The Nashville Church of Scientology supports the good works of others.
Today’s highlight: a new initiative called A Voice.
A Voice: For the Reduction of Poverty is a new and emerging grassroots
alliance of Nashvillians committed to reducing poverty in the community. According to the website nashvillevoice.org,
“Because more than 117,000 of the 635,000 residents of Davidson County live in
poverty, we believe that it is both a moral and economic imperative for us to
advocate for programs and opportunities that will help lift them out of poverty
and place them on a road towards reasonable prosperity.”
According to the 2011 census of Davidson County, the median household
income dropped from $50,164 in 2007 to $43,556 in 2011. In 2011, 30.5% of those
living in Davidson County under age 18 lived in poverty. The 19.3% poverty rate
for all people in Davidson County is higher than the U.S. rate of 15.9% and
higher than the Tennessee poverty rate of 18.3%.
A Voice is striving “to create a well-educated and clearly articulated
communal voice that speaks loudly to the need for a dramatic reduction in
poverty.” It hopes to accomplish its goals by educating people about issues and
realities related to poverty and by raising a collective voice to urge elected
officials and public-policy makers to provide substantive economic relief for
those living in poverty.
Organizers are asking that more people join the coalition by signing up
on the website.
“The reality is that too many among us are struggling just to feed
their families, pay their living expenses, and find relief from the high cost
of medical care,” according to nashvillevoice.org.
Organizations already actively participating in A Voice include the
Martha O’Bryan Center, Nashville Metro Social Services, Room in the Inn, the
Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship and others.
For more information about A Voice, visit nashvillevoice.org.
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