Socialize
April 26-29, 2009 more than 1,000 advocates for social justice will assemble in Washington DC with the objective of making poverty history. The Mobilization to End Poverty will be equipping people to make initial contacts with their members of Congress to express our concern that those in poverty not be forgotten.
Overcoming poverty requires vision and commitment. Although I will not be there in person, I join the group in spirit by affirming that our society should make two fundamental commitments to those in poverty:
The federal budget has passed both the House and Senate, but conference committee have yet to reconcile the differences between them for final budget language to be approved. Then the crucial appropriations process will continue for months, with most decisions on important programs to support low-income people yet to be decided. Key provisions for nutrition, child care and early education, the child tax credit, affordable housing, job training, educational opportunity, health care, and vital foreign aid to combat hunger and disease will all be major struggles.
I believe that as world citizens we should not be committed to any particular ideological method or partisan agenda to achieve these policy goals – we must be committed to achieving them by supporting methods that work. I pray that political leaders will adopt this vision by supporting policies that foster both social and personal responsibility.
 Click>here for answers to the question why focus on poverty.