>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO

LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE.

I'M BOB MANN, PROFESSOR AT LSU'S

MANSHIP SCHOOL OF MASS

COMMUNICATION.

ALMOST ONE-FIFTH OF LOUISIANANS

LIVE IN POVERTY.

MANY MEMBERS OF THE MIDDLE,

HOWEVER, HAVE MISCONCEPTIONS

ABOUT WHAT LIVING IN POVERTY IS

LIKE.

THERE'S LITTLE CONCENSZ ABOUT

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO END POVERTY.

OVER THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL HEAR

FROM ACADEMICS, POLICY EXPERTS,

AND CHARITY REPRESENTATIVES AS

WE EXPLORE "LIVING BELOW THE

LINE."

>> IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT IN

BASEBALL TERMS, MY KIDS, IN

ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN

DREAM, THEY'RE ALREADY ON THIRD

BASE AND JUST HAVE TO RUN HOME.

BUT A CHILD THAT IS LIVING IN

POVERTY IS STANDING IN THE

BATTER'S BOX.

HE HAS NO BALLS AND TWO STRIKES.

>> BELINDA DAVIS TEACH AS COURSE

ABOUT POVERTY AT LSU.

SHE SAYS THERE'S A MISCONCEPTION

THAT POOR PEOPLE DON'T HAVE

MONEY BECAUSE THEY MADE BAD

CHOICESES.

BUT POVERTY IS GENERATIONAL, HE

SAYS.

>> IF AN INDIVIDUAL LIVES IN

POVERTY, A LARGE CHUNK OF THE

REASON THEY'RE IN POVERTY,

THOSE -- THE DECISIONS WERE MADE

FOR THEM BEFORE THEY WERE 18.

>> JANET SIMMONS IS DIRECTOR OF

HOPE MINISTRIES.

HER ORGANIZATION TRIES TO HELP

PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT LIVING IN

POVERTY IS LIKE.

>> THERE ARE FOUR THINGS THAT

RESEARCH HAS SHOWN ARE CAUSES OF

POVERTY.

ONE OF ONLY WHICH IS BEHAVIOR.

>> ONE OF THE CAUSES IS

PREDATORS SUCH AS PAYDAY

LENDERS.

ANOTHER IS GOVERNMENT POLICIES.

>> YOU DON'T PAY YOUR INSURANCE

AND YOU GET A FLAG ON YOUR TAG,

RIGHT?

SO NOW YOU NOT ONLY OWE YOUR

INSURANCE.

YOU OWE YOUR FLAG ON YOUR TAG.

IF YOU CAN'T PAY YOUR INSURANCE

IN 30 DAYS, YOUR FLAG GETS

INCREASED.

>> THAT BECOMES ALMOST

UNESCAPABLE, SIMMONS SAYS.

>> AND YOU HAVE A FLAG ON YOUR

TAG AND YOU GET STOPPED, THEN

YOUR CAR GETS CONFISCATED.

YOUR LICENSE GETS CONFISCATED

AND YOU CAN'T DRIVE TO WORK.

IF YOU CAN'T DRIVE TO WORK, YOU

LOSE YOUR JOB.

>> THE CONDITIONS OF THE

COMMUNITY ARE THE LAST CAUSE,

SIMMONS CITES.

>> DO YOU HAVE AFFORDABLE

HOUSING?

WHAT'S YOUR TRANSPORTATION

SYSTEM LIKE?

YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF THE

BIGGEST PROBLEMS BATON ROUGE

RIGHT NOW.

>> HOPE ALSO OFFERS PROGRAMS TO

HELP PEOPLE LIFT THEMSELVES

ABOVE THOSE CAUSES.

>> JUST PLAYING SOMEBODY'S RENT

FOR THREE MONTHS IS NOT GOING TO

CHANGE THE POSSIBILITY BEING

EVICT.

YOU HAVE TO CHANGE IT OVER TIME.

>> CHARLENE ELLSWORTH

COORDINATES THE FOOD PANTRY.

SHE SAYS THE TEACHERS AND

CLASSES HAVE CHANGED HER WAY OF

THINKING.

>> IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THE

THINGS HE WAS TEACHING ME AND

ENCOURAGING ME TO DO BACK IN THE

NINTH GRADE, I WOULD HAVE NEVER

DROPPED OUT.

I WOULD HAVE HAD THAT PUSH, THAT

MOTIVATION TO DO EXACTLY WHAT

I'M TRYING TO DO NOW.

>> SIMMONS SAYS THE POOR ARE

DISPROPORTIONIATLY IMPACTED BY

THE HURDLES IN LIFE.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL

SAFETY NET OF THE MIDDLE-CLASS

OR THE FINANCIAL KNOW-HOW.

>> I MADE POOR CHOICES BUT IT

HASN'T CAUSED ME TO BE EVICTED

FROM MY HOME.

SO JUST -- A LOT OF TIMES POOR

CHOICES CAUSE A DEVASTATING

EFFECT FOR SOMEONE IN

INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY, WHERE

A POOR CHOICE FOR ME MAY MEAN I

JUST DON'T GO TO THE MOVIE THIS

IS MONTH.

>> THE HURD CELL THE KNOWLEDGE

LIVE -- HURDLE IS THE IMAGE

LIVING CHECK TO CHECK.

LIKE THE KNOWLEDGE OF HAVING A

BUDGET.

SIMPLE STUFF.

SIMPLE STUFF, THAT MAY BE SIMPLE

OR SIMPLE TO OTHERS, BUT THAT

WAS A BIG THING TO DO ME.

>> RANDY NICHOLS LEADS THE

PROGRAM THAT HELPS THE POOREST

OF THE PE.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS

ABOUT LIVING IN POVERTY IS TO

LIVE IN UNCERTAINTY ALL THE

TIME.

YOU'LL ALWAYS BE -- TO ALWAYS BE

UNCERTAIN IF THE INCOME YOU HAVE

IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO MEET

YOUR VERY BASIC NEEDS.

>> SOME ARGUE THAT LIVING IN

POVER IN LOUISIANA ISN'T THAT

BAD.

-- POVERTY IN LOUISIANA ISN'T

THAT BAD.

ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY THE

HERITAGE FOUNDATION BEFORE THE

RESEXER 80% OF POOR HOUSEHOLD

ACROSS THE NATION HAD

AIR-CONDITIONING.

THREE-QUARTER HAS AT LEAST ONE

CAR, AND 97% OWNED A COLOR

TELEVISION.

AND IN LOUISIANA, THE COST OF

LIVING IS LOWER THAN MOST OF THE

NATION.

>> THE LIFE OF A CHILD LIVING IN

POVERTY IS NOT ONE THAT YOU

WOULD WANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND

THAT'S WHAT I SAY TO PEOPLE.

I SAY, BEING POOR IN AMERICA IS

REALLY THOUGHT THAT WAD.

WELL, I WOULD -- THAT BAD.

WELL, I WOULD ASK DO YOU WANT

YOUR CHILD GROWING UP IN POVERTY

IN THE UNITED STATES AND I THINK

THE OVERWHELMING IS NO.

>> DAVIS SAYS THE PROGRAMS THE

GOVERNMENT PROVIDES OFTEN

ENCOURAGE WORK.

PROGRAMS LIKE FOOD STAMPS ALSO

CALLED SNAP BENEFITS.

THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT AND

TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY

FAMILIES.

>> WOMEN WHO LEAVE TEMPORARY

ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES

ARE STILL RELIANT ON A WHOLE

HOST OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS

BECAUSE THEIR WAGES ARE NOT

ENOUGH TO LIFT THEM ABOVE THE

POVERTY LINE.

THAT'S IN PART A FUNCTION OF HOW

LOW OUR MINIMUM WAGE IS.

>> DAVIS SAYS IT'S

MATHEMATICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO

LIVE ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE AT A

MINIUM WAGE JOB.

NICHOLS SAYS GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS

AREN'T JUST THE SOCIALLY

RESPONSIBLE CHOICE.

THEY'RE PHYSICAL CAME

RESPONSIBLE -- FISCALLY

RESPONSIBLE AS WELL.

>> IT'S NOT AS IF IT DOES NOT

COST THE COMMUNITY SOMETHING FOR

PEOPLE TO REMAIN IN POVERTY AND

HOMELESSNESS.

>> BUT SIMMONS SAYS MORE THOUGHT

NOODZ TO BE PUT INTO

GOVERNMENT -- THOUGHT NEEDS TO

BE PUT INTO GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.

>> I THINK A LOT OF PROGRAMS

HAVE BEEN DESIGNED BY PEOPLE WHO

ARE NOT IN THE TRENCHES, SO THEY

DON'T KNOW WHAT WORKS.

