. My work includes promoting education, increasing social perceptiveness, and working closely with individuals, institutions, and communities to solve the problem of poverty in the United States.
Stephen Ralph’s best training
I honestly strive to make every training my best training! I am always excited about the opportunity to learn from and share my experiences with people from all walks of life. My last Bridges training was with an Early Childhood Advisory Council in Cecil County, Maryland. I co-presented with Jim Ott, who did a fantastic job leading the training. I learned so much, and it was exciting to engage in great discussions, aha moments, and even the conversations that went on after the training.
What does Stephen Ralph do for fun?
I love spending time with my wife, Angela, and family, going to soccer and football games, and enjoying family outings. I love history, philosophy, and poetry. I have an extraordinarily rich musical life, which includes leading worship at my church. I spent three years building a live looping rig so I can perform live as a “one-man band.” I’m also into writing music for films and media. One of my future goals is to compose the score for a major motion picture.