7/17/03

John Carroll University's Center for Community Service Hosts
 Brake the Cycle of Poverty
A Cross-Country Bike Tour to Focus Attention on Poverty in the United States
These Events are Free and Open to the Public and Media
What:  The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is sponsoring a cross-countrybike tour to focus attention on poverty in the United States and the need to promotepermanent solutions toward breaking the cycle of poverty.  The cyclists will be riding through Toledo, Fremont, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Canfield from July 21 through July 25.  John Carroll University's Center for Community Service, will provide lodging and hospitality to the cyclists while in Cleveland. The public is invited to join the CCHD office and the Diocesan Social Action Commissions in welcoming the riders at the following events scheduled for July 23 – 24, 2003

The Commission on Catholic Community Action is sponsoring a panel of cyclists, national poverty experts, CCHD-funded organizations, college faculty and public officials at John Carroll University on Thursday, July 24th from 9 a.m.-noon.  This Brake the Cycle of Poverty forum will be held at the John Carroll Lombardo Student Center located at 20700 North Park Blvd, University Heights.  This event is FREE and open to the public and media.

 The Brake the Cycle of Poverty Team will commence the forum with a plenary session about the crisis of poverty in the United States and selected panelists will join in addressing local, state and national trends, perspectives, and policies relative to poverty.

The fact is that poverty in America is growing. The latest U.S. census figures show that 3 million Americans now live in poverty – 1.3 million more than the previous year. 
-Those impacted: 33 million Americans; one out of every six children; one out of every 10 families.
-In Cuyahoga County 179,372 persons live below the poverty line ($18,100 for a family of four) U.S. Census Bureau.
-66,080 children in Cuyahoga County are living below the poverty line U.S. Census Bureau.
-Nearly 40% of America's poor over the age of 16 worked either part-time or full-time in 2001 - yet could not earn enough to secure even the basic necessities of life.
-Short-term fixes do not solve poverty.  Poverty usually occurs in a cycle and unless the cycle is broken through effective long-term solutions, people will remain stuck in poverty.
-Long-term solutions work.  They create jobs, improve neighborhoods, change unfair laws, and provide better access to a good education
   
Where/When John Carroll University 20700 North Park Blvd. University Hts., Ohio 44118, July 23-24, 2003 For more information contact Dr. Mark Falbo - 216-397-1662/ John Carroll University
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