Poverty discussed at Oberlin symposium
Cindy Leise | The Chronicle-Telegram
OBERLIN — There was a lot of talk about the financial bailout of Wall Street at a poverty symposium on Friday.Suzanne Larges, 29, just can’t understand why taxpayers are being asked to foot the bill of banks, investment companies and the people who run them.
“I don’t think nothing too positive about it,” said Larges, a mother of four who just got custody of a fifth child, her godson.
Larges eagerly picked up information about a job fair set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 8 at Goodwill Industries in Lorain.
Sherwin Goldberg, who is setting up the job fair, said he also is leery of pumping public money into the private sector to bail out the banks.
“Is that going to help the people? Is that going to help the foreclosure situation? I have my doubts,” Goldberg said.
But others said if it helps the economy, it’s welcomed.
Prospect Elementary School Principal James Eibel said he is hoping for the best.
“If it improves our economy, I’m all for it,” Eibel said. “The word ‘recession’ is being thrown around, and it’s scaring a lot of people.”
Eibel said 47 percent of the children at Prospect are economically disadvantaged, and people are struggling to buy food and gas and pay the rent or mortgage.
The day of talk, planning and networking was sponsored by the Homeless Task Force of Lorain County and Oberlin Community Services.
Hundreds of people turned out at the OCS headquarters on South Professor Street for speeches and to get literature from groups that assist those in need.
The symposium continues this morning at 9:30 a.m. at First Church in Oberlin when U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, state Sen. Sue Morano, Common Pleas Judge James Burge and Capt. James Drozdowski of the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office discuss how public policies impact the poor.
At noon, the Rev. Jennifer Kottler, campaign director of Illinois Works for the Future, will speak on “Prophetic Public Policy: A Radical Response to Poverty” during a free luncheon sponsored by Oberlin College Christian Alumni. Registration is required at www.oberlin.edu/poverty.
The symposium will conclude with a forum at 2 p.m. on food, energy and poverty and at 3:15 p.m. with a panel discussion. Both events are in Craig Lecture Hall, located in the College’s Science Center, 119 Woodland St.
On Thursday, the symposium began with a speech from Marc Morial, national head of the Urban League.
Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.
| |
|
Filed by Cindy Leise | The Chronicle-Telegram September 27th, 2008 in Top Stories. Popularity: 3% |
 Email this story
 Print this story
Read comments and discuss this story
Report an innappropriate comment
|
In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement
and discussion guidelines.
You must be registered and logged in to post a comment. If you aren't already registered, click here. If you are registered, click here to log in.
Write a Comment