SO THEY HAVE THIS MINDSET THAT,

OH, I THINK THIS -- WE NEED TO

DO THIS.

SO WELFARE, FOR EXAMPLE.

OH, WE JUST NEED TO GIVE THEM

FOOD STAMPS AND WE JUST NEED TO

PAY FOR RENT, OR WHATEVER, SUB

DEVICE.

BUT THEIR PROGRAMS ARE NOT

DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE GET OUT

OF POVERTY, SO ALL THEY'RE DOING

IS HELPING PEOPLE STAY IN

POVERTY.

>> ELSEWORTH SAYS SHE DOESN'T

BLAME THE MIDDLE-CLASS FOR

HAVING MISCONSEMGHTSES WITH THE

POOR -- MISCONCEPTIONS WITH THE

POOR.

>> THAT'S JUST LIKE ME.

I'M IN POVERTY.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT, LIKE, THEIR

LIFE, THEIR UPGROWING.

IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT.

>> JOINING US IS OUR STUDIO

AUDIENCE TONIGHT.

IT INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES FROM

THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT

DePAUL AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF

THE LEGISLATIVE YOUTH ADVISORY

COUNCIL.

WE HAVE STUDENTS FROM LSU AND

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITIES.

THANKS TO EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR

BANG HERE.

THERE'S A MISCONCEPTION

SURROUNDING HOW MUCH LOUISIANA

SPEND OSWELFARE PROGRAMS.

-- SPENDS ON WELFARE PROGRAMS.

IN A SURVEY ALMOST 40% OF

RESPONDENTS SAID WELFARE

PROGRAMS GET MORE MONEY THAN ANY

OTHER PART OF THE BUDGET, BUT

ACTUALLY, WELFARE PROGRAMS GET

LESS THAN 1% OF STATE FUNDS.

THE SURVEY ALSO FOUND THAT A

SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF

RESPONDENTS, ALMOST HALF,

SUPPORT CUTTING FUNDING FOR

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

ONLY 18% SAID IT SHOULD BE

INCREASED.

SO LET'S START THERE.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

IN HELPING THE POOR?

WHAT SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT DO?

WHAT SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE

CHARITIES?

DAN?

>> WELL, I WAS THINKING OF

MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE FOR

PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO

AFFORD IT.

SEEMS TO ME THAT WOULD BE A

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT

TO HELP TAKE CARE OF THAT,

PENSCH FAMILIES -- THAT EXPENSE

OF FAMILIES AND SO THAT'S WHY

ONE FOR I WOULD SUPPORT MEDICAID

EXEANGS IN LOUISIANA.

-- EXPANSION IN LAST.

>> THERE'S A DEBATE GOING ON,

YOU KNOW, IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT

NOW THAT CHURCHES OUGHT TO DO

MORE AND SOME PEOPLE WANT THE

GOVERNMENT TO COMPLETELY GET OUT

OF THE BUSINESS OF DEALING WITH

THE POOR, THAT THE CHURCHES

OUGHT TO TAKE UP THE

RESPONSIBILITY COMPLETELY.

DOES ANYBODY WANT TO ANSWER THAT

SORT OF DECISION ABOUT WHERE THE

GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE STEPPING

BACK AND WHERE CHURCHES AND

NONPROFITS SHOULD BE STEPPING

FORWARD IS?

IS THAT THE DEBATE WE OUGHT TO

BE HAVING IN THIS COUNTRY?

>> I DON'T ANY THINK -- DON'T

THINK SO.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT IS TO

TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO ARE MOST

VULNERABLE.

AS A MATTER OF BASIC JUSTICE.

I THINK WHERE THE CHURCHES COME

IN IS WHAT GOES QLOND JUSTICE --

BEYOND JUSTICE, AND THAT'S THE

ISSUE OF CHARITY.

THAT'S WHERE THE CHURCHES COME

IN AND I THE WORK FOR THE CHURCH

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

WE TAKE CARE OF -- OF THE NEEDS

OF PEOPLE BEYOND THAT -- THAT

THEY'RE ENTITLED TO FROM A BASIC

SENSE OF JUSTICE.

AND I THINK THE MEASURE OF ANY

INSTITUTION, GOVERNMENT OR

CHURCH, IS HOW WELL THE MOST

VULNERABLE PEOPLE ARE FARING.

>> DENISE, YOU WORK AT

ST. VINCENT DePAUL.

AND YOU FEED PEOPLE EVERY DAY

WHO ARE HUNGRY ACCOUNT RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> AND YOU SEE THAT -- THAT

OTHER PEOPLE THAT THE GOVERNMENT

IN SOME WAY IS NOT ABLE TO

PROVIDE THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO

JUST TAKE CARE OF THEIR BASIC

NEEDS, RIGHT?

>> WELL, THE THING ABOUT IT IS,

IS THE NEED IS GREAT.

AND WHEN THE GOVERNMENT FEELS

LIKE THEY'VE DONE ENOUGH, THE

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION STEPS IN.

BUT WHAT YOU GOT TO REALIZE IS

THE CHURCHES AND JUST NORMAL

PEOPLE HELP MAKE THE NONPROFIT

ORGANIZATIONS -- MAKE US BE ABLE

TO FEED THE PEOPLE THAT WE FEED.

THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS ARE

LIMITED TO AS FAR AS MEALS ARE

CONCERNED.

IF IT WASN'T FOR CHURCHES AND

DIFFERENT GRANTS AND STUFF THAT

WE HAVE, NONPROFIT WOULD BE

SIMPLY NONEXISTENT TO BE ABLE TO

HELP THE POOR AND NEEDY.

>> MICHAEL, YOU'RE ON THE FRONT

LINES OF THIS AT SAINT VINCENT

DePAUL, RIGHT?

>> WE ARE.

AND DENISE DOES A PHENOMENAL

JOB.

240,000 MEALS SHE WAS

RESPONSIBLE FOR RIGHT IN THE

CAPITAL STOYDOING A TERRIFIC

JOB.

AND I THINK IT'S A MARRIAGE

BETWEEN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND

CHARITABLE PROGRAMS COMING

TOGETHER.

I THINK CHARITIES MOVE VERY WELL

IN FILLING GAPS.

OFTEN WITH GOVERNMENT-TYPE

PROGRAMS, THERE'S A LOT OF

DOCUMENTATION AND OTHER

REQUIREMENT THAT IS SOMETIMES

MAY -- REQUIREMENT THAT IS

SOMETIMES MAY SLOW THE PROCESS

WHERE I THINK CHARITIES ARE ABLE

TO RESPOND.

LOCAL GROUPS THAT COME TOGETHER,

WHETHER IT'S HOT MEALS OR

DESCRIPTIONS.

OUR FARMTY -- PRESCRIPTIONS.

OUR PHARMACY FILLED OVER 30,000

PRESCRIPTIONS THAT WOULD HAVE

OTHER GONE UNFILLED RIGHT HERE

IN THE CAPITAL -- OTHERWISE GONE

UNFILLED RIGHT HERE IN CAPITAL

REGION.

WE NEED TO HELP PEOPLE WHO TRULY

NEED A HELPING HAND.

>> ONE EXAMPLE IS BROWN.

YOUR GROUP HOLIDAY HELPERS.

YOU'RE DOING SOME INCREDIBLE

WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> WE SORT OF JOINED WITH SENT

VENSEL DePAUL MAKING SURE WE

PROVIDE BURT WE DO IT ON THREE

DAYS, THREE OCCASIONS IN A YEAR.

THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS, AND

EASTER.

BUT THE THANKSGIVING MEALS THAT

WE SERVE, WE MAKE SURE THAT

WHATEVER IS LEFT, ST. VINCENT

DePAUL GETS THE REMAINDER PART

OF THAT.

BUT I THINK FROM A LAW

ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE FROM

WHICH I HAVE A CAREER IN OF OVER

40 YEARS, I'VE SEEN SO MANY

PEOPLE COME IN TO THE PRISON

SYSTEM.

AND MOST OF THEM THAT COME INTO

THE PRISON SYSTEM HAVE AVERAGE

OF A FIFTH GRADE EDUCATION.

AND I'M TALKING ABOUT JUST

AVERAGE.

IN A PRISON SYSTEM.

SO -- AND I'VE TALKED TO

PRISONERS AND PERSONS THAT ARE

OF THE FREE SOCIETY TODAY.

AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS

THEY FIND IS THAT WE HAVE TO

AMERICA REALIZE THAT EVERYBODY

IS NOT GOING TO GO TO A COLLEGE

AND GET A COLLEGE DEGREE.

EVERYBODY DOESN'T WANT A COLLEGE

DEGREE.

