Mission:
To make a substantial contribution toward elevating the level of discourse on poverty, pairing the visual power of documentary photography with the persuasive power of the human story.

Background:
AmericanPoverty.org is a project of In Our Own Backyard, a 501(c)(3) organization of photojournalists committed to the cause of social reform in the United States. The project uses multimedia to examine the daily struggles of impoverished Americans, with the goal of changing how the public and policy makers think about poverty in America. The organization receives significant support and funding from Catholic Charities USA.

Outstanding Web Features:
The American Poverty Web site features an interactive map through which visitors can access photo essays by participating photojournalists, read reports from the field, and find volunteer opportunities. The site also features photo essays submitted by visitors and the founders of In Our Own Backyard as well as links to the organization's Facebook and YouTube pages.