The Delta Grassroots Caucus (DGC) is a broad coalition of grassroots leaders in the eight-state Delta region. DGC is also a founding partner of the Economic Equality Caucus,
which advocates for economic equality across the USA.

Nov. 5-6, 2007 Family Economic Security Conference in Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Posted on October 15, 2007 at 05:21 PM

We would like to encourage the partners of the Mississippi Delta Grassroots Caucus to take part in the 2007 Family Economic Security Conference in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Nov. 5-6, 2007. Arkansas Advocates for Children &Families, which is a dynamic nonprofit organization that has been supportive of the Delta Grassroots Caucus, is organizing this conference in cooperation with many important organizations engaged in the fight against poverty in the Arkansas Delta and the entire state. One of the main speakers will be the Hon. Rodney Slater.

Although it focuses on family economic issues in Arkansas, some people outside that state in our region will probably be interested in taking part. I will speak at one session on “The Delta Initiatives,” and I will emphasize the enlightened recognition by so many leaders in Arkansas of the importance of having all the states join forces in a regional coalition for the betterment of our region. We would also like to commend Dr. Ronald White, Federal Budget Director for Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families, who has spoken at Delta Grassroots Caucus conferences in the past and has done a great deal of constructive work for the Delta.

The goal of this conference is to increase awareness of the economic conditions and issues affecting Arkansas families and communities and to help develop ways of strengthening our economy in a way that everyone in the state benefits.

The conference is designed to bring together citizens, advocates, policy makers, businesses, and service providers, as well as representatives from the economic development, education and healthcare professions to help create a “shared vision” of economic security.

To learn more about the conference or to register, please visit www.aradvocates.org and click on the “2007 Family Economic Security Conference” link.

The deadline for registration is Oct. 26th. Don’t wait! Register Today!

Here is the impressive list of the conference’s hosts:

Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families Arkansas Coalition for Economic Security Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association Arkansas Hunger Coalition Arkansas Public Policy Panel Central Arkansas Development Council City of Little Rock City of Pine Bluff Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition of Central Arkansas Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis–Little Rock branch Interfaith Conference Internal Revenue Service Office of Senator Hank Williams IV Pine Bluff-Jefferson County Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition Southern Good Faith Fund United Way of Arkansas United Way of Southeast Arkansas

Along with former US Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater, now a partner at Patton &Boggs in Washington, DC, other featured speakers will include:

  • Abby Hughes Holsclaw, Program Director for Early Childhood and Family Economic Success of the Institute for Youth, Education and Families of the National League of Cities;
  • John Wanchek, senior policy analyst and Melanie Nathanson, Director of the Federal Policy Initiative, Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, Washington, DC;
  • Mirian Shark, senior associate of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Baltimore, Maryland;
  • Judith Phillips, research analyst at the John C. Stennis Institute of Government, Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi.

We hope you can take part in this very important conference. Lee Powell, Executive Director, MDGC (202) 360-6347