BUT EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE

SUCCESSFUL.

THEY SHOULD HAVE THE

OPPORTUNITY.

AND THINK THIS IS WHERE

GOVERNMENT, CHURCHES AND

EVERYBODY CAN ENGAGE IN AND

ENCOURAGING US TO DEVELOP EARLY

SKILLED CURRICULAR PROGRAMS FOR

CHILDREN TO BE IN FROM MIDDLE

SCHOOLS ON UP, YOU SHOULD

KNOW -- A KID SHOULD HAVE SOME

IDEA OF WHAT HE OR SHE WANTS TO

BE.

WHEN THEY TELL YOU THEY WANT TO

BE A TRUCK DRIVER OR LANDSCAPE

ARCHITECT, A MECHANICS, OR A

BARBER, A BEAUTICIAN, A NEAL

TECH, AND THINGS OF THAT

NATURE -- NAIL TECH AND THINGS

OF THAT NATURE, YOU SHOULD BE

DESIGNING AN EDUCATION PLATFORM

BY WHICH THEY'LL GO INTO AND

START BEING ABLE TO PREPARE

THEMSELVES FOR THEIR FUTURE,

RATHER THAN GRADUATE THEM OR

PUSH THEM TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH

SCHOOL, WHICH A LOT OF THEM

DON'T DO.

THEY FAIL BECAUSE THEY BECOME

INTERESTED -- DISINTERESTED.

AND YOU DON'T GIVE THEM THAT

OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A GOOD

CAREER SELECTION.

BUT IF WE DID THAT, I THINK WE

WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE AND

WE'D START RIGHT AT THE YOUTH,

RIGHT AT THE CORE WHERE THE

PROBLEM IS.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT EDUCATION.

WE'VE GOT A COUPLE STUDENTS IN

THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT.

YOUNG PEOPLE AND I'M SURE YOU

WORK WITH SOME UNDERPRIVILEGED

YOUTH AND YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE

THATIATION CAN MAKE IN THOSE --

THAT EDUCATION CAN MAKE IN THOSE

LIVES.

YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT?

>> YEAH, I KIND OF AGREE WITH

WHAT HE'S SAYING.

LIKE WHEN IT COMES TO DIRECTING

EDUCATION, EVERYTHING WE LEARN

IS KIND OF PUSHING US TO JOIN

COLLEGE, YOU KNOW.

BUT THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER

OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE COULD

HAVE, LIKE GOING TO A JOB LIKE

QUELLING OR SOMETHING LIKE

THAT -- WELDING OR SOMETHING

LIKE THAT.

THERE'S NO -- IF I WANTED TO BE

A WELDER, THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY

FOR ME TO BE A WELDER.

LIKE HIGH SCHOOL, THEY GET RID

OF ALL THOSE COURSES BECAUSE

THEY'RE DANGEROUS OR WHATEVER.

THERE'S NO WOOD SHOP.

AND A LOT OF STUFF LIKE THAT.

THERE'S NOTHING TO ENCOURAGE YOU

TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN

ACHIEVE COLLEGE AND THAT'S NOT

FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

IF YOU WERE BORN ACADEMIC

MINDED.

SO I FEEL LIKE THE EDUCATION

SYSTEM KIND OF LEAVES A LOT OF

PEOPLE IN THE DUST WHEN IT COMES

TO TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO

BE PRODUCTIVE IN THEIR LIVES.

>> WE'VE BEEN TALKING IN THE

STATE FOR AS LONG AS I CAN

REMEMBER ABOUT WORKFORCE

DEVELOPMENT, ABOUT HAVING THE

SCHOOLS HORINVOLVED IN TRAINING.

DOES -- MORE INVOLVED IN

TRAINING.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE SOME THOUGHTS

ABOUT MAYBE THESE PROBLEMS STILL

EXIST AFTER WE'VE BEEN TALKING

ABOUT THEM AND DEALING WITH THEM

FOR SO, SO LONG?

>> WELL, I DO -- I WORK WITH A

SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY CONSULTATION

TEAM IN THE LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC

SCHOOLS.

THE ELEMENTARY ONES.

AND I THINK THERE'S A LARGE

DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT IS

SUPPOSED TO TAKE PLACE AT HOME

AND WHAT A TEACHER'S ROLE IS IN

THE CHILD'S LIFE.

AND BECAUSE OF THIS DISCONNECT,

THERE ARE JUST CERTAIN CHILDREN

THAT ARE GROWING UP IN AN

ENVIRONMENT SUCH AS POVERTY

WHERE TEACHERS DON'T WANT TO

HAVE THE PATIENCE TO TEACH THEM.

SO THEY WANT TO PUSHING THEM

ASIDE, WHERE YOU DO.

I KIND OF -- YOU SEGREGATE THESE

KIDS INTO AN AREA WHERE WE DON'T

WANT TO DEAL WITH THESE

BEHAVIORS AS A RESULT OF

SOMETHING WE HAVE NO CONTROL

OVER, SUCH AS POVERTY, SO WE'LL

PUSH THEM TO THE SIDE.

EVEN IF THERE ARE TRAINING

PLEAMS, THEY WON'T GET THAT

ADVANTAGE BECAUSE THEY'RE KIND

OF DISCREDITED FOR SOMETHING

THEY HAVE NO CONTROL, WHICH AS

HE SAID STARTS AT YOUTH, SO IF

WE DISCREDIT AT THIS LEVEL, HOW

WILL THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY,

EVEN IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THEY

DESIGNERRED.

>> WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE --

DESIRED.

>> WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE

SCHOOLS IN ALL OF THIS?

THE SCHOOLS GET A LOT OF BLAME,

BUT THE SCHOOLS ALSO GET A LOT

OF CREDIT FOR TRAINING.

>> IEFT -- I'VE HAD THE

OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THE

EDUCATION SYSTEM SINCE I WAS IN

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND THERE ARE OF COURSE ALL

THESE PROBLEMS DO EXIST AND I

SEE THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY.

BUT THERE ARE POSITIVES THAT I

HAVE SEEN IN MY EXPERIENCE AS

WELL.

YOU KNOW, I CURRENTLY ATTEND

BATON ROUGE HIGH AND A LOT OF

UNTS OUR STUDENTS, WE DO A LOT

OF COMMUNITY SERVICE WORK.

SO THAT'S DEALING WITH PEOPLE

THAT LIVE UNDER THE POVERTY

LINE.

BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING TO ME IS

A LOT OF THE STUDENTS THAT

VOLUNTEER IN THESE COMMUNITY

INVOLVEMENT EFFORTS ARE LIVING

UNDER THE POVERTY LINE

THEMSELVES.

AND -- BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING IS

A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS, YOU KNOW,

ONE OF MY CLASSMATES, FOR

EXAMPLE, SHE GOES OUT AND DOES

WORK OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL AS WELL.

SO THEY WORKS AT A RESTAURANT

AND EVERY SINGLE DAY THEY MAKE

FRESH FOOD.

EVERY SINGLE DAY AFTER, YOU

KNOW, THEY'VE CLOSED, ALL OF

THEIR REMAINING FOOD, EVERY

SINGLE DAY THEY DONATE IT TO THE

SOUP KITCHEN AND THAT FOOD IS

SERVED THERE ITSELF.

AND YOU KNOW, AS A PART OF LIKE

SCHOOL NEWSPAPER AND PUBLICITY,

YOU KNOW, WE PUBLICIZE THESE

EVENTS AND IN A WAY IT INSPIRES

OTHER STUDENTS TO DO THE SAME

THING.

SO WE'LL THESE ISSUES DO EXIST

IN TERMS OF SOMETIMES WE DON'T

OFFER THE EDUCATION FOR THOSE

THAT DON'T WANT TO GO TO

COLLEGE, THERE ARE SOME

POSITIVES THAT KIND OF STHIEN A

LOT ON THE -- SHINE A LOT ON THE

REST OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE

GOING ON, SO EVEN THOSE THAT ARE

LIVING UNDER THE POVERTY LINE

ARE DOING SOMETHING TO HELP

OTHERS ALSO LIVING UNDER THE

POVERTY LINE.

>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

AND I WONDER IF ANY YOU HAVE ANY

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE WAY THAT OUR

SOCIETY VIL IF IIFYS THE POOR --

VILIFIES THE POOR AND WE SAW ON

THE SEGMENT BEFORE.

SOME PEOPLE THINK IF YOU HAVE A

COLOR TELEVISION, YOU MUST NOT

BE POOR.

IF YOU HAVE A CAR, YOU MUST NOT

BE POOB.

I HEAR A LOT OF LAUGHS.

