Media Release

1:15 p.m.

Alachua County, FL - Alachua County Commission Chairman Rodney J. Long is one of the featured panelists at the "Finding Bridges out of Poverty" workshop.  The workshop is from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2008, at the Best Western Gateway Grand, located at 4200 NW 97th Blvd.  Professionals, counselors, social service providers, community organization representatives, and faith-based participants are invited to attend the free event.  Joining Chairman Long on the panel will be Gainesville Commissioner Jack Donovan and Bradford County Commissioner Ross Chandler.  Breakout sessions and action planning will follow the panelist's presentations.  

Houston TX educator Rita Pierson, Ed.D will give the keynote address.  Ms. Pierson will be adapting her "Framework for Understanding Poverty" seminar to address strategies pertinent to this audience.  

In speaking of the workshop Chairman Long said, "Alachua County suffers from a significant level of poverty.  Therefore, the County Commission desires to facilitate, foster, and enter into partnerships with other agencies to alleviate the long term structural and multi-generational causes of poverty."

Chairman Long's presentation will delve into the various efforts and initiatives of Alachua County in addressing poverty reduction.  These include:

• The Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness
• The Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (74 volunteers contributed 7,796 hours at 7 sites assisting citizens living in poverty or homeless)
• Poverty Reduction Program
• Community Agency Partnership Program (CAPP)
• Division of Social Services (Assists with delinquent rent, utilities, health care services, and vision)

The workshop is co-sponsored by Santa Fe Community College, the City of Gainesville, and the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners and the Bradford County Board of County Commissioners.

For more information about this community event, please contact Billie Monroe at 352-395-5264 or email billie.monroe@sfcc.edu.

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