The Student Government Association in collaboration with the department of nursing and Student Educators and LeaderS will host Solutions to Poverty Week Feb. 12-16.
Solutions to Poverty Week was held during the fall semester as part of Governor Kathleen Blanco’s Solutions to Poverty Network Council. The network was created as a way for communities to meet and discuss factors that contribute to poverty in Louisiana and possible solutions to those problems.
Blanco requested college students develop a plan of action, but since there was not enough time to plan something substantial, SGA President Olinda Ricard said, the SGA wanted to hold the event again in order to plan accordingly.
“The goal is to educate individuals about the impact of poverty and motivate them to become involved in being a solution,” Ricard said.
The week will be kicked off with two forums Monday in Bollinger Memorial Student Union. The forums will have a panel of speakers engage the audience in discussion about issues such as politics, policy and education and how those issues affect poverty.
The first forum is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. and will feature a discussion on topics including access to health care, the impact of poverty on children and how education relates to success, Ricard said.
The second forum, which is at 2 p.m., will be geared toward college students with topics such as the poverty rate in Louisiana and its effect on students’ lives and their civic responsibilities to the community in regards to poverty, Ricard said.
The department of nursing will hold a food drive from Feb. 12 to March 30. Shirleen Trabeaux, assistant professor of nursing, said students will be able to donate food in every building on campus.
Students, faculty and staff members will also be able to partake in open discussion about poverty and other topics of interest during the Stomp Out Poverty Rally in the Union at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday.
During the Voters Registration Drive Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., tables will be in the Union to register individuals to vote and distribute poverty information.
Tables will be set up in the Union Feb. 15-16 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. where SGA members will distribute poverty information and trinkets such as pins and wristbands. They will also be signing individuals up to be members of the Solutions to Poverty Coalition. Members of the SToP Coalition will be notified of events like Solutions to Poverty Week that they can become involved in.
Ricard said the SToP Coalition will be partnering with the Department of Social Services for training and resources to go out into the community to help people.