On Saturday, July 18, at 10 a.m., Virginians will have a unique opportunity to pitch their solutions for reducing poverty in their localities and statewide.
In one of the largest-ever, simultaneous conversations devoted to the issue of poverty reduction, attendees are encouraged to recommend specific strategies for the Commonwealth’s Poverty Reduction Taskforce, and local and state officials to consider. Blue Ridge Community College will host the Act on Poverty conversations in the Plecker Workforce Center Auditorium in Weyers Cave.
“This will be one of the largest conversations devoted to reducing poverty in our communities that Virginia has ever had,” said Secretary of Health and Human Resources and Co-Chair of the Taskforce, Marilyn B. Tavenner. “The public has recommendations that need to be heard. That’s why we’re encouraging elected officials to attend, listen to constituent ideas and share their own.”
The Virginia Community College System, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Community Action Partnership and the Virginia Department of Social Services are partnering to host and facilitate the conversations.
This community feedback is the next step for information gathering by the Poverty Reduction Taskforce, which held the “Rethinking Poverty: Exploring Economic Opportunity for All Virginians” summit on May 7, 2009. The Act on Poverty event will provide the general public a chance to recommend solutions – especially community-based approaches – for reducing Virginia’s poverty rate
The event is free, and open to the public, but donations of non-perishable food items are encouraged. No advance registration is required.
For more information, visit: http://www.hhr.virginia.gov/povertysummit.
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