Spotlight Advisory Council Urges Obama to Speak Out About Poverty during Inaugural and State of the Union Speeches

In a letter to Barack Obama sent Friday, members of the Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity Council of Advisors urged the President-elect to directly speak to the issues of poverty and economic opportunity during his inaugural and State of the Union addresses. The outreach is part of a broader effort by Spotlight to ensure that these issues remain a critical part of the new Administration۪s agenda.

 

“We ask that in your Inaugural speech and in your first State of the Union address you speak directly to the issue of growing poverty and lack of opportunity in our country today.  As members of the Council of Advisors to Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity we believe that these issues demand immediate attention. ”

 

The letter comes on the heels of the Labor Department۪s latest jobs report Friday which found that the country faces a 7.2 percent unemployment rate. Acknowledging that the economic crisis has taken an especially harsh toll on low-income families, Spotlight۪s advisors called for urgent action to help those who are suffering most. 

 

“Since the recession began a year ago, the ranks of those living in poverty have grown and will almost certainly continue to increase in the months ahead without decisive action from your Administration.”

 

“Those who have struggled in poverty for many years, as well as those who have recently fallen into the ranks of the poor, need to hear directly from you regarding how you plan to restore the American Dream so that every child growing up in this country has the opportunity to achieve a better life.”

 

Members of Spotlight۪s advisory council include former Secretary of State William Cohen, CEO of the Harlem Children۪s Zone Geoffrey Canada, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and former Republican Vice Presidential Nominee Jack Kemp, and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell.

To read the full letter, click here.

Posted by Helina

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