Non-profits discuss cutting poverty by 50 percent in St. Paul
There will be a conference held in St. Paul on Monday to discuss the goal of decreasing poverty by 50 percent by the year 2020, according to a report in the Star Tribune.
Catholic Charities USA, one of the nation's leading charities, will hold their conference titled, "Centennial Leadership Summit: Working to Reduce Poverty in America" at the College of St. Catherine.
Those expected to attend are civic leaders, philanthropists and St. Paul elected officials including St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman.
Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, said that Catholic Charities will address causes and ramifications of poverty while encouraging a sustained national commitment to the issue.
"In a country as prosperous as ours, it is simply unacceptable that 37.3 million people, including 13.3 million children, continue to live in poverty," said Snyder.
According to a press release from Catholic Charities, they are holding meetings across the nation "to give a greater priority to the needs of the poor by advocating for changes in public policies, expanding and creating innovative poverty reduction programs, and empowering individuals to embark on their journey out of poverty."
Catholic Charities USA is comprised of 1,700 local Catholic Charities institutions and agencies and helps up to 8 million people a year regardless of their religion or economic status.