People experiencing poverty have valuable insight into how social policies play out when implemented. Spoiler alert — they don’t always work as they’re intended. Top social scientists, economists, and politicians have spent decades addressing the “War on Poverty” by drafting social programs and policies meant for people experiencing financial insecurity. Yet we aren’t any closer to finding lasting solutions. Andrea Pickett shares her experience with being under-resourced and what it means to tackle poverty through human connection and advocacy. She believes that to create social programs that work, we must offer a “seat at the table” to people who use them.