Poverty – The Plight and Fight: An Immersion Experience

Poverty – The Plight and Fight: An Immersion Experience

January 13-22, 2010

http://immersion2010.wordpress.com/

This immersion course will explore the global scope of poverty by examining the reality of poverty in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic region of the United States in the midst of this current economic crisis.  We will learn from community and religious leaders who are involved in a growing movement to end poverty.  Exploring tools and strategies for overcoming and eliminating poverty, we will dialogue with leaders from local and national poor people’s organizations about their struggles to attain health care, living wage jobs, affordable housing, and basic human dignity.  The experience will include reality tours, Bible studies, video-showings, and site visits with poor people’s organizations and religious congregations engaged in mission work and community organizing.  Significant time will be spent learning about theories of poverty and race, the history of poor people organizing, and the legacy of the Poor People’s Campaign launched by Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968.  We will discuss the theological implication of building a movement led by the poor to end poverty and explore the unique role of religious leaders and communities in this effort to create social transformation.

We will be working with Poverty Scholars partner organizations, as well as other grassroots organizations including:

Asian Americans United, Philadelphia
Casino Free Philadelphia
CATA, Philadelphia
Domestic Workers United, New York
Media Mobilizing Project, Philadelphia
National Economic and Social Rights Initiative, New York
North East Pennsylvania Organizing Center, Wilkes-Barre
Philadelphia Student Union, Philadelphia
Picture the Homeless, New York
Restaurant Opportunities Center, New York
The Simple Way, Philadelphia
United Taxi Workers Association, Philadelphia
United Workers, Baltimore

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