A MINNESOTA WITHOUT POVERTY

Business, Government and Faith leaders to gather on January 21, 2009 to Affirm Recommendations to End Poverty in Minnesota by 2020, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 218 10th St. S., Moorhead, MN 56560 from 3:00 PM—4:00 PM


Fargo-Moorhead – A Minnesota Without Poverty, the statewide movement that is galvanizing support from business, government and the faith communities in Minnesota, announced plans for a Jan. 21, 2009, public affirmation of recommendations made by the Legislative Commission to End Poverty in Minnesota by 2020. A gathering at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Moorhead, MN will be held simultaneously with the St. Paul ceremony. The public is invited to attend and participate.


The Legislative Commission to End Poverty in Minnesota by 2020 has compiled a comprehensive list of recommendations that erase or reduce the barriers that force people to live in poverty. The recommendations identify problems and solutions in key areas: Education, Health Care, Transportation, Employment and Welfare. The recommendations, if implemented, would have the potential to lead to a poverty-free Minnesota by 2020.

State Deficit and God’s Abundance—JRLC’s Faith Forecast for 2009 Legislative Session

This message is about the state's budget deficit, but here's where we start: God's creation is good. We live amidst abundance in this beautiful part of the globe with neighbors and friends who are generous and kind. We share God's vision for us -- there will be no poverty; the economy will ensure basic income and opportunity for all. When we are sick or disabled, we will receive the care we need. We will stand together in adversity. We will make sure people have housing and heat this winter. We will be productive, creative, compassionate, and forgiving in the way we respond to God's gift of life....


Ending poverty is possible when we show up, stand up, sign up, and speak up.

A Minnesota Without Poverty is a statewide, interfaith movement to end poverty in Minnesota by 2020.


Stand Up for people experiencing poverty.

Sign Up. Add your name and support to a movement that will put an end to poverty in Minnesota.

Speak Up. Tell the story in your place of worship and in your community.

Week of the Young Child

Linda Lembke, Director

Lakes & Prairies Child Care Resource & Referral

Early learning in focus
Published Monday, April 14, 2008

Fargo Forum

_________________________

This week is nationally recognized as the Week of the Young Child. Early care and education has become a priority across the country as mounting research tells us that the years children spend in these settings is a time of fantastic brain growth and development that sets lifelong learning patterns. The Federal Reserve has convinced us that investments in early learning have a higher rate of return than traditional economic development strategies.
Initiatives in Minnesota and North Dakota are gaining momentum to broaden support for early care and education. Quality rating and improvement systems can offer parents easy-to-use information about child-care programs and can serve as a road map for programs to meet quality standards. Efforts to attract, train and retain people to work in child care and preschool programs are being expanded.
Locally, United Way of Cass Clay is leading the way with its Success By 6 early childhood initiative to provide children the best opportunity to succeed by the time they enter school. Imagination Library puts books into young children’s hands, Countdown to Kindergarten helps build the skills of 4- and 5-year-olds, and the Born Learning awareness campaign inspires us all to turn everyday moments with young children into learning moments.
Our region has a higher percentage of working parents than anywhere else in the country, so these families rely on a stable supply of quality child care and preschool opportunities. While parents are and will always be a child’s first teacher, it only makes sense to take advantage of the time children are in child-care settings to maximize their learning.
Week of the Young Child is a time to recognize the importance of early learning and early literacy, and to celebrate the teachers and policies that bring early childhood education to young children. Please join Child Care Resource and Referral in thanking the teachers and caregivers who spend their days with babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Imagine hosting a
10-hour birthday party five days a week and you can begin to appreciate what their work is like. They do this day in and day out, without the compensation and respect they deserve.
The Week of the Young Child is a time to reflect on what we want for our children in the future and also what we can do now to make sure that future is bright.
Lembke is director of Lakes & Prairies Child Care Resources and Referral, Moorhead.
E-mail lindal@lakesandprairies.net

Best Practices & Promising Practices of 2007

Minnesota Community Action Partnership
Minnesota Department of Human Services Office of Economic Opportunity
University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development Presents



Best Practices & Promising
Practices of 2007

Rural Family Economic Success– Best Practice
Family Economic Success Council
Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership
Mahube Community Council, INC
Otter Tail-Wadena Community Action Council
West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc

The Practice: Through collaboration among Community Action agencies, social service and public agencies, low-income representatives and elected officials serving a nine county area (aka West Central Initiative), created a work plan focused on assets and self-sufficiency promotion in their region.
The Impact: Increased EITC filings in region by 25% in one year. Leveraged additional $165,000 to promote an implement asset programs like Family Assets for Independence in Minnesota (FAIM), EITC/tax assistance, and financial literacy classes. Created Northern Connection, a nonprofit offering remote phone support to low-income individuals entering the workforce. Established a $10,000 interest-free emergency loan fund for those participating in the FAIM program.

Phograph:
Left to RightKate Ouverson, Family Self-Sufficiency Director, WCMCA
Marcia Otte, Family Development Director, Mahube Community Council, Inc.
Missy Becker-Cook, Human Resource Director,
West Central Minnesota Communities Action Inc.
Steve Nagle, Executive Director, WCMCA
Carol Boyer, Fiscal Director, WCMCA
Debra Carpenter, Executive Director, Northern Connections, Inc.
Wendy Merrick, Program Director, West Central Initiative
Diane Leaders, Assistant Family Services Director, Otter Tail
Wadena Community Action Council, Inc.
Miriam Shark, Senior Associate, Annie E. Casey Foundation
Ken Fredette, Marketing/Development Director, Lakes & Prairies
Community Action Partnership, Inc.