Poverty's Edge

The Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley's take on poverty, how it affects our communities, and what we're doing about it.

11 Sep
0

Second Harvest Food Bank Receives BJ’s Charitable Foundation Grant to Fight Hunger

  • By
  • September 11, 2014

Thirty Grants Given to Celebrate BJ’s Wholesale Club’s 30th Anniversary and Increase Local Capacity  Allentown, PA. – September 11, 2014 – Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania announced Monday they’ll be one of 30 food banks to be awarded grants this September from BJ’s Charitable Foundation. The foundation is distributing grants in celebration of BJ’s Wholesale Club’s 30th anniversary. A member of the Feeding America network, Second Harvest Food Bank is among those awarded gifts to increase...

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07 Apr
0

CHARLIE DENT: STANDING ON THE FULCRUM OF AMERICAN POLITICS

By historical standards, Charlie Dent is a conservative; make no mistake about that.  Look at his voting record: he votes for cuts in many domestic social programs, against regulation of business that might improve safety or consumer protections, he gets high marks from taxpayer advocates and he scores low among the various environmental activist groups that rate lawmakers’ voting records.  So lots of liberals are appalled when someone like me suggests that Congressman Dent is actually a moderate....

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09 Jan
0

Representatives Mackenzie and Schlossberg on LV Discourse

Pennsylvania Representatives Ryan Mackenzie and Mike Schlossberg are finishing their rookie years as legislators.  These two talented, smart, hard-working twenty-somethings are rare among partisans these days: they get along, they work together, and they want to get something accomplished.  Representatives Mackenzie and Schlossberg with be my guests on Lehigh Valley Discourse tonight (Thursday, January 9) at 6 PM.  The conversation will include such topics as a reflection on...

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11 Dec
0

Ervin and Ronald to Discuss Children’s Issues on LV Discourse Thursday

From wide-eyed children to a homeless child, this is the season for and about children.  The real test of our humanity is how we as a society treat the little innocents. On Lehigh Valley Discourse this Thursday, Jane Ervin, CEO of Community Services for Children, and Marci Ronald, Vice President for Community Impact at the United Way, will be joining me.  We will discuss how well the Lehigh Valley fares in its treatment of our children, not just during the holidays...

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04 Nov
0

PROUD OF OUR RECORD

Esther Guzmán, Director of CACLV’s West Ward Neighborhood Partnership,  has been an activist for many years, working with Bethlehem’s Police Department, assisting many other non-profits and training the community in cultural sensitivity. As National Hispanic Heritage Month wraps up, Esther submits the following post: National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15 to October 15 to celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of persons whose ancestors came from Spain, the Caribbean, Central and South America. The observation started in 1968...

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07 Aug
0

LVHN’s Ron Swinfard on LV Discourse this Thursday

Ron Swinfard is the CEO of the largest employer in the Lehigh Valley, Lehigh Valley Health Network.  The pressure of implementing the Affordable Care Act, also known as “ObamaCare,” falls on him more than, perhaps, any other individual in the region.  People are restless about their health care options, physicians are unhappy about the market and its impact on their profession, and competition between the big hospital systems leads some to wonder what the real motives are in health care these...

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10 May
0

Celebrate National Public Gardens Day

The Friday before Mother’s Day our country celebrates National Public Gardens Day to increase awareness of public gardens, community gardens, arboretums and botanical gardens. The West Ward Neighborhood Partnership is doing our part in Easton, where we have the largest number of community gardens in the Lehigh Valley.  Thirteen community gardens throughout the West Ward provide residents with a space to plant and harvest vegetables to enhance their diets, to socialize with our...

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02 May
0

Audio: May 2nd on WDIY’s Lehigh Valley Discourse: Alan Jennings Talks with Republican Candidates for Northampton County Executive, Dean Browning and Scott Ott.

    An especially interesting primary battle is taking place in the County Executive election in Lehigh County.  While Democrat Tom Mueller is unopposed in the primary, former county commissioner Dean Browning and current commissioner Scott Ott are fighting for the soul of Lehigh County’s Republican Party.  Browning is a conservative who was ousted in his bid for re-election two years ago when he voted for the budget proposed by then-County Executive Don Cunningham because it included...

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01 Mar
4

West Ward Neighborhood Partnership offering Free Gardening Classes Start March 5th!

    Free Gardening Classes Starting March 5th!     When: Every Tuesday Nights, March 5, through March 26, 2013 Location: Salvation Army, 1110 Northampton Street, Easton PA Why:  Community and backyard gardens are a way to get involved with your community, live healthier, and create a better environment. You don’t need to know how to be a gardener to do it. People of all levels of experience are welcome, and that includes kids. The West Ward...

