>>> 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
SO
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.
SPONSORED BY THE CHARLES COKE
INSTITUTE.
AND THE TOPIC WAS PRETTY MUCH
DISCUSSING THE BURDEN OF MASS
INCARCERATION IN THE UNITED
STATES.
AND I PRESENTED ON THE CAPITAL
COST OF MASS INCARCERATION, THE
COST OF WHAT THAT PUTS A PERSON,
THE POSITION IT PUTS THEIR
LIFESTYLE OF THAT PERSON
REGARDLESS OF WHEN THEY GO IN
AND WHEN THEY GO OUT.
ONE OF THE STUDY THAT IS WAS
PRESENTED DURING -- STUDIES THAT
WAS PRESENTED WAS THEY'RE DOING
THE FOUR GREAT YEARS THAT
THEY'RE DOING STUDIES THAT ARE
PRETTY MUCH WRITING STUDENTS OFF
SAYING IF THEY'RE NOT UP TO THIS
LEVEL AT THIS POINT IN THEIR
DON'T, THAT THIS CHILD IS MOST
LIKELY -- DEVELOPMENT, THAT THIS
CHILD IS MOST LIKELY GOING TO
END UP IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT ALREADY
WRITING THE KIDS OFF AT FOURTH
AND FIFTH GRADE WHEN THERE'S
ALWAYS THROUGH 12TH GRADE
THERE'S A CHANCE OR OPPORTUNITY
FOR THAT CHILD TO GET ON TRACK
REGARDLESS OF IF IT'S GOING TO
COLLEGE OR REGARDLESS IF IT'S A
SECONDARY EDUCATION OR WHATEVER
PATH THAT THEY WANT TO GO INTO.
BUT THE MAIN ISSUE WAS WHAT DO
WE DO TO DECREASE RECIDIVISM AS
FAR AS IF I GO TO PRISON, I MAY
NOT HAVE ANY SKILLS.
I MAY NOT HAVE ANY TRADES.
I MAY HAVE NOT AN EDUCATION
TO -- ONCE I GET OUT, WHAT CAN I
DO IN ORDER TO GET MYSELF BACK
ON TRACK, BECAUSE THE YOU KNOW
IS THE NUMBER ONE IN -- IT
INCARCERATES MORE CITIZENS THAN
ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
AND LOUISIANA BEING THE NUMBER
ONE INCARCERATED STATE WITHIN
THE UNITED STATES, WE HAVE SO
MANY PEOPLE THAT GO INTO THE
SYSTEM, WHAT THE EDUCATION MAY
HAVE GIVEN UP ON THEM, WHERE
SOCIETY HAS GIVEN UP TO THEM,
BUT WHEN YOU GET OUT YOU HAVE
THOSE WHO WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE.
BUT BECAUSE WHEN THEY GET OUT T
BURDENS OF THE INCARCERATION
THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO
GO TO COLLEGE BECAUSE THEY DON'T
HAVE THE ACCESS TO PEL GRANTS.
THEY MAY NOT GO TO COLLEGE
BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ACCESS TO
STUDENT LOANS.
OR JUST A SIMPLE FACT OF JOBS.
WHO WANTS TO HIRE YOU WHEN YOU
HAVE TO PUT ON YOUR JOB
APPLICATION THAT YOU ARE A
FELON?
>> SO LET'S -- WHO WANTS TO THAT
I
TAKE -- TAKE THAT QUESTION.
WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS PROBLEM
WITH PEOPLE COMING OUT OF
PRISON?
>> LOUISIANA HAS THE HIGHEST
INCARCERATION RATE IN THE WORLD.
WE ALSO HAVE THE LOWEST PER DIEM
FOR PRISONERS IN THE STATE
SYSTEM OF ANY STATE IN THE
SOUTH.
AND WE SPEND LESS ON
REHABILITATION IN OUR PRISONS
THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE
SOUTH.
