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On Thursday, August 9th, Schuylkill Community Action (SCA), conducted Poverty Forum 2007 Local Community Discussion on Poverty.
The Forum took place in Pottsville and brought together a cross section of public officials, service providers, low-income individuals, and other community members for a discussion on the causes and conditions of poverty and solutions for dealing with it - on the local level.
Over 100 Forum participants engaged in small group discussion guided by several questions designed to elicit their views on poverty.
The small group discussions focused on poverty, specifically the local issues and concerns surrounding poverty, barriers to reducing poverty, and community strengths and resources for change.
In addition, participants offered their thoughts on future action steps and solutions to the problem.
Small group discussion were directed by Evelina Panayotova, Ph.D., Director of Institutional Research at Alvernia College, Forum Facilitator.
Group responses were documented for inclusion into a final report.
In addition, Joe Ostrander, Public Relations Communications Director for the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania (CAAP) provided co facilitation and technological support during the Forum.
"For over 40 years, Schuylkill Community Action has been working to help Schuylkill County's low income families change their lives, so we have a vested interested to do whatever we can on the local level to assess the needs of the people we serve," said Schuylkill Community Action's Executive Director, Theodore R. Dreisbach.
The Poverty Forum is the final component of Schuylkill Community Action's 2007 Community Needs Assessment.
SCA is able to conduct a comprehensive assessment through the generous financial support of Community Banks.
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