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14 Nov
0

Press Release: Low-Income Elderly And Disabled Homeowners Eligible For Repairs To Homes Damaged By “Superstorm” Sandy: Repairs up to $1,000 per Affected Home

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:    Alan L. Jennings                             610-248-9900   Volunteer Effort Will Make Repairs up to $1,000 per Affected Home The task force that came together to coordinate the outpouring of good will following the February, 2011, gas explosion in Allentown has organized a volunteer-based effort to assist Lehigh Valley residents whose homes were damaged by the “superstorm” that disrupted the region the week of October 29.  The effort, custom-made to respond to the...

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09 Oct
0

Voice Your Ideas and Opinions Tonight at Envision Lehigh Valley!

  How do you ENVISION the future of Bethlehem? Join Envision Lehigh Valley,  tonight, October 9th at 6PM to 9Pm. Location:    Liberty High School                         1115 Linden Street                         Bethelehem, PA *** Free Childcare and refreshments available. To RSVP call 610-849-7825 or email cadcb-rsvp@caclv.org. For more information visit www.envisionlehighvalley.com.     Envision Lehigh Valley is a public outreach effort designed to engage the citizens of Northampton and...

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15 Aug
0

Lehigh Valley Discourse – 2012-08-09

Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski has a problem. Actually, like all mayors trying to make their cities viable in Pennsylvania, the mayor has big problems. Having cut city spending to the bone, he still has major obligations such as meeting its pension obligations for retired city workers. So Mayor Pawlowski is proposing some bold measures, including unloading some major operations to private and/or outside interests. → ...

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03 Jul
0

What Is Your Vision for the Valley?

  What will the Lehigh Valley be like in 5, 10, or 20 years?  Whether your live or work in the Lehigh Valley, the answer will directly affect you.  Join Envision Lehigh Valley, a three year visioning project, and help us plan the future for the Valley! Envision Lehigh Valley is a public outreach effort designed to engage the residents of Northampton and Lehigh Counties to create a truly sustainable Lehigh Valley.  More than ever, the residents of the Lehigh Valley need...

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25 Jun
12

A REVELATION

It all fell into place at the grocery store tonight. Have you ever wondered why people who just aren’t very nice through much of the normal course of the day are so polite, patient, deferential and even friendly when they encounter you in the grocery store? I think it’s because there is such anonymity when we’re driving or on the phone with a stranger.  In a grocery store, on the other hand, it’s too uncomfortable when you can’t help but look...

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28 Mar
0

Press Release: Lehigh Valley Community Land Trust To Celebrate First Homebuyers March 30th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                                                                                    (BETHLEHEM, PA) – Lehigh Valley Community Land Trust (LVCLT) will announce the sale of its first homes and introduce its first homebuyer during a press conference at noon on March 30 at 512 Cherokee St. in Bethlehem. The very first homebuyer, Jessica McGinley, recently purchased a home with help from LVCLT. Tours of the completed Cherokee Street home as well as a home slated for renovation next door will be available. LVCLT purchases properties, renovates the...

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23 Dec
1

Once Upon A Time…

We welcome Chris Hudock, director of The Rising Tide Community Loan Fund to Poverty’s Edge.  Chris is strong supporter of our local communities’ small businesses.  He has been providing financial support to small businesses in theLehighValley since 2005.  Thanks for contributing!  While this starts out like a fairy tale this is actually a true story.  Once upon a time, most communities consisted of a variety of small business owners.  One could easily walk down the street to your local drug store when...

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15 Dec
4

CACLV CONDEMNS DISINTEGRATION OF LEHIGH VALLEY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, Move Will Weaken Region for “Someone’s Political Gain”

The Community Action Committee of theLehighValleyhastily issued a statement tonight criticizing the proposed “disintegration” of theLehighValley’s political power and cultural, social and economic unity by a state commission with either an errant understanding of theLehighValley, a disregard for the region or some sinister political agenda.  The statement by CACLV Board President Alicia Karner follows in its entirety:  After months of speculation and weeks of rumors, the public finally got to see the latest Congressional redistricting maps done every ten years, as required...

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24 Oct
3

Observations From a Latino Community Organizer

We welcome our Deputy Director, Manuel Ayala to Poverty’s Edge.  Thanks for contributing! Manuel is not foreign to the price of change, diversity and hard work!  During his time with the YMCA he has turned around challenged facilities, created programs, reached fundraising goals and helped in the oversight of the construction of a $13.5 million, 45,000 square foot facility. I’m a displaced Boricua from Chicago, Humboldt Park to be exact.  Humboldt Park is a Chicago barrio which has the highest concentration of...

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18 Feb
2

Save Community Action

Poverty is everyone’s problem.  Some try to act like poverty is just a problem for poor people.  But wasted labor affects us all.  Ghettos affect us all.  Jails affect us all.  Surely you see that.  If you don’t, keep reading.  The Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley has been targeted for deep, deep federal budget cuts. (In case you missed it, I responded to these cuts in a post earlier this week.) This is the...

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