Press Release: February 8, 2008
Contacts:  Roger Harris, Forum Moderator, at 401-525-1584
Henry Shelton, George Wiley Center Coordinator, at 401-728-5555

The annual Community Forum of the membership of the Rhode Island Campaign to Eliminate Childhood Poverty will be held at the Woonsocket Senior Center, 84 Social Street, Woonsocket, on Saturday, February 16. The conference, open to the public with no admission charge, starts at 8:30 am. Tackling the intractable issues of quality education in the urban districts and affordable energy for low-income and working families, the forum is designed to encourage a dialog on solutions.

Setting the tone for a discussion on social justice, Rev. Marvin Shaw, pastor and founder of Lively Stone Community Church/ Life Resurrection Ministries, will give opening remarks. Pastor Shaw is a retired supervisor for teens and adults suffering with various health issues and devotes his time to his church and community in Woonsocket. Two 75 minute workshops and information on community resources follow.

The panelists for the workshop, “A Dialogue-Removing Barriers to Successful Education!” include Mark Foley, Youth Employment Program Manager at Family Resources Community Action; Mike Ferris of the Woonsocket Education Department; a substance abuse advisor; and Elaine Budish, member of the Education Justice Council.

Panelists for the “Energy-Affordable Payment Plan in RI, Solutions to a Price Crisis!” workshop include John Howat, energy and telecommunications specialist at the National Consumer Law Council; Matteo Gugliemetti, Deputy Commissioner, Energy Resources for the State of Rhode Island; and Jaime Cassidy, Social Service Liaison for the Salvation Army, which runs the “Good Neighbor” energy program. Free compact florescent light bulbs will be made available to low-income participants through The LiveCooler™ Foundation.

The Community Forums Series and the Rhode Island Campaign to Eliminate Childhood Poverty are projects of the George Wiley Center, a grassroots non-profit agency that organizes and empowers those impacted by poverty to take a stand. Get involved and then get active-Join with other change-makers!

For more information please call the Wiley Center at 728-5555.