Annual Gathering of Community Action Leaders to Tackle Poverty, Economic Inequality

Annual Gathering of Community Action Leaders to Tackle Poverty, Economic Inequality

WHAT: In order to address growing poverty and economic inequality in America, approximately 900 human service professionals from Community Action Agencies across the country will attend the Community Action Partnership's 2013 Annual Convention in Chicago. The convention, being held August 27-30 at the Marriott Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile hotel, brings together individuals who help low-income people and families achieve economic stability.

This year's convention, "Community Action: Catalyst for Excellence-Advocate for Equity" features learning and general sessions on topics such as food insecurity, affordable housing, Head Start, health care, community economic development and asset building. In addition, American Winter and A Place at the Table--two recent films depicting people's struggles to make ends meet and feed their families respectively--will be shown.

Local hosts for the convention include the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies, Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Chicago Department of Family and Support Services

WHEN: Tuesday, August 27-Friday, August 30, 2013

WHERE: Marriott Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile

540 North Michigan Avenue, 312-836-0100

MEDIA: This event is not open to the public, but members of the media are invited to cover it. Highlights of the event are listed below. For a complete convention schedule, visit www.communityactionpartnership.com. Media interviews with the attendees--who represent most media markets and states--can be arranged. For media passes and interview requests, contact Lisa Holland, lholland@communityactionpartnership.com, cell: 202-236-6887, office: 202-449-9777, (all contact information for media only)

CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS:

Tuesday, August 27

Food Summit - 9:00 am - 12: 00 noon, Chicago Ballroom F-G, 5(th) Floor
National leaders and experts will discuss food and nutrition policy, programs and solutions. *Wendy Irwin, Co-Founder of the Chicago-based Yellow Tractor Project, will join presenters Ellen Teller, Director of Government Affairs at Food Research and Action Center and Enid Borden, President and CEO of National Foundation to End Senior Hunger for this session.

Community Service Project - 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm
For the Community Service Project--held in conjunction with the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (the local Chicago Community Action Agencies) and the Greater Chicago Food Depository--participants will repack bulk product and products for distribution to low-income individuals and family sizes, assemble boxes with assorted food, check expiration dates and label products.

5KRun/Walk - 5:00 - 7:00 pm, Solider Field Great Lawn Gold Star Memorial
Registration proceeds will support the opening of a food pantry at Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County

Wednesday, August 28

Opening Session - start time approximately 8:30 am, Grand Ballroom, 7(th) Floor

Welcome Remarks (from local and national leaders)


-- Harlan Tardy, President, Mid America Community Action Association
-- Kris White, Board Chair, Illinois Community Action Association
-- Evelyn Diaz, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Family and Support
Services
-- Ronald Bean, JD, Board Chairman, Community and Economic Development
Association of Cook County
-- Adam Pollet, Director, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity
-- George Sheldon, Acting Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children
and Families, US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC
Keynote Address - Doug Luffborough, "From Homeless to Harvard"
Despite homelessness and discouragement from guidance counselors, Doug Luffborough never gave up on his ambition to be the first member of his family to attend college. He eventually went on to attend Northeastern University and later received his master's degree from Harvard University.

Affordable Housing Solutions, Big Solutions for a Big Need

10:30 am - 12:00 noon, Michigan/Michigan State room, 6(th) Floor
Linda Couch, Senior Vice President for Policy and Research at the National Low Income Housing Coalition, will discuss the United for Homes campaign, which would provide resources to the National Housing Trust Fund by making modifications to the mortgage interest deduction.

American Winter: The Movie

1:00 - 3:00 pm, Grand Ballroom Salon III, 7(th) floor
Participants will view "American Winter,"* a documentary which premiered earlier this year on HBO and features Oregon families who are coping with unemployment, foreclosures, inability to meet their families' basic needs, and financial uncertainty. All the families featured in American Winter were served at one time or another by an Oregon Community Action Agency.

Thursday, August 29

Community Action Strategic Forums, 11:00 am - 12 noon


-- Forum 1: The Devastating Impacts of Sequestration on Community Action
and America's Low-Income People and Families - Debbie Weinstein,
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs (Grand Ballroom Salon II,
7(th) floor)
-- Forum 2: Real World Strategies for Demonstrating Impact and Outcomes
Without Detracting from the Everyday Uncertainties of Poverty - Lisbeth
Schorr, Senior Fellow, Center for the Study of Social Policy (Grand
Ballroom Salon III, 7(th) floor)
-- Forum 3: How Community Action Agencies Can Meet the Challenge and
Leverage the Opportunity - - Erik Stegman, Manager, Half in Ten
Campaign, Center for American Progress Action Fund and Katie Wright,
Policy Analyst, Center for American Progress Action Fund (Avenue
Ballroom, 4(th) floor)
-- Forum 4: Changes in Immigration Policy and Law and its Impact on
Delivery of Services - Dr. Ram Raju, CEO, Cook County Health and
Hospitals System (LA/Miami/Scottsdale, 5(th) floor)
-- Forum 5: Head Start Updates from the Administration - Linda K. Smith,
Deputy Assistant Secretary and Inter-Departmental Liaison for Early
Childhood Development, Administration for Children and Families, US
Department of Health and Human Services (Grand Ballroom Salon I, 7(th)
floor)
-- Forum 6: Affordable Care Update - George Askew, MD, Chief Medical
Officer, Administration for Children and Families, US Department of
Health and Human Services (Marriott Ballroom, 4(th) floor)
A Place at the Table: The Movie

3:30 -5:30 pm, Avenue Ballroom, 4(th) floor
Participants will view "A Place at the Table," which shows how hunger poses serious economic and social implications. It features interviews with leading anti-hunger advocates; actor Jeff Bridges, founder of End Hunger Network; Rep. James McGovern of the Congressional Hunger Center; and chef/restaurateur Tom Colicchio.


Assisting Our Veterans and Their Families with What They Need and Deserve: Increased Roles for Community Action

3:30 - 5:00 pm, Chicago Ballroom F, 5(th) floor
Curtis Coy, Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity at the US Department of Veteran Affairs, will provide an update on the challenges facing America's veterans and their families--especially those with low-incomes.

Based in Washington, DC, the Community Action Partnership provides training and other services to more than 1,000 Community Action Agencies across America that are helping low-income people and families improve their lives, strengthen their communities and embody the spirit of hope. For more information, visit www.communityactionpartnership.com or follow the organization on Twitter, http://twitter.com/CAPartnership.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Lisa Holland, 202-449-9777 (MEDIA ONLY)
lholland@communityactionpartnership.com

Cell: 202-236-6887 (MEDIA ONLY)

/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- Aug. 26, 2013/

SOURCE Community Action Partnership

Community Action Partnership

Web Site: http://www.communityactionpartnership.com/


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