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National Symposium Forges Discussions on Poverty |
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The Community Action Partnership recently held the National Symposium on Poverty and Economic Security, part of a multi-year anti-poverty initiative to help Community Action Agencies and other organizations identify strategies for a national anti-poverty plan. Held May 29-31,2007 in Bethesda, Maryland, the Symposium brought together a cross section of practitioners, policymakers, foundations, and researchers for a discussion on the causes and conditions of poverty, and solutions and new strategies for ending it. It also incorporated findings from state and local town hall meetings hosted by Community Action Agencies and state Community Action associations that fight poverty on the local level. Successful anti-poverty programs were featured during the "Marketplace of Ideas," a day-long workshop session that included presentations from Community Action Agencies, Howard University, Cato Institute, Center for American Progress, Economic Policy Institute, and Catholic Charities USA. Throughout the event, participants worked in small groups to begin crafting the framework for the first draft of the Community Action network's new national agenda to end poverty. This input---which consists of national goals, accountability measures and suggested strategies---will be expanded upon at the Community Action Partnership 2007 Annual Convention in San Diego this summer. "The Symposium featured a myriad of proven programs and new ideas for ensuring that all Americans can achieve economic security," said Tim Donnellan, board chair of the Community Action Partnership. "We look forward to building on its success and working with our national partners to finalize a national anti-poverty plan to help American families prosper." CAAs care about the entire community and are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.
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