SO ONE THING WE CAN DO TO REDUCE
RECIDIVISM -- WE WE HAVE 15 TO
17,000 COMING OUT OF PLAZ IN
LOUISIANA EVERY YEAR, OUT ON OUR
STREETS AND MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE
I I THINK WANT TO GET A JOB, BE
CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS OF
SOCIETY.
BUT WHEN THEY'RE INSIDE THEY
DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE KIND OF
REHANDLE TAIGTATION SERVICES,
EDUCATION SERVICES, THAT COULD
EQUIP THEM TO GET A JOB ONCE
THEY'RE ON THE OUTSIDE.
SO I THINK ONE THING THE STATE
TO DO, IRONICALLY WE'RE SPENDING
SO MUCH MONEY ON INCARCERATION
BUT WE'RE NOT SPENDING THAT
MONEY WISELY OR YOU HAVE THIS TO
MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO --
MOST PEOPLE WHO GO TO PRISON ARE
GETTING OUT SOME DAY.
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
WHILE THEY'RE ON THE INSIDE, GET
SOME KIND OF TRAINING, GET SOME
KIND OF SKILLS SO THEY CAN BE
PREPARED FOR THE LIFE THAT
AWAITS THEM WHEN THEY GET OUT.
>> JOSEPH, YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> I NOTICED AS WE TALK ABOUT
THESE ISSUES, I HEAR TWO KINDS
OF CONVERSATIONS GOING ON.
A BUNCH OF US ARE TALKING WHO'S
GOING TO GET THE BABIES OUT OF
THE RIVER BECAUSE THEY'RE STUCK
THERE AND SOME PEOPLE ARE
TALKING ABOUT WHO'S PUTTING THE
BABIES IN THE RIVER IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
SEEMS TO ME THE COMMUNITY THE
COMMUNITY OF BATON ROUGE,
LOUISIANA, AND THE UNITED
STATES, WE NEED TO HAVE A SYSTEM
THAT ALLOWS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
EVERYONE TO HAVE A JOB, AN
EDUCATION AND HAVE A ROAM CHANCE
AT A REASONABLE -- REASONABLE
CHANCE AT A REASONABLE
LIFESTYLE.
IN LOUISIANA WE KNOW THAT IT
TAKES 2.1 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT
SALARIES AT RIDGE WAGE TO BE
ABLE TO -- MINIMUM WAGE TO BE
ABLE TO AFFORD HOUSING AT 30% OF
YOUR GROSS INCOME.
YOU'RE AT RISK OF BEING HOMELESS
UNLESS YOU GOT MORE THAN 2.1
PEOPLE WORKING IN YOUR HOUSE TO
GET A TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENT TO
HOUSE YOU AND YOUR TWO KIDS.
THAT'S NOT DOABLE BY A SINGLE
PARENT.
AND IT'S OFTEN NOT DOABLE BY TWO
PARENTS TO DO THAT SORT OF
THING.
THAT'S A SYSTEM ISSUE THAT WE
HAVE TO CREATE AN ECONOMIC
SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR ALL, THAT
GIVES EVERYBODY OPPORTUNITIES IN
EDUCATION.
AND THE TWO KEY PIECES OF THAT
ARE REALLY DO YOU HAVE JOBS AND
DO THEY PAY ENOUGH AND DO YOU DO
THE EDUCATION SO PEOPLE CAN GET
TO THOSE JOBS.
THE SECOND PIECE WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT IS ALL THESE FIXES FOR
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IN DOESN'T
WORK RIGHT.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS
FIXES AND THEY HAVE INCREDIBLE
ECONOMIC IMPACT ON US.
YOU JUST MENTIONED THE ONE ABOUT
THE PRISON.
WELL, I'M HELPING PAY FOR THAT
STUFF EVERY DAY WHEN I PAY MY
TAXES.
AND IT'S COSTLY.
AND WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE IN
LOUISIANA ARE INCREDIBLY NICE.
