October 17th Events
Every year on October 17th, people around the world come together to commemorate the World Day for Overcoming Poverty. It is a day to bear witness to situations of extreme poverty and to the hidden efforts made by low-income families to support one another and to contribute to their communities. It is a time for people of different walks of life to get to know and understand each other, and to renew their common commitment toward fighting the injustice of poverty.This year, events in the US will be taking place in Appalachia, New Orleans, and at the United Nations in New York. Here are some brief updates on what is planned. Feel free to get in touch with the local teams if you’d like to get involved, and please note – if you plan on joining the New York team, for security purposes the UN requires you to RSVP before October 11th!
Appalachia:
Thursday, October 176:00 pm at Clinchco Senior CenterClinchco, Virginia“We didn't know we were poor” is often a remark heard from older folks when they reminisce about their childhood. Pretty much everyone around them at that time was in the same situation, struggling and working to make ends meet. They didn't hear themselves or their parents labeled as shiftless, ignorant, good for nothing.But, that is not the case today for many families, especially some young couples. We hear things like “they don't want to work”, “they don't know how to raise their children”, “they're all on drugs”. There is a suspicion shown toward people receiving social assistance, implying that somehow they are cheating the system.Are these attitudes based on facts? If not, why do they prevail?Come to enjoy a potluck meal together followed by presentation and audience participation on these questions.
New Orleans:
Sunday October 20, 20132:00 to 5:00 pm at the Seventh Ward Neighborhood Center1941 Pauger St. (enter at Urquhart St.)Every day, people around the world make courageous efforts to resist the violence that poverty inflicts upon their lives. Each year we gather with these activists to lift up their voices and to form bonds of mutual support.This year’s theme is “Working Together Towards a World Without Discrimination and Social Exclusion.”We invite you to join us and to share the invitation with anyone you think may be interested in joining us.
New York:
October 17th, 1:15 to 2:30 pmConference Room 2United Nations Conference Building(Entrance at 1st Ave and 47th St.)The International Movement ATD Fourth World New York will commemorate the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty at the United Nations Headquarters. The theme of this year is “Working Together Towards a World Without Discrimination: Building on the Experience and Knowledge of People in Extreme Poverty" with a particular emphasis on voices of activists from civil society and people living in extreme poverty to share invaluable ideas about how stakeholders can work together to realize a world without discrimination and extreme poverty.Additionally, there will be a musical performance by Hip Hop Saves Lives, a non-profit organization that teaches humanity through hip hop as an alternative to gang and street life; and an interactive art creation directed by Gema Alava in collaboration with World Council of Peoples for the United Nations. A delegation from the Jamaica Family Shelter in Queens, where the New York team runs a Story Garden, will also speak on the discrimination faced by residents of homeless shelters.As part of the ‘People’s Voices’ Series, the World We Want will organize an event in the morning from 10 AM – 12 Noon. The event will feature various speakers including UN agency representatives, a representative of the Participate Initiative, and an ATD Fourth World member with direct experience of poverty in the United States. The event will take place at the Danny Kaye visitors center in the UNICEF building (tbc).NOTE: For security purposes RSVP is required before OCTOBER 11 to ATD Fourth World by Phone at (212) 228-1339 or by Email at un.ny@atd-fourthworld.org