DO WE UNDERSTAND POVERTY?

WHAT IS THE MISCONCEPTION?

>> I FEEL IT'S PREJUDGED.

PEOPLE FEEL, YOU MUST JUST BE

LAZY OR MAKING HORRIBLE

DECISIONS.

BUT IF PEOPLE -- PEOPLE DON'T

UNDERSTAND, ESPECIALLY YOUTH, I

REMEMBER BEING IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M IN COLLEGE NOW AND I'M

GRADUATING, BUT I JUST BEING IN

HIGH SCHOOL AND YOU SEE THESE

PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT -- THEY'RE

NOT PUSHED.

THEY'RE NOT ENCOURAGED.

THEY'RE NOT GIVEN THE SUPPORT

AND THE CARE THAT I BELIEVE THAT

AS -- IS ESSENTIAL IN MOLDING

THE MENTALITY OF BEING A --

PERSEVERANCE IS ANYBODY.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK THAT TYPE OF

SUPPORT FROM THE PEOPLE WHO --

WHO YOU WOULD THINK ARE SUPPOSED

TO BE ENCOURAGING YOU TO FURTHER

YOUR EDUCATION, THEN THAT

CONSTRAINS YOUR WAY OF THINKING.

SO YOU'RE LIKE, I'M IN THIS

PLACE.

AND I'M BY MYSELF AND THE PEOPLE

WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP ME ARE

NOT EVEN WILLING TO HELP ME.

SO WHAT IS THERE FOR ME TO DO?

OR WHAT CAN I DO?

AND IT'S JUST LIKE, IT'S JUST A

CONSTANT -- YOU KNOW, WE TALK

ABOUT IN AMERICA, YOU PULL

YOURSELF UP FROM YOUR BOOTSTRAPS

AND THIS AMERICAN DREAM THAT IS

SO, YOU KNOW, FABRICATED IN A

LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

BUT I FEEL LIKE IF WE HAD MORE

SUPPORT WITHIN NOT ONLY THE

SCHOOL SYSTEM BUT EVEN THE

GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW -- YOU'RE

GIVING ME ALL THIS STUFF.

YOU'RE GIVING ME FOOD STAMPS,

BUT THERE'S NO REAL CARE.

IS THERE REAL SUPPORT IN THIS.

BUT I CAN GO INTO AN

IMUPONNISHED COMMUNITY --

IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITY.

I LOOK AT THE ROADS AND IT'S A

MESS.

THE HOUSES ARE A MESS.

I LOOK ON THE OUTSIDE AND YOU

WON'T EVEN SUPPORT WHAT IS

ACTUALLY CITY PROPERTY, YOU

KNOW, IN THAT COMMUNITY.

THEN HOW CAN I EXPECT TO EVEN

ACCEL IN THIS -- EXCEL IN THIS

SOCIETY WHEN I DON'T FEEL IT

SUPPORTS ME.

>> VERY WELL SAID.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR

THIS PORTION OF OUR SHOW.

WHEN WE RETURN, WE'LL BE JOINED

BY A PANEL OF EXPERTS TO FURTHER

EXPLORE LIVING BELOW THE LINE.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO LOUISIANA

PUBLIC SQUARE.

TONIGHT WE'RE DISCUSSING THE

CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS TO POVERTY

IN OUR STATE.

JOINING US NOW IS OUR PANEL OF

EXPERTS.

HERBERT DIXON IS OUTREACH

DIRECTOR TO THE LOUISIANA

WORKFORCE COMMUNICATION.

HIS WORK FOCUSES ON CONNECTING

PEOPLE IN THE DELTA PARISHES OF

EAST AND NORTHEAST LOUISIANA

WITH QUALITY JOBS TO LIVE THEM

OUT OF THE CYCLE OF POVERTY.

CARMEN WHEEZENER IS THE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE

LOUISIANA CHAPTER OF THE

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL

WORKERS.

HER PROFESSION IS DEVOTED TO

HELPING PEOPLE FUNCTION THE BEST

THEY CAN IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

DARRIN GOSS IS THE

PRESIDENT/C.E.O. OF CAPITAL AREA

UNITED WAY.

HIS ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO

ADVANCE THE COMMON GOOD THROUGH

EDUCATION, INCOME, ASSISTANT,

AND HEALTHY LIVING.

AND JAN MOLLER IS DIRECTOR OF

THE LOUISIANA BUDGET PROJECT

WHICH MONITORS AND REPORTERS ON

STATE GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND

HOW IT AFFECTS LAST'S LOW- TO

MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES.

BEFORE WE GO TO OUR AUDIENCE FOR

QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE EACH OF YOU

TO TALK ABOUT ONE TACTIC THAT

YOU CHAMPIONED TO OVERCOME POVER

TIR FROM -- POVERTY FROM YOUR

PERSPECTIVE OR ORGANIZATION.

MR. DIXON, WOULD YOU LIKE LIKE

TO TELL US WHAT THAT ONE TACTIC

IS?

>> I HOPE I'M IN THE MIDST OF

THAT TACTIC.

AS INDICATED EARLIER, IT'S

OUT -- OUTREACH DIRECTOR,

FOCUSING ON THE DELTA AREA,

NORTHEAST LOUISIANA.

AND IN NORTHEAST LOUISIANA, IT'S

AN AREA WHERE YOU HAVE THE

HIGHEST AMOUNT OF PERCENTAGE

POVERTY ANYWHERE IN THE STATE OF

LOUISIANA.

AND HOPEFULLY WHAT WE'RE

FRIGHTENING TO DO -- TRYING TO

DO WITH THE NEW WORKFORCE

INNOVATION OPPORTUNITY ACT,

WHICH IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT

STARTED JULY 1, AND THAT PROGRAM

SEEKS TO REMOVE BARRIERS FROM

INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TO WORK IN

THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

AND MY JOB IS TO GET THOSE

INDIVIDUALS FAMILIAR WITH THIS

NEW PROGRAM.

>> MS. WEISSNER?

>> AS A SOCIAL WORKER, I'VE BEEN

INVOLVED WITH MANY FACETS OF

WORKING WITH PEOPLE AS DO THE

OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSION.

AND WE NORMALLY WORK PRIMARILY

WITH THE DISADVANTAGED OR THOSE

THAT ARE IN NEED OF SOME SORT OF

SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

SO MANY OF THE MEMBERS OF MY

PROFESSION ARE WORKING WITH

THOSE WHO ARE IN POVERTY OR HAVE

SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

ISSUES OR THEY'RE IN THE CHILD

WELFARE SYSTEM AND AT RISK OF

HOMELESSNESS AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

SO WE WORK TOGETHER.

WE START WHERE THE PERSON IS.

AND WE TRY AND DEVELOP A PROCESS

AND A CASE PLAN TO HELP PEOPLE

MAXIMIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF BARRIERS

THAT FACE THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

AND WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER

WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND

NONPROFITS AND OUR FAITH-BASED

ORGANIZATIONS TO TRY AND ACHIEVE

A WAY TO OVERCOME THOSE

BARRIERS.

>> MR. GOSS?

>> YEAH.

I HAVE THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF

WORKING IN AN ORGANIZATION THAT

SITS WHAT WE THINK IS AT THE

INTERSECTION OF GOVERNMENT OF

THE FAITH COMMUNITY.

NONPROFIT SECTOR, AND ONE OF THE

BIGGEST STRATEGIES THAT WE'RE

UNDERTAKING RIGHT NOW IS THIS

IDEA THAT IT TAKES MULTIPLE GOOD

SOLUTIONS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON

RESULTS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND

FAMILIES TO REALLY MOVE THE

NEEDLE FOR PEOPLE IN POVERTY.

SO THAT THERE'S NO SINGLE ISSUE

OR NO SINGLE PROGRAM SOLUTION,

BUT A COLLECTION OF WELL-RUN,

QUALITY PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN

FUND AND LEVERAGE BOTH THE TIME,

TALENT, AND TREASURY OF DONORS

AND VOLUNTEERS TO REALLY MOVE

THE NEEDLE.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WE WORK ACROSS GEOGRAPHIC

BOUNDARIES AS WELL AS POLITICAL

BOUNDARIES.

WE LIKE TO SAY WE'RE POLITICALLY

AGNOSTIC.

WE WILL WORK WITH ANYONE WHO'S

INTERESTED IN MOVING PEOPLE FROM

WHERE THEY ARE, MEETING THEM

WHERE THEY ARE, AND MOVING THEM

TO FINANCIAL STABILITY.

AND SO THAT'S OUR WORK AND WE'RE

VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE

DOING IN THAT SPACE AT THE

UNITED WAY.

