"Does anyone have any ideas... How can we get this information "out there" more effectively, to help more people learn how they can support themselves (and not be dependent on handouts)...?"

... Case studies!

Want to get folks involved and invested in the forum?

Show them that the ideas shared actually work. Throwing around ideas is one thing, putting them into action is another. Heck, you can even have a "idea to implement challenge" with forum members following a plan and tweaking it to success.