Walking the inner city to better understand poverty

It's called the Social Issues Walk and the goal is to show first-year University of Alberta nursing students the complexities of poverty and homelessness. The wall exposes the students to issues surrounding housing, education, health care and the various agencies in Edmonton's downtown core.

Vera Caine, a professor in the Faculty of Nursing, says it's important to have the students understand the issues at an early stage in their nursing career as these are topics they face in the future when working alongside clients.

"The goal of the course is to help students envision possibilities and realities of community nursing," said Caine.

"Focusing on the needs of marginalized, underserved populations is especially critical at a time when extensive health care restructuring is taking place across the province."

The Social Issues Walks began in January 2010 and is part of a partnership between the University of Alberta's Faculty of Nursing and The Mustard Seed, an organization that seeks to address poverty in greater Edmonton and often provides hot meals and warm clothes for the less fortunate.