Michael Sherraden is the founder and director of the Center for Social Development. He is the creator of the individual development account or IDA, a matched savings program that is proving to help poor people save money as a strategy to raise their standard of living.
"I am basically an optimistic person and want to see people reach their potential - we should all want that. So, I find myself asking what works and how can people be included in successful strategies? This outlook probably comes from my Midwest upbringing.
"My parents were very active in the community. They helped with literacy training and assisted immigrant families to get settled. I learned from them.
"I also know that success comes from one's ability to organize - organize ideas, research, publications, conferences, constituencies, resources, policies, and programs. Social workers know how to organize."