Presidential Freedom Award winner Edelman to discuss poverty
John Pierri
Issue date: 3/23/09 Section: News
During this economic crisis occurring in the United States today, some might not be looking out for the poor but Marian Wright Edelman is.
Edelman will speak to the Benedictine community about the rise in poverty due to the economic recession and how it is affecting the children of underprivileged families March 25. The event will begin at 7 p.m. in the Rice Center.
Edelman has had a successful career as a lawyer and a child advocate. She started out in the 60s as the first African American woman to be a member of the Mississippi Bar, and has worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Edelman has been the recipient of many prestigious awards. The most important of these awards was the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work and the books that she has authored.
Jim Ryan, distinguished fellow and former Attorney General of Illinois, is in charge of the Center for Civic Leadership that will be presenting Edelman.
"Marian Wright Edelman is a very well known and a very well respected child advocate," said Ryan, "She has been working tirelessly for years on behalf of children." Ryan and Sharon Jones, political science department office assistant, felt that Edelman was the perfect woman to speak due to the situation that the U.S. is in.
"We're delighted to have her. It truly is wonderful," said Jones.
Ryan was very determined to touch on the issue of children in poverty and he felt that it was important to make the BU community aware of what these children are going through and how they can help.
"The one reason why I think this is an important issue right now is because we have this economic recession, bordering on a depression. And while the president is concerned about tax-relief for the middle class, which is very important, what's going to happen to the poor?" Ryan wants to know, "Where is the money going to come from, how are we going to help the poor people, and how are we going to have a safety net if there is no money? It's time for the young people to start thinking about what they can do for the poor."
In addition to Edelman, March 25 is Youth Government Day. Ryan has invited hundreds of high school students to come to campus to partake in civic engagement workshops and to learn about the many poverty issues that will be covered by Edelman. For more information or to R.S.V.P. go to www.ben.edu/ccl.
Edelman will speak to the Benedictine community about the rise in poverty due to the economic recession and how it is affecting the children of underprivileged families March 25. The event will begin at 7 p.m. in the Rice Center.
Edelman has had a successful career as a lawyer and a child advocate. She started out in the 60s as the first African American woman to be a member of the Mississippi Bar, and has worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Edelman has been the recipient of many prestigious awards. The most important of these awards was the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work and the books that she has authored.
Jim Ryan, distinguished fellow and former Attorney General of Illinois, is in charge of the Center for Civic Leadership that will be presenting Edelman.
"Marian Wright Edelman is a very well known and a very well respected child advocate," said Ryan, "She has been working tirelessly for years on behalf of children." Ryan and Sharon Jones, political science department office assistant, felt that Edelman was the perfect woman to speak due to the situation that the U.S. is in.
"We're delighted to have her. It truly is wonderful," said Jones.
Ryan was very determined to touch on the issue of children in poverty and he felt that it was important to make the BU community aware of what these children are going through and how they can help.
"The one reason why I think this is an important issue right now is because we have this economic recession, bordering on a depression. And while the president is concerned about tax-relief for the middle class, which is very important, what's going to happen to the poor?" Ryan wants to know, "Where is the money going to come from, how are we going to help the poor people, and how are we going to have a safety net if there is no money? It's time for the young people to start thinking about what they can do for the poor."
In addition to Edelman, March 25 is Youth Government Day. Ryan has invited hundreds of high school students to come to campus to partake in civic engagement workshops and to learn about the many poverty issues that will be covered by Edelman. For more information or to R.S.V.P. go to www.ben.edu/ccl.
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