>> MR. MOLLER?

>> AT THE BUDGET PROJECT, WE

THINK GOVERNMENT AS AN IMPORTANT

ROLE TO PLAY FIGHTING POVERTY AT

ALL LEVELS, STARTING WITH OUR

YOUNGEST CHILDREN.

WE KNOW IN THE LONG-TERM

SOLUTION TO POVERTY INVOLVES

INVESTING IN THE YOUNGEST

CHILDREN, BIRTH TO 3, AND

THERE'S A PROGRAM HERE LAST

MONTH ON PUBLIC SQUARE LOOKING

AT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

WE KNOW THAT'S ONE OF THE BEST

INVESTMENTS THAT THE STATE CAN

MAKE.

AND THE YOUNGEST CHILDREN,

HIGH-QUALITY CHILD CARE, IF YOU

PROVIDE THAT, WE KNOW CHILD IS

LESS LIKELY TO GROW UP POOR,

MORE LIKELY TO REACH THE MIDDLE

CLASS.

IN THE MIDDLE TERM I THINK WE

CAN -- DIXON WAS TALKING ABOUT

WORKFORCE TRAINING, MAKING SURE

PEOPLE HAVE THE TRAINING TO FIND

GOOD JOBS, WHETHER IT'S A

WELDING CERTIFICATE ALL THE WAY

UP TO A Ph.D.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE

CAN INVEST IN.

BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF

PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP TODAY AND I

THINK GET POLICY CAN --

GOVERNMENT POLICY CAN PLAY AN

IMPORTANT ROLE AND THAT'S WHERE

THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT,

LIKE A HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE AND

EXPANDING MEDICAID CAN REALLY

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES

OF PEOPLE.

NOT EVERYBODY CAN BE A WELDER.

NOT EVERYBODY CAN BE A

BEAUTICIAN.

THERE'S STILL PEOPLE WHO ARE

GOING TO BE WORKING IN THE

TOURIST INDUSTRY, IN RETAIL AT

RESTAURANTS, AT JOBS THAT

DON'T -- YOU KNOW, HARD JOBS

THAT JUST DON'T PAY ENOUGH TO

MAKE A LIVING WAGE.

AND I THINK GOVERNMENT CAN PLAY

AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROVIDING

SUPPORTS AND LETTING PEOPLE HAVE

THE DIGNITY OF A PAYCHECK TO PUT

A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD, FOOD IN

THEIR COME STOMACH AND PROVIDES

THEM WITH A BASIC SAFETY NET.

>> THANKS FOR GETTING US OFF TO

A GOOD START.

LET'S TO OUR PARTICIPANTS.

WE'RE GOING TO START WITH

MICHAEL AND YOUR QUESTION.

>> MY QUESTION IS TO DARRIN GOSS

OF THE UNITED WAY.

HOW CAN INDIVIDUALS AND

BUSINESSES GET BEHIND AND GET

BEHIND AN EFFORT, THE CAPITAL

AREA, UNITED WAY, TO COMBAT

MORETY?

WHAT -- POVERTY?

WHAT DID THEY DO?

CONSTABLE BROWN HAS HOLIDAY

HELPERS.

HE'S ENGAGED.

BUT NOT EVERYBODY IS AS

INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE AS

CONSTABLE BROWN.

WHAT CAN INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES

DO TO GET BEHIND THE WORK OF THE

UNITED WAY?

>> I THINK MICHAEL, I THINK ONE

OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I THINK

IN GENERAL THAT BUSINESSES AND

INDIVIDUALS CAN DO IS A LOT OF

WHAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED ALREADY,

AND THAT'S REALLY UNDERSTAND

WHAT IT MANSLAUGHTER TO LIVE IN

POVERTY.

AND -- MEANS TO LIVE IN POVERTY

AND REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT

PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY FIND

THEMSELVES IN A SITUATION FOR

THE MOST PART, I'VE NEVER MET A

PERSON WHO WOULD PREFER TO EAT

AT A SOUP KITCHEN.

I THINK THEY WOULD PREFER TO EAT

AT HOME.

SO I THINK A BIG PART OF WHAT

BUSINESSES, INDIVIDUALS CAN DO,

IS REALLY EDUCATION

THEMSELVES -- EDUCATE THEMSELVES

ABOUT WHAT THIS SITUATION IS.

THEN NOT ONLY GIVE -- AND WE

PROMOTE GIVING TO THE UNITED WAY

AND TO CHARITY.

BUT ALSO LEND TIME AND TALENT TO

THE EFFORTS AS WELL.

I THINK -- AND SOMEONE SAID THIS

EARLIER.

WHEN YOU JUST DO SORT OF -- WE

CALL IT CHECKBOOK PHILANTHROPY.

WRITE A CHECK AND THEN GO AWAY.

THAT'S POWERFUL, BUT IT'S EVEN

MORE POWERFUL AND EVEN MORE

SUBSTANTIAL WHEN YOU WRITE THAT

CHECK, YOU VOLUNTEER AT YOUR

LOCATION OR HOPE MINISTRIES AND

YOU LOOK ACROSS THE TABLE FROM

SOMEONE AND YOU PROVIDE THAT

GLIMPSE OF HOPE.

I THINK YOU CAN MAKE IT.

I THINK THIS IS -- THERE'S A WAY

OUT FOR YOU.

LET ME TALK TO YOU.

SO WE PROMOTE THINGS LIKE

MENTORING.

WE PLO MOAT THINGS LIKE

TUTORING, LIKE COACHING THROUGH

OUR WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP PROGRAM.

THESE WOMEN ARE COMING FACE TO

FACE WITH SINGLE MOMS TRYING TO

WORK WITH THEM, TO MOVE THEM UP.

SOMETIMES THAT -- THAT VOLUNTEER

HOUR, THAT TIME THAT PEOPLE

SPEND, LETTING OTHER PEOPLE KNOW

THAT THEY LOVE THEM AND THAT

THEY'RE HUMAN AND THEY CARE

ABOUT THEIR HUMANITY, IS SO

IMPACTFUL AND EXTENDS THE REACH

OF THAT DOLLAR.

SO I THINK THAT'S A BIG PART OF

WHAT FOLKS CAN DO TO SUPPORT

FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THIS

SITUATION.

>> I WANT TO GO TO RUTH NOW.

RUTH, YOU'VE GOT A QUESTION

ABOUT THE INTERSECTION OF

POVERTY AND HEALTH CARE AND THE

IMPACT OF THAT.

SHARE THAT WITH THE PANEL.

>> AFTER SPENDING 35 YEARS AT

THE HOSPITAL, I CAN VERY WELL

TELL WHAT YOU IT'S LIKE TO BE

ABLE TO -- FOLKS IN POVERTY.

ALL THE STUDENTS AND WHAT HAVE

YOU.

THE PLACE WASN'T WHAT IT SHOULD

BE.

BUT IT COULD HAVE STAYED RIGHT

THERE TO HELP THE PEOPLE.

WE HAVE HAD SO MANY COME THROUGH

THAT NEEDED SOME HELP.

AND WHERE THEY HAVE TAKEN THESE

PEOPLE NOW, IT'S HORRIBLE.

>> SO WHERE DO WE STAND -- JAN,

YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT QUESTION,

HEALTH CARE AND THE ROLE IT

PLAYS IN POVERTY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT

HEALTH CARE, WE NOT ONLY NEED IT

TO STAY HEALTHY, BUT WE KNOW

THAT -- HEALTH CARE BILLS ARE

THE LEADING CAUSE OF BANKRUPTCY.

AND SO SO MANY PEOPLE WHO

MAYBE -- MAYBE YOU'RE LIVING

BELOW THE POVERTY LINE OR MAYBE

YOU'RE JUST ABOVE THE POVERTY

LINE.

YOU HAVE ENOUGH EACH MONTH TO

PAY YOUR BILLS, BUT IF YOU GET

SICK OR HAVE AN ACCIDENT, YOU

CAN BE LEFT WITH MEDICAL BILLS

THAT CAN PLUNGE INTO POVERTY

VERY QUICKLY.

EXPANSION IS AN IMPORTANT POLICY

NOT JUST FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH

BUT BECAUSE IT WILL HELP PEOPLE

HAVING THOSE MASSIVE BILLS WHEN

SOMETHING GOES WRONG.

THERE WAS A STUDY IN OREGON

WHERE THEY DID AN EXPERIMENT.

AND A BUNCH OF PEOPLE GOT

MEDICAID AND SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T

GET IT.

