2001: A State's Odyssey -- Out of Poverty, Into Action
Marcial Cuevas, Edith Karsky, Robyn Denson, Pat Wilson-Coker, Mary Lou DeVivo, and Ingrid Walker
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The following were determined to be necessary to promote self-sufficiency for everyone in Connecticut:
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On June 9th CAFCA held 2001: A State’s Odyssey – Out of
Poverty, Into Action at the Legislat
ive
Office Building in Hartford. The forum was part of the national series Dialogue
on Poverty 2000: Leading America to Community Action led by the National
Association of Community Action Agencies.
Approximately 200 advocates, nonprofit providers, state agency representatives, legislators, and low-income people Bob Burgess from across the state came together to focus on the problem of poverty in Connecticut, including Sen. Mary Ann Handley, Sen. Edith Prague, Sen. Toni Harp, Sen. Thomas Bozek Rep. Marie Lopez Kirkley-Bey and Rep. Brian Mattiello. Dr. R. Eileen Baccus
The forum focused on poverty in the land of plenty — Connecticut has the
highest per capita income of any state in the country, yet poverty still exists
in rural and urban 
Connecticut.
Participants concentrated on measures needed to increase opportunities for
self-sufficiency to our low-income residents. Panelists addressed the need for
improved access to education and training, transportation, daycare, technology,
and supportive governmental services. David Pudlin, noting the powerful force of
low-income people throughout history, said he George
Brusznicki hopes the
Dialogue on Poverty 2000 will usher in a new era of civic involvement in
Connecticut and across the country.
Keynote speaker Dr. R. Eileen Baccus, president of Northwest
Connecticut Community-Technical College, talked about rural poverty in
Connecticut. Noting the isolation inherent in rural poverty, she recommended
increasing access to technology and distance learning opportunities.
David Pudlin
DSS Commissioner Pat Wilson-Coker said that within the continuous process of welfare reform, provisions must be made to improve education and skill levels of recipients, encourage workforce development, and encourage fathers’ involvement in the lives of their children.
Community activists from two of Connecticut’s cities
spoke Rep.
Brian Mattiello about the struggles of low-income people. Lorraine
Hodges of Hartford, a former welfare recipient, and Yvette Jackson of Stamford,
a Community Organizer, said that 
low-income
people need good-paying jobs with benefits, reliable transportation, 24-hour
childcare, and educational opportunities. Jackson said that lack of affordable
housing is a major impediment to self-sufficiency in Stamford: rent for a one
bedroom apartment in the poorest neighborhood is $1600 per month.
Yvette Jackson, Louise Simmons
Rep. Toni Harp
Education is the surest path to a job that pays a living wage, explained
Marcia Bok, Professor Emeritus of the UConn School of Social Work. In addition,
she said that
low-income people tell her that they would be unable to survive without
supportive governmental services such as childcare subsidies, Medicaid, and food
stamps.
Workforce development is another crucial strategy in creating policies leading to self-sufficiency for everyone. George Brusznicki, Executive Director of the Mid-Connecticut Workforce Development Board, said the number one priority of Marcia Bok the Workforce Investment Act has to be improving the lives of low-income people.
Shelley Geballe, President and Co-director of Connecticut Voices for
Children, said 
that
Connecticut’s low unemployment rate has led to wages not being worth as much;
she noted that 60% of families in the state have lost economic ground as the
result of the new service-based economy.
Information gathered at the statewide forum was shared at the National Dialogue Town Hall Meeting in Washington on June 15th.
Shelley Geballe
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