UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- In an effort to combat poverty in the Alle-Kiski Valley, Penn State New Kensington is hosting a community Poverty Summit from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, in the Forum Theatre.
The event will feature community activists offering insight into poverty in the local area and an interactive poverty simulation experience providing a glimpse of how poverty affects the people in our community. In addition, a nonprofit agency fair will run from 2 to 3 p.m. The event is free to the public.
Guest speakers include Scott McMannis of Westmoreland Community Action and Dan Carney, executive director of Union Mission of Latrobe Inc. The topic of McMannis’ talk is “Poverty: What It Looks Like Here.” Westmoreland Community Action is a nonprofit organization that strives to strengthen communities and families to eliminate poverty. Through housing services, emergency assistance, mental health programs, employment programs and child development, the organization helps struggling families improve their standard of living and become more self-sufficient. According to the Westmoreland Community Action website, one-fifth of the residents of New Kensington, Arnold and Lower Burrell, approximately 5,807 people, live in poverty.
Carney’s presentation will discuss the role Union Mission, a Judeo-Christian based, nonprofit mission, providing temporary shelter and needed services to homeless men in Westmoreland County. The mission provides for the overall treatment needs of each resident through a structured, daily program which focuses on four distinct areas -- employment, education, behavior modification and counseling.
Poverty is at the forefront of Chancellor Kevin Snider’s initiatives to help revive western Pennsylvania communities. He created a campus Poverty Committee tasked with collaborating with nonprofit organizations to assist with poverty-related programs. The committee works with the community on various service projects, including the summit and “Day of Caring” projects.
In September, a group of faculty and staff traveled to the Westmoreland County Food Bank warehouse in Delmont, Pa., to assist with painting and staining projects. During the summer, the campus Lion Ambassadors, a student organization, helped at the Food Pantry at Mt. St. Peter Parish in New Kensington. The volunteers packaged and distributed food to families and individuals.
To RSVP for the Poverty Summit, contact Coulson at 724-334-6018 or crc26@psu.edu