Press Release: January 9, 2008
Contact:  Henry Shelton, Julie Silvia or Liz Marsis (401) 728-5555

Pawtucket, RI — The George Wiley Center and it’s volunteer membership in the R.I. Campaign to Eliminate Childhood Poverty will host a series of three Community Forums on problems and solutions for meeting the basic needs of all Rhode Islanders.

This annual event seeks the participation of everyone impacted by the spiking prices of home gas and electric prices who are threatened with termination notices or who struggle to balance the food, rent, medical, educational and transportation needs of their family along with the high price of staying warm and keeping the lights on.

Members of the public will have the chance to discuss solutions to the problems at the local and state level.

• Utilities: Energy relief and economic justice for all residents!
• Incomes: Economic growth and fair taxes in RI that support the economy & supports low and middle income earners!
• Increasing access to federal Food aid programs in Rhode Island to relieve hunger without a major cost to the state.
• Education: Dialog with youth on educational success & how to overcome or avoid failure. (Woonsocket-Blackstone Valley Chapter Forum only)

Those experienced with the problems of exercising their basic rights with the utility company & it’s state regulators, the food stamp office, and the public school system will have the opportunity to dialog with and question critical experts. Each conference will end with a set of recommendations for change and call for participants to make a commitment to press local leaders to take action and implement solutions.

Each forum will be held at no charge, on a Saturday morning. Donations of canned goods for Alan Shawn Feinstein’s Spring 2008 $1 million Hunger Challenge will be accepted at the door!!

Dates and places for the George Wiley Center and RI Campaign to Eliminate Childhood Poverty Community Forums are:

• February 16 – Woonsocket Sr. Center, Woonsocket, RI
• March 1 – Providence time and place TBA
• March 8 – Florence Gray Center, Newport, RI