AND THEY FOUND THAT THE PEOPLE

WHO GOT MEDICAID, THEY --

VIRTUALLY ELIMINATED

CATASTROPHIC MEDICAL EXPENSES

FOR THAT POPULATION.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A SAFETY

NET, WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING

ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A WELFARE

CHECK.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SAFETY NET

THAT HELPS YOU WHEN LIFE'S

UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, WHICH ARE

GOING TO HAPPEN TO ALL OF US AT

SOME POINT, COME ALONG AND THAT

SHOULD NOT -- GETTING SICK

SHOULD NOT LIVE YOU FINANCIALLY

DESTITUTE.

THE CHARITY HOSPITAL SYSTEM

PROVIDED THAT SAFETY NET IN THIS

STATE FOR 70 YEARS BUT WE DON'T

HAVE A CHARITY HOSPITAL AND

THAT'S WHY MEDICAID EXPANSION IS

SO IMPORTANT TO KEEP PEOPLE

HEALTHY BUT ALSO FROM BEING

FINANCIALLY DESTITUTE.

>> ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO TALK

ABOUT HEALTH CARE?

>> YEAH, I DO.

IN TERMS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN

POVERTY, THEY HAVE VERY POOR

HEALTH OUTCOMES.

AND SO THEY ARE AT A

DISADVANTAGE WHEN IT COMES TO

MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.

SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE IN

PARTS OF THE CITY, PARTICULARLY

HERE IN BRUNELL, LIVE IN --

BATON ROUGE, LIVE IN ASWHERE'S

THEY'RE FOOD DESERTS, SO THEY

DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY,

HEALTHY FOODS.

SO THEIR DIETS MAY NOT BE

SUPPORTIVE OF A HEALTHY

LIFESTYLE.

THEY MAY NOT HAVE, ACCESS TO A

PERSONAL PHYSICIAN.

SO THEY HAVE TO RELY ON CLINICS.

AND THOSE CLINICS MAY NOT BE

ABLE TO SEE THEM AT THE TIME

THAT THEIR TIME FRAMES ARE

DEMANDING BECAUSE THEY'RE

WORKING TWO AND THREE JOBS.

SO IT'S AVAILABILITY.

AND THE POTENTIAL FOR THEM TO

HAVE VERY POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES.

>> WANT TO GO TO REGGIE.

YOU'VE GOT A QUESTION.

>> I WORKED WITH SEVERAL

VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS.

AND I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME

SINCE I'VE STOPPED WORKING.

AND I TRY TO PRIDE MYSELF ON

KNOWING WHAT RESOURCES ARE OUT

THERE.

BUT THE ISSUE THAT I SEE IN MOST

ALL CASES IS THE NEED FOR

IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.

AND THE FRUSTRATION IS THAT

ALTHOUGH WE ARE ALL DO GREAT

WORK AND WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST,

WE HAVE SO MUCH RED TAPE.

HOW DO WE PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE

THOSE THAT ARE PROVIDING

IMMEDIACIESANCE TO THOSE THAT

REALLY NEED IT?

>> -- IMMEDIACIESANCE TO

THOSE -- IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE TO

THOSE THAT REALLY NEED IT?

>> I TALKED ABOUT THE WORKFORCE

INNOVATION OPPORTUNITY ACT.

THAT ACT CAME INTO EXISTENCE THE

FIRST OF JULY OF THIS YEAR.

SO YOU HAVE ACROSS THE STATE OF

LOUISIANA DIRECTORS, THE

WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD, THE

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS

THAT ARE REGIONAL THROUGHOUT THE

STATE OF LOUISIANA.

THEY'RE PUTTING THE FINE PRINT

TO EXACTLY HOW THIS PROGRAM IS

GOING TO WORK.

BUT BHALTS RIGHT NOW -- WHAT'S

RIGHT NOW AVAILABLE FOR

INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR

IMMEDIACIESANCE ARE --

IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE ARE CAREER

BUSINESS SOLUTION CENTERS.

IF YOU GO TO LAWORKS.NET.

YOU CAN FIND BUSINESS CAREER

SOLUTION CENTERS SCATTERED

THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA.

IN THOSE CENTERS YOU CAN GET

ASSISTANCE WITH TRANSPORTATION,

FURTHERING YOUR EDUCATION.

YOU COULD GET SCHOLARSHIPS TO

TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

YOU COULD GET INFORMATION ON HOW

TO FORM YOUR RESUME'.

YOU CAN GET TUTTORIAL HELP TO

PEP YOU PASS THE -- HELP YOU

PASS THE -- WHICH TOOK THE PLACE

OF THE G.E.D.

FEDERALLY FUNDED, THROUGH WIOA,

WORKFORCE EFFORTS IN EACH

COMMUNITY WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN

COME RIGHT NOW, TODAY, TOMORROW,

AND START A PROCESS BY WHICH

THEY CAN BUILD A PATHWAY TO

BETTER THEIR LIVES.

80S A LITTLE-KNOWN EN -- IT'S A

LITTLE-KNOWN ENTITY OUT THERE IN

THE GREATER WORLD OF LOUISIANA.

AND HOPEFULLY THE WORKFORCE

COMMISSION CAN GET THIS WORD OUT

THAT WE HAVE THOSE THINGS

AVAILABLE FOR CITIZENS.

>> YEAH.

IF I CAN JUST LAY IN ON THAT

REAL QUICKLY.

I THINK THERE ARE TWO -- TWO

THINGS EMBEDDED IN THAT

QUESTION.

ONE IS, THERE'S THE ACCESS

QUESTION.

SO HOW CAN A PERSON FIND OUT

WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABILITY

IMMEDIATELY.

WELL, WE HAVE SOMETHING IN THIS

STATE CALLED LOUISIANA 211,

UNITED WAY 211 IN OUR REGION.

YOU CAN PICK UP THE PHONE, DIAL

THAT NUMBER, AND THEY CAN PUT

YOU IN TOUCH WITH PEOPLE.

THE SECOND QUESTION IS DO THE

AGENCY THAT IS CONTACT HAVE

THE -- AGENTS THAT CONTACT, CAN

THEY PROVIDE THE SERVICE.

AND THAT NOW BECOMES A QUESTION

OF CAPACITY.

AND SO A PART OF WHAT I THINK AS

WE CHANGE OUR PROCESS, WE'RE

SAYING IS WE WANT TO

INTENTIONALLY PARTNER WITH THOSE

PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING IN THIS

SPACE, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT NOT

ONE AGENCY, NOT ONE PROGRAM, NOT

JUST THE UNITED WAY, CAN MEET

THE NEEDS.

NOT -- CHURCHES CAN'T DO IT BY

THEMSELVES.

SO HOW DO WE MAKE SURE -- IS THE

QUESTION WE'RE WRESTLING WITH.

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WHEN A

PERSON HAS AN IMMEDIATE NEED, IF

THEY CAN'T GET IT FROM SAINT

SINCEEL DePAUL OR CATHEDRAL

CHARITIES, SPHWHR A -- IS THERE

A SYSTEM THAT GETS THEM THE NEED

THEY HAVE AND WHAT'S THE NEXT

STEP FOR THAT PERSON.

SO ONCE THAT IMMEDIATE NEED HAS

BEEN MET, WHAT'S NEXT FOR THEM,

BECAUSE WE SHOULD BE ASKING THAT

NEXT QUESTION.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE

SUFFICIENT TO JUST DO THIS FOR

ONE MONTH.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A SHORTFALL

NEXT MONTH.

WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR YOU TO MAKE

SURE THAT YOU HAVE SOME

DIRECTION, SOME PLAN, FOR WHAT

HAPPENS NEXT.

AND THAT'S A PART OF HOW WE'RE

CHANGING.

IT'S A PART OF THE CONVERSATION

THAT WE'RE HAVING ACROSS --

FRANKLY, THE LANDSCAPE OF

PHILANTHROPY AS WELL AS OUR

CORPORATE PARTNERS AS WELL.

THERE'S ACCESS QUESTION BUT ALSO

THE CAPACITY QUESTION.

AND I THINK WE HAVE TO ADDRESS

BOTH.

>> ROBERT, YOU HAD A QUESTION

ABOUT CHILDREN IN POVERTY.

>> CHILDREN IN LOUISIANA ARE

SICKER, HUNGRIER, POORER, AND

MORE AT RISK THAN CHILDREN IN

ALL BUT TWO OTHER STATES IN THE

WHOLE COUNTRY.

WE'RE STUCK IT SEEMS TO ME IN --

IN A SYSTEM WHERE YOU'RE EITHER

DEFINED AS A LIBERAL OR A

CONSERVATIVE.

AS A TAX AND SPEND PERSON OR A

FISCAL HAWK.

