The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, based in Chicago, works for economic justice for low-income people. Contact president John M. Bouma.

Sharon Soneff is an artist and blogger and the co-author of Faith Books and Spiritual Journaling: Expressions of Faith Through Art. She lives in San Clemente, Calif.

The Institute for Women’s Policy Research is a public policy research organization whose focus includes poverty and welfare, democracy and society and education. For media inquiries, contact Jennifer Clark.

Banafsheh Sayyad is a dancer and choreographer, performing contemporary mystical Persian dance. Sayyad has said that she approaches dance as prayer. She is based in San Diego.

Jane Rickenbaugh teaches sacred dance at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Ore.

The Coalition on Human Needs in Washington, D.C., is an alliance of national organizations that advocate policies to help low-income people. Deborah Weinstein is executive director.

The Children’s Defense Fund in Washington, D.C., works to end child poverty. The organization has a list of regional contacts across the country.

Jacqueline Shea Murphy is an assistant professor of dance at the University of California, Riverside. In 2004, she helped mount a program at the university called “Red Rhythms” on American Indian spirituality through dance.

The Center for Law and Social Policy is based in Washington, D.C., and works to improve the lives of low-income families; see its poverty page. Tom Salyers is the director of communications.