Poverty, Race and Public Policy

The theme of the Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference was, “Changing Course, Confronting Crises, Continuing the Legacy.” Moderated by Ed Gordon, panelists discussed the links between poverty, race, and public policy. Topics included the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, minimum wage and the erosion of workers' pay, new unions, lack of political clout, persistence of racial segregation for African Americans and Latinos at all income levels, poverty in female-headed households, concentration of poverty in neighborhoods which affects the schools, social issues such as teenage pregnancy, and the movement of the black middle class to the suburbs that intensifies the concentration of poverty in poor black neighborhoods. It was noted that the gap between the haves and have-nots disproportionately affects African Americans. After their remarks the panelists responded to audience members' questions. close