HOW CAN WE GET BEYOND THOSE

LABELS AND AGREE THAT WE NEED TO

FOCUS ON OUR CHILDREN, AND -- SO

HOW DO WE DO THAT?

>> OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR -- OUR

FUTURE.

AND 28% OF THE CHILDREN IN THIS

STATE LIVE AT OR BELOW POVERTY.

THE POVERTY LEVEL.

THEY DON'T -- THEY'RE NOT --

THEY DON'T CHOOSE TO BE BORN

INTO POVERTY.

SO FOR THE CHILDREN, WE HAVE TO

LOOK AT THE WHOLE FAMILY.

AND WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE

FAMILIES TO HELP MOVE THEM OUT

OF POVERTY.

MANY OF OUR FAMILIES WHO ARE IN

POVERTY ARE FACED WITH --

THEY'RE WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS,

THEY'RE MINIMUM WAGE.

THEY'RE NOT -- MANY OF THEM

AREN'T WORKING 40 HOURS A WEEK.

THEY HAVE NO BENEFITS.

AND WHEN THEY HAVE A CRISIS, A

HEALTH CARE CRISIS, A BROKEN

CAR, THEY CAN'T PAY THE UTILITY

BILLS, ETH.

THE CHILDREN ARE THE ONES THAT

SUFFER.

AND WE WANT THE 28% OF THE

CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY TO BE

KIND OF A BACKDROP AND WE DON'T

WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE

IT'S THE COMMUNITY'S DIRTY

LITTLE SECRET.

BUT THOSE ARE OUR CHILDREN.

AND IF WE WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR

LIFE, WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

IRREGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE ARE A

LIBERAL OR A CONSERVATIVE,

FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION,

ATHEIST, THE CHILDREN ARE THE

ONES WHO NEED TO BE LIFTED UP.

THE CHILDREN WILL BE THE ONES

WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL OF US

AS WE AGE.

SO WE NEED TO BE PAYING

ATTENTION TO THEM.

SO THAT'S --

>> HERE'S WHAT THAT LIBERAL --

OR CONSERVATIVE.

A COMPANY SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANY

IN LAKE CHARLES.

THAT'S GOING TO PRODUCE 5,000

JOBS WITH AN AVERAGE SALARY OF

$77,000 A YEAR.

HERE'S WHAT'S NOT LIBERAL OR

CONSERVATIVE.

A COMPANY FROM LITHUANIA THAT'S

GOING TO EXIST IN POLLACK,

LOUISIANA.

THAT'S IN GRANT PARISH.

THAT'S GOING TO PROVIDE 584 JOBS

WITH AN AVERAGE SALARY PLUS

BENEFITS OF $55,000 A YEAR.

THE WAY YOU HELP A CHILD IS TO

EDUCATE AND TRAIN THE MAMA AND

DADDY INTO FIELDS THAT'S GOING

PRODUCE THEM A QUALITY OF LIFE

WHEREBY IT WON'T MATTER WHETHER

YOU'RE LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE.

THEY'RE GOING TO COMING FROM AN

INCOME-BASED FAMILY THAT CAN

PROVIDE THEM ENVIRONMENTAL

EXPERIENCES THAT'S GOING TO

SERVE THEM IN A POSITIVE WAY FOR

THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

>> I WANT TO GET SOMEBODY ELSE

IN HERE.

BUT YOU DEAL IN THIS FROM THE

INTERSECTION OF POLITICS AND

THESE ISSUES, RIGHT?

>> YOUR QUESTION IS RIGHT ON

POINT.

AND THIS SPEAKS TO WHY INCOME

SUPPORT PROGRAMS LIKE THE EARNED

INCOME TAX CREDIT AND FRANKLY, A

HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE ARE SO

IMPORTANT, BECAUSE RESEARCH VERY

CLEERL SHOWS THAT IF WE CAN --

CLEARLY SHOWS THAT IF WE CAN

BRING PARENTS AND FAMILIES JUST

SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE,

BUT SO THAT THEY'RE NOT LIVING

HAND TO MOUTH EVERY MONTH, THE

CHANCES OF THOSE CHILDREN

GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL,

GOING ON TO BECOMING PRODUCTIVE

CITIZENS, STAYING OUT OF THE

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, GO UP.

SO WHEN WE INVEST IN FAMILIES,

WE INVEST IN COMMUNITIES AND WE

INVEST IN THOSE CHILDREN.

AND THINK THIS NOITION THAT IF

WE RECEIVE IN LOW-INCOME

FAMILIES, WE'RE TAKING FROM

ANYBODY ELSE, I THINK IS WHAT WE

NEED TO GET BEYOND POLITICALLY,

BECAUSE WHEN WE LIFT UP PEOPLE

AT THE BOTTOM, FAMILIES AT THE

BOTTOM, WE ALL ARE INVESTED IN

THAT.

AND I THINK WE'RE STRONGER AS AN

ECONOMY, AS A COMMUNITY, WHEN

EVERYBODY DOES WELL AND I THINK

GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T -- ISN'T

SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT BY

ANY STRETCH.

AND THE CHARITIES AND FAMILIES

HAVE TO DO THEIR PART.

BUT I THINK IF WE CAN JUST LIFT

FAMILIES JUST ABOVE THAT POVERTY

LINE AND INTO THE MIDDLE-CLASS

AND PROVIDE A SOUND SAFETY NET

UNDERNEATH THEM, WITH HEALTH

CARE POLICIES AND INCOME

SUPPORTS THAT IT HELPS

EVERYBODY, BECAUSE DON'T FORGET,

WHEN YOU GIVE SOMEBODY A HIGHER

WAGE, WHEN SOMEBODY HAS A JOB

THAT -- THAT PAYS A LIVING WAGE,

THEY SPEND THAT MONEY IN THOSE

COMMUNITIES.

THAT MONEY SUPPORTS JOBS.

AND IT BECOME AS VIRTUOUS CYCLE

THAT HELPS NOT JUST THE FAMILIES

BUT THE CHILDREN AND KIND OF

MOVES US ALL FORWARD.

AND GOVERNMENT POLICY IS A --

HAS A VERY IMPORTANT POAL ROLE

TO PLAY TO -- IMPORTANT ROLE TO

MAY IN THAT.

>> WE HAVE A NEW SUPERINTENDENT

IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH

SCHOOLS AND I WORK WITH TWO

SUPERINTENDENTS, ONE IN

ST. HELENA AND THE OTHER IN WEST

FLEESHIANA.

AND IT'S REMARKABLE THAT EVERY

TIME I TALK TO THOSE

SUPERINTENDENTS AND THEY TALK

ABOUT THE ISSUES THIS THEY FACE,

THEIR ASKEDS, THEY -- SCHOOL

SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THEY ALWAYS

LEAD WITH THIS.

WHAT'S BEST FOR CHILDREN.

AND I THINK ON BOTH ENDS OF THE

SPECTRUM, THE QUESTION WE HAVE

TO ASK OURSELVES AS PEOPLE WHO

WORK IN THIS SPACE IS WHAT

WE'RE -- IS WHAT WE'RE DOING

BEST FOR CHILDREN?

POLICY-WISE, PROGRAM-WISE, IS IT

BEST FOR CHILDREN?

IF IT'S NOT, THEN WE PROBABLY

SHOULD TAKE A STEP BACK AND

REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE

DOING.

BECAUSE IF IT'S NOT, THEN WE

PROBABLY NEED TO TAKE A

DIFFERENT APPROACH OR A

DIFFERENT STRATEGY.

>> MAY I JUST --

>> GO AHEAD.

>> AS FAR AS THE EDUCATION

LEVEL, WE EMPHASIZED, YOU KNOW,

CHILDREN ARE 20% HERE IN

LOUISIANA SAY -- I GUESS MY

QUESTION IS I NOTICED WORKING IN

THE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY, THE

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HERE LOCALLY,

THAT A LOT OF THE CHILDREN THERE

IN THOSE PUBLIC OR -- THE PUBLIC

SCHOOLS VERSUS THE PRIVATE

SECTOR OF SCHOOLS, THEIR SCORES

ARE LOWER.

IS THERE -- HOW ARE THEY GOING

TO CHANGE THE EDUCATIONAL OUTPUT

FOR THOSE KIDS VERSUS THE KIDS

IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHEN CLEARLY

THEY ARE MOSTLY IN POVERTY AND

THEY CAN'T AFFORD PRIVATE

SCHOOLING WHICH CLEARLY

INDICATES THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING

TO GET THE SAME EDUCATION WHICH

MEANS WE'RE KIND OF PERPETUATING

THAT CYCLE OF LESSER EDUCATION,

AND IT SHOWS IN THE SCORES.

IN THE SCHOOLING.

