Community forum to focus on poverty – Jan. 27

Fifty years ago this month, President Lyndon B. Johnson used his State of the Union address to declare a “war on poverty,” which soon led to the creation of Medicare and Medicaid, Head Start, the Job Corps and permanent food stamp programs, among other initiatives.

Has the war been won or lost? A public forum to hear both expert and citizen opinions will provide possible answers to that question this month when the university hosts an evening forum as part of its Community Connections program.

On Monday, Jan. 27, from 7-8:15 p.m. in McKinnon Hall, visitors will hear from invited panelists who include:

• John Hood, John Locke Foundation
• Toddie Peters, Professor of Religious Studies at Elon University
• Tom Henricks, Professors of Sociology at Elon University
• Nikki Ratliff, Program Services Director at Burlington Housing Authority/Burlington Development Corporation

In addition to the invited panelists, there will be five “community panelists” chosen through an application process who will share brief remarks at the event. They include:

• Jensen Roll ’16, “H.O.P.E – Helping Other People Eat”
• Heidi Norwick, Vice President and Director of Community Impact, United Way of Alamance County
• Maureen Richmond, Iva Kaufman & Associates
• Kim Crawford, Executive Director, Allied Churches of Alamance County
• Phil Bowers, Executive Director, Sustainable Alamance
• Scott Morrison, Assistant Professor of Education

This event will be interactive and include questions from the audience as well as the use of “poll everywhere” technology. A reception following the event will provide space for informal discussions. 

Community Connections events are opportunities to listen to and participate in meaningful dialogue about the critical issues in Alamance County and, more broadly, in the state and nation. The event is free and open to anyone.

The poverty conversation follows on the heels of a successful community connections event in November that attracted about 200 people to McKinnon Hall. Organizers said their hope is to create thoughtful discussion with members of the university community as well as those who in live in Alamance County and the surrounding area.

For more information, contact the Community Connections planning committee co-chairs:

Professor Tom Arcaro (arcaro@elon.edu)
Assistant Professor Carrie Eaves (ceaves@elon.edu)