[Iowa] Tackling the 'wretched cycle of poverty' is subject of forum

From The Des Moines Register

The meeting will focus on how Iowans can make an impact here and abroad.

By DANA BOONE
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

Iowans can make a difference for people mired in poverty, both here and globally, said a panelist who will participate in a forum today on poverty.

"If you just work twice a year for Habitat for Humanity, you'd make a difference," said Rebecca Webb , an international financial consultant who helped set up banking systems in Iraq. "Carve out the things that you actually think you can do. Every small task helps."

The public is invited to a free forum "Poverty: What can you do now?" at 7:30 tonight at the Hotel Fort Des Moines.

The Iowa Council for International Understanding has organized the 90-minute forum. The group promotes international understanding between Iowans and others from around the world.

Webb said everyone can help end the "wretched cycle of poverty" by simply writing letters to change laws, volunteering, donating money or food and learning more about the problems.

Hurricane Katrina victims who were predominantly black and too poor to leave ravaged areas of New Orleans emphasized poverty's connection to race. Also, 2004 Census Bureau statistics showed the nation's poverty rate has steadily increased during the past four years to 12.7 percent, said Colin Peterson, one of the council's international program managers.

Three panelists will discuss local and global poverty and the challenges of addressing the complex issues, he said. There will be a question-and-answer session.

The panelists, besides Webb, will include Forrest Harms , executive director of the Des Moines Area Religious Council; and Rohit Ramaswamy , president of Service Design Solutions who has worked for CARE, an international humanitarian group fighting world poverty.

The forum will be moderated by Michelle Parker , a senior reporter for KCCI-TV.

Six percent of Iowa families, or 46,641, live below poverty guidelines, according to the census, which considers a family of four with an annual income of less than $19,307 as living in poverty.

About 9 percent of Iowans live in poverty, according to the most recent statistics.

The council holds about three issues forums yearly. Past discussions have covered HIV/AIDS, immigration and the Sudan crisis.

More than 150 individuals and employees of non-profit groups, businesses and state government have signed up to attend.

The event is sponsored by Townsend Engineering Co.