Guests listen to Dr. Ruby Payne, author and founder of aha! Process, as she discusses the importance of human connection and relationships during the sixth annual East Texas Human Needs Network Summit luncheon at Green Acres Baptist Church Crosswalk Center on Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. (Zak Wellerman/ Tyler Morning Telegraph)

People came together Friday to better understand issues surrounding poverty at the sixth annual East Texas Human Needs Network Summit.

The event held at Green Acres Baptist Church Crosswalk Center addressed the need to create a community understanding of poverty, Christina Fulsom, ETHNN founder and CEO, said.

The summit featured speakers discussing topics related to poverty, such as healthcare, education and transportation.

At the event luncheon, Fulsom presented the ETHNN Comprehensive Community Needs Assessment. She discussed the top 10 needs related to poverty: vision care, dental care, health insurance, anxiety treatment, minimum living wage, hypertension, depression treatment, computer skills, adult education and career and job training.

The assessment uses information from individuals who are interviewed every three years about poverty.

Dr. Ruby Payne, author and founder of a consulting firm called aha! Process, discussed the importance of relationships as the luncheon keynote speaker.

Her training and consulting firm has been in business for over 20 years. She has written and collaborated on several books concerning poverty.

Payne said she asks two questions when working with people: “Who do they care about the most?” and “Who cares about them the most?”

Having adult relationships is a huge factor for one’s health, she said.

“It has to be a quality relationship and it makes a difference all your life,” Payne said.

Time, cultural cues, expectations, access, social, political or economical structures are issues that can hinder relationships, she said.

“Almost all conflict comes out of expectations,” Payne added.

She told the crowd it takes roughly 100 years for people to buy into an idea, such as women being allowed to vote in 1920, while gender pay equality has not been reached yet.

“It takes a long time,” Payne said. “One of the things that happens is ideas change.”

Payne concluded her speech with a video over the need to have gratitude.

“Everyone in this room is a gift to the community in some way,” Payne said.

Two organizations received awards. Cherokee County Human Needs Network received the 2020 Collective Action Award for collaborating with other groups.

Formed four years ago, the Cherokee County group has been giving information on the impoverished and vulnerable populations in the county and has established councils on education, employment, healthcare, housing and transportation, according to the ETHNN website.

UT Health Science Center’s Nurse-Family Partnership received the 2020 Community Impact Award for improving health for low-income, first-time pregnant women. NFP has been serving Smith County since 2016.

Mothers learn about child health and safety, how children develop and the importance of the mother-child attachment, Fulsom said.

Fulsom said the work ETHNN does in the community is all about building relationships.

“Everybody’s looking for a magic bullet, and it’s relationships,” Fulsom said.