>> HOW MANY.

PROGRAMS IMPLITTING --

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CHILDREN

WHO ARE IN THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS

AND WHATEVER, THEY HAVE PROBABLY

BOTH PARENTS IN THE HOME.

THE PARENTS ARE THERE IN THE

AFTERNOON AND AT NIGHT TO HELP

GUIDE THEM IN THEIR STUDIES, TO

HELP TUTOR THEM.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE

SPECTRUM, THIS MAY BE THE HOME

WITH JUST A SINGLE PARENT.

SHE'S WORKING TWO JOBS.

AND BY THE TIME SHE GETS HOME,

THE CHILDREN PROBABLY ARE

ASLEEP.

SO SHE MAY HERSELF NOT HAVE MORE

THAN A THIRD OR FOURTH GRADE

EDUCATION AND DOESN'T HAVE THE

CAPACITY NOR THE TIME TO SIT

WITH HER CHILD AND DO THE

TUTORING.

MANY OF THE CHILDREN IN THOSE

LOWER GRADES, IF YOU ASK THEM,

THEY DON'T HAVE ANY BOOKS AT

HOME, NO ONE READS TO THEM.

SO THERE'S A WHOLE DEFICIT

THERE.

AND THAT'S WHY WHEN THE SCHOOLS

LOOK FOR VOLUNTEERS IN SCHOOL TO

HELP THOSE CHILDREN, YOU KNOW,

SOMEONE TUTORING, SOMEONE

READING TO THE CHILDREN, SOMEONE

PAYING ATTENTION TO THEM.

TO HELP GUIDE THEM.

SO IT IS A COMMUNITY INVESTMENT

TO HELP PARTICULARLY THOSE

CHILDREN.

>> I HEARD DR. KELLY JOSEPH

WHO'S THE SUPERINTENDENT OF

ST. HELENA SCHOOLS, ONE OF THE

LOWEST PERFORMING SCOOTEDS IN

THE STATE, BITIUM -- SCHOOL

DISTRICTS IN THE STATE, BUT

IMPROVING.

HE SAID THAT THE EXPECTATIONS WE

SET, THE WAY WE TALK ABOUT OUR

SCHOOLS, REALLY SET AN

EXPECTATION IN THAT CLASSROOM

FOR THE CHILD, BECAUSE THEY HEAR

WHAT WE SAY ABOUT THEIR SCHOOLS.

AND SO A BIG PART OF I THINK

WHAT CAN HELP SHIFT SOME OF

THAT, BECAUSE IN EVERY SCHOOL

DISTRICT, IN EVERY SOUTHERN

STATE, POOREST PERFORMING OR

HIGHEST PERFORMING, THERE ARE

CHILDREN WHO SUCCEED.

THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO GO ON AND

BECOME VERY SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE.

AND SO A PART OF WHAT MONEY

CAN'T BUY IS WHAT WE TALKED

ABOUT EARLIER.

AND THAT IS A CARING ADULT.

MAYBE IT'S NOT THE MOM.

MAYBE IT'S NOT ANOTHER CARING

ADULT.

BUT MAYBE IT IS A CORPORATE

VOLUNTEER WHO'S GOING TO SIT

DOWN WITH THAT CHILD AND READ

WITH THEM.

MAYBE IT'S A PLEAM LIKE WE

SPONS -- PROGRAM LIKE WE SPONSOR

CALLED DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION

LIBRARY THAT SEND AS BOOK AGE

APPROPRIATE TO THE -- SENDS A

BOOK, AGE APPROPRIATE TO THE

HOME, SO THEY START TO CREATE A

PRINT-RICH ENVIRONMENT A LIBRARY

FOR THAT KID 0 TO 5.

IT'S THOSE TYPES OF

OPPORTUNITIES, THE EXPECTATIONS

WE SET, THE LANGUAGE WE USE

ABOUT WHETHER THEY CAN ACHIEVE

OR NOT, THAT I THINK CREATES --

OR ACTUALLY PERPETUATES THIS

IDEA THAT SOMETHEY'RE INTERIOR.

YOU SOME HO -- SOMEHOW THEIR

INFERIOR.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR LANGUAGE

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHILDREN AND

WHEN WE TALK THE SCHOOLS AND --

INSTEAD OF A DEFICIT MINDSET,

TALK ABOUT THE ASSETS.

THERE'S SOME GREAT THINGS GOING

ON IN THESE COMMUNITIES.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO TAP INTO

THAT AND PROVIDE THE EXTRA

SUPPORTS.

THAT MAY BE NONTRADITIONAL.

CHALLENGES OUR SCHOOLS TO OPEN

UP HOURS THAT CREATE THE

OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT SINGLE MOM

TO BE THERE TO HELP THAT CHILD

AFTER SCHOOL.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT

WE START TO TALK DIFFERENTLY AND

SET A DIFFERENT EXPECTATION FOR

OUR CHILDREN.

>> THAT'S VERY GOOD.

>> WE DO HAVE TO DO THAT.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT SOME

REALITIES.

WE KNOW THE STUDY A FEW MONTHS

AGO THAT SHOWED THE SOUTHERN

STATES HAVE PROBABLY THE HIGHEST

SUSPENSION RATE THROUGHOUT THE

UNITED STATES.

AND IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH

SYSTEMATIC CARING WHERE WE'RE

GOING TO KEEP THE KID IN SCHOOL

NO HEART WHAT HAPPENS TO MAKE

SURE -- NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS

TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THEIR

EDUCATION, THEN WE'RE GOING TO

LOSE THOSE KIDS.

I SEE THEM BECAUSE -- WHEN THEY

ARE SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOL, THEY

COME INTO THE GARDAIRE

INITIATIVE AND I SIT WITH THEM

AND I MAKE SURE THEY DO THEIR

WORK.

BUT -- I'M SORRY.

THEY HAVE TO DO THAT IN SCHOOL.

THAT IS WHAT THE SCHOOL IS THERE

FOR.

YOU CAN'T JUST SAY, STRIKE ONE,

YOU'RE OUT.

>> SURE.

>> YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

>> SURE.

>> AND I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU

GUYS.

>> NO, NO.

>> BUT SOMEONE WANT TO TAKE

THAT?

>> REGGIE BRINGS A VERY

IMPORTANT POINT.

WHEN YOU HAVE A SCHOOL YEAR

THAT'S OVER 170-SOMETHING DAYS A

YEAR, AND OUR CHILDREN ARE FROM

THAT SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT SEVEN

HOURS A DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK,

THEY'RE IN THAT SCHOOL WITH THE

CUSTODIAN, THE TEACHER, AND

OTHER INDIVIDUALS PROBABLY MORE

THAN THEY ARE WITH THEIR FATHERS

AND IN SOME INSTANCES THEIR

MOTHER THAT'S WORKING TWO JOBS.

AND SO IF YOU PUT THAT KID OUT,

WHAT -- SEVERAL THINGS ARE AT

PLAY.

MANY LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS DON'T

HAVE THE FINANCIAL BASE TO

CONTINUE WITH ALTERNATIVE

PROGRAMS.

THAT CAN REMOVE THAT STUDENT

FROM MAYBE HIS REGULAR SETTING

BUT CONTINUE HIS ON AN

EDUCATIONAL TRACK WHERE HE'S NOT

MISSING TOO MUCH.

NOW YOU HAVE SCHOOL SYSTEM

BECAUSE OF DOLLARS THEY HAVE TO

SEND THAT KID HOME AND AT HOME

THERE'S NO ONE THERE THAT'S

GOING TO TRAIN THAT STUDENT.

AND IF THERE ARE NO PROGRAMS

LIKE YOU HAVE, THEN THAT STUDENT

IS EVEN FURTHER BEHIND.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A STUDENT

DOWN THE ROAD THAT WE'RE GOING

TO BE PAYING FOR IN ONE WAY OR

ANOTHER.

SO YOU BRING OUT A VERY

IMPORTANT POINT.

WE HAVE TO FIND AND DEVISE MEANS

BY WHICH WE CAN KEEP THOSE KIDS

IN SCHOOL, BUT MIND YOU, WE

DIDN'T HAVE THOSE STUDENTS

DISRUPTING THE CLASSES OF 20

OTHER STUDENTS THAT ARE TRYING

TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES.

SO WE GOT TO FIND WHERE THAT

BALANCE IS IS.

AND MOVE FRERD THERE.

>> I WANT TO GO TO PERRY NOW.

HE'S GOT A QUESTION ABOUT

SOMETHING KIND OF RELATED TO

WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

>> YEAH, TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS

ACTUALLY PRESENTED ADVANCING

JUSTICE CONFERENCE IN

NEW ORLEANS.