(Milwaukee, WI)— Congresswoman Gwen Moore hosted a community forum today to discuss poverty and its effects on our city with Senator John Edwards.  The well-attended event, entitled “Poverty in Milwaukee:  Its Cause, Its Impact, and How to Leave It Behind,” gathered local community leaders and residents together at the Hillside Family Resource Center to begin a constructive dialogue on the issue of poverty in Milwaukee. 

“Widespread poverty is having a monumental impact on many communities in Milwaukee,” said Congresswoman Moore.  “The poor feel more than just hunger, worry, and debt—they also suffer physically due to a lack of healthcare, academically due to barriers to a good education, and emotionally due to the violence they see permeating their communities.  We need to discover and implement strategies that will enable us to revitalize all of Milwaukee and leave poverty behind.”

Senator Edwards, former Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States, has traveled the country over the past year speaking to Americans about poverty, learning about its causes, and proposing solutions in the form of policy initiatives.  Senator Edwards currently serves as the Director of the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Senator Edwards and Congresswoman Moore discussed the effects poverty has had here in Milwaukee as well as across the country, answering questions submitted by leaders and members of the Milwaukee area community.  The forum will later be able for viewing as an episode of HouseWork with Congresswoman Gwen Moore on TimeWarner Cable’s OnDemand Channel 1111 and MATA Community Media Channel 14.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, poverty in Wisconsin increased faster than in any other state in the country in 2003 and 2004.  In fact, in 2004, the Census Bureau determined that Milwaukee was ranked seventh among the nation’s poorest cities, with 26 percent of city residents living in poverty.  The young are disproportionately affected, with 41 percent of the city’s children living below the poverty line.

The Hillside Family Resource Center is a part of the Hillside Terrace public housing project in Milwaukee.  The Family Resource Center is a new addition to the Hillside development and includes a Boys and Girls Club, day care center, health clinic, and computer lab.

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For an interview with Congresswoman Gwen Moore, please contact Ashley Glacel at 202-225-4572.

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