Catholic Charities USA Convenes Summit in Twin Cities April 20 to Engage Communities in National, Local Poverty Reduction Strate

St. Paul, MN—As more and more families fall into depths of poverty, Catholic Charities USA convenes and engages civic leaders, elected officials, philanthropists, service providers, and interested citizens in a conversation that will identify ways to reduce poverty by 50 percent by the year 2020. Catholic Charities USA will host the Centennial Leadership Summit: Working to Reduce Poverty in America on April 20 in St. Paul, MN, on the campus of the College of St. Catherine.

Accompanying the summit will be a special photo exhibition, a collaborative effort of Catholic Charities USA and “In Our Own Backyard.” The temporary exhibition, U.S. Poverty in the 21st Century, features the work of top American photographers, including award-winning Steve Liss. The exhibit examines the daily struggles of those living in poverty in the United States.

****What: Catholic Charities USA Centennial Leadership Summit: Working to Reduce Poverty in America

****Who:

**Rev. Larry Snyder, president, Catholic Charities USA and newly appointed member of President’s Council of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships

**St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman

**Rev. John Estrem, CEO, Catholic Charities of St. Paul-Minneapolis 

**Andrea J. Lee, IHM, president, College of St. Catherine

**Dr. Barbara Shank, dean, School of Social Work, College of St. Catherine, University of St. Thomas

**Patrick Harris, St. Paul City Council

**Candy S. Hill, senior vice president, social policy and government affairs, Catholic Charities USA

**Margaret Perryman, president, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare

**Kevin Walker, president, Northwest Area Foundation

**Steve Bresnahan, executive director, Catholic Charities of Saint Cloud

**Elizabeth Hinz, district liaison for Homeless and Highly Mobile Students, Minneapolis Public Schools

**Steve Liss, award-winning, Time Magazine photo journalist and founder of “In Our Own Backyard, an organization of photo journalists committed to the cause of social justice in the United States.

****Where: Rauenhorst Hall, Coeur de Catherine, College of St. Catherine,

****When: Monday, April 20 9:30 a.m. registration; 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

****Photo Exhibit: Monday, April 20, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. “In Our Own Backyard: U.S. Poverty in the 21st Century.” Coeur de Catherine 3rd Floor Atrium, College of St. Catherine,

For more info visit:  www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/netcommunity/povertyconveningMN  

“In a country as prosperous as ours, it is simply unacceptable that 37.3 million people, including 13.3 million children, continue to live in poverty,” said Father Snyder. “Catholic Charities agencies are taking their knowledge of the causes, scope, and ramifications of poverty to seek a sustained national commitment that will ensure economic prosperity for all Americans. Together, we can lift each other up. Only together – with individuals, families, communities, organizations, our leaders, and other social service providers all taking part – can we begin to change the face of poverty in America.”

Catholic Charities USA will celebrate 100 years of compassionate service with and among the poor in 2010. The summit in St. Paul initiates a series of summits across the country that will culminate with a national meeting in Washington, DC, September 2010. These meetings will galvanize the nation to give a greater priority to the needs of the poor by advocating for changes in public policies, expanding and creating innovative poverty reduction programs, and empowering individuals to embark on their journey out of poverty.

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Catholic Charities USA’s members—more than 1,700 local Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide—provide help and create hope for nearly 8 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing. In 2010, Catholic Charities USA celebrates its centennial anniversary. For more information, visit www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org.

Shelley Borysiewicz

Manager of Media Relations

Catholic Charities USA

(703) 236-6218

sborysiewicz@catholiccharitiesusa.org

Providing Help. Creating Hope.