I MEAN, WHEN YOU THINK OF WHAT
WE DO AS A COMMUNITY, YOU LOOK
AROUND THE PEOPLE HELPING --
BROWN AND Y'ALL.
50% OF THE PEOPLE IN BATON ROUGE
HOUSED SOMEBODY AFTER HURRICANE
KATRINA.
75 PARENT CONTRIBUTED TO THAT.
WE'RE A NICE PEOPLE -- 75%
CONTRIBUTED TO THAT.
WE'RE A NICE PEOPLE.
THE DIFFICULTY IS COMING TO SOME
CONSENSUS OF BUILDS THE SYSTEM
THAT MOST OF US ARE GOING TO BE
TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE WE CAN'T
WORK, WE CAN'T GET JOBS AND
GETTING TO THE ONE THAT IS DON'T
BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS NOT
PERFECT.
WHAT ARE THE SYSTEMS WE USE TO
GET THOSE PEOPLE BACK ON TRACK
AFTER SOMETHING FAILS?
>> SO WHAT DO WE DO?
>> YOU KNOW, I PERSONALLY THINK
THAT WE -- YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THESE
ISSUES AS IF THEY ARE
DISCONNECTED.
WELL, WE THINK ABOUT THIS WORK
AS AN ECOSYSTEM.
AND YOU JUST SUMMED IT UP.
AND I THINK AS WE START TO PRESS
ON ONE END, WITH PROGRAMS AND
GREAT SERVICES, THEN JAN'S WORK
ON POLICY HAS TO SUPPORT THAT.
AND VICE VERSA.
THE POLICY WORK HAS TO SUPPORT
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT
INITIATIVE BOTH PUBLIC SECTOR,
PRIVATE SECTOR, NONPROFITS THAT
ACTUALLY PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF
SUPPORT AND SERVICES THAT
REGARDLESS OF WHERE A PERSON
FINDS THEMSELVES IN THIS SYSTEM,
THEY HAVE A PATHWAY TO SUCCESS.
WE THINK ABOUT THAT ALL THE TIME
IN TERMS OF OUR PHILANTHROPIC
WORK.
HOW DO WE ENGAGE OUR CORPORATE
PARTNERS WHO ARE DONATING
CONSIDERABLE AMOUNTS OF DOLLARS
TO WORK IN THIS SYSTEM.
HOW DO WE ENGAGE PUBLIC DOLLARS
THAT NEED TO BE ALIGNED WITH
THOSE PRIVATE DOLLARS TO
ACTUALLY START TO MOVE PEOPLE
ALONG?
THE DISCONNECT THAT SOMEONE
TALKED ABOUT EARLIER BETWEEN THE
RED TAPE OR THE BUREAUCRACY
THAT -- THAT SOMETIMES LOCKS
PEOPLE OUT OF OPPORTUNITY.
WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT
THAT.
AND SO I THINK THAT 80S NOT A --
I'VE SAID THIS IN MY OPENING
COMMENT.
IT'S NOT A SINGLE SOLUTION.
WE CALL IT A SINGLE BULLET.
IT'S A SINGLE -- IT'S A
BUCKSHOT.
AND I THINK WE NEED ALL OF THESE
THINGS WORKING TOGETHER.
ONE OF THE MOST PROMISING THINGS
THAT I'M SEEING IN THE STATE OF
LOUISIANA IS THAT WE'RE STARTING
TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN
DEPARTMENTS.
WE'RE STARTING TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE NEW WHEEL
ACT THAT REQUIRES PARTNERSHIP
AND COLLABORATION, THAT REQUIRES
US TO INTENTIONALLY THINK ABOUT
NOT JUST THE INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM
BUT THE SYSTEM OF SERVICES AND
PROGRAMS AND HOW TO MAKE THAT
WORK BETTER, BOTH EFFICIENTLY SO
WE'RE NOT WASTING TAXPAYER
DOLLARS, BUT LEVERAGE THE
RESOURCES THAT WE DO HAVE
AVAILABLE TO US.
AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S A WAY
AROUND ACTUALLY CONTINUOUSLY
IMPROVING WHAT WE'RE DOING EVERY
DAY.
>> JAN, WE'VE GOAT ABOUT A
MINUTE -- GOT ABOUT A MINUTE
LEFT.
DO YOU WANT TO SUM THAT UP?
WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THE WORKING
POOR?
>> WE'RE AT AN INTERESTING
MOMENT.
EVE AN LEXER COMING UP -- WE
HAVE AN ELECTION COMING UP ON
SATURDAY AND WE'RE GOING TO GET
A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON THIS.
AND I THINK BOTH OF THE
CANDIDATES HAVE SAID SOME
INTERESTING THINGS AND I THINK
HAVE SHOWN A REAL INTEREST IN
THIS ISSUE IN THE WAY THAT MAYBE
WE HAVEN'T SEEN FROM THIS
ADMINISTRATION.
SO I THINK THIS IS THE TIME TO
BE VERY HOPEFUL.
AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL COME
TOGETHER AND KIND OF -- AGAIN,
IT'S GOING TO TAKE THE PRIVATE
SECTOR.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE CHARITIES.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE THE WORK OF
EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, BUT IT'S
ALSO GOING TAKE SMART POLICY AND
PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER.
AND THERE IS NO ONE SOLUTION TO
POVERTY, BUT I THINK IT STARTS
WITH HAVING A PUBLIC COMMITMENT
TO IT AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET
THAT STARTING ON SATURDAY AND
MOVING INTO THE NEXT FOUR YEARS
AND SOME -- I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO THE FUTURE.
>> IT'S -- IT'S A CONSEQUENTIAL
ELECTION THAT WE'RE HAVING AND
THAT ISSUE OF POVERTY HAS NOT
BEEN DISCUSSED VERY MUCH, HAS
IT?
>> NO, IT HASN'T.
>> IT HAS NOT BEEN DISCUSSED
ENOUGH BUT IT CERTAINLY HAS NOT
BEEN ON THE AGENDA FOR THE PAST
EIGHT YEARS.
SO MOVING FORWARD WE GET TO
RESET THIS ISSUE -- AND I THINK
THIS IS A TIME TO REALLY KIND OF
REFOCUS, RECALIBRATE, AND WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE A BIG CONVERSATION
ABOUT THE BUDGET AND STATE
POLICY AND I THINK -- YOU KNOW,
I USED TO NOT BE IN FAVOR OF
TERM LIMITS, BUT I'VE CHANGED MY
MIND.
I'M GLAD THAT WE GET TO RESET
THE -- RESET THE STAGE AND
HOPEFULLY POVERTY WILL PLAY A
CENTRAL ROLE IN THE NEXT
ADMINISTRATION.
>> WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR A
VERY GOOD DISCUSSION.
GREAT QUESTIONS TONIGHT FROM OUR
PANELISTS AND OUR AUDIENCE.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING
HERE.
AND YOUR PARTICIPATION.
AND ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU
DO IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN OUR
STATE.
SO WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME FOR OUR
QUESTION AND ANSWER SEGMENT
TONIGHT.
WE'D LIKE TO THANK THE
PANELISTS, MR. DIXON,
MS. WHEEZER IN, MR. GOSS AND
MR. -- MS. WEESESNER AND
MR. GOSS, AND MR. MOLLER.
WE'LL COME BACK AND HAVE A FEW
CLOSING COMMENTS.
>>> AS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT LPB.ORG/PUBLICSQUARE.
WHILE YOU'RE THERE, TAKE THIS
MONTHOUS SIR VAAND COMMENT ON
TONIGHT'S -- MONTH'S SURVEY, AND
COMMENT ON TONIGHT'S SHOW.
THANKS FOR WATCHING AND GOOD
NIGHT, EVERYBODY.
*