Catholic Charities USA to Host Annual Conference and Inaugural National Poverty Summit

Organization and Partners Incorporate National Conversation on Poverty into Annual Event

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), among the nation's largest human services and disaster response networks, and Catholic Charities of Fort Worth, one of its member agencies, will host the organization's national conference from September 18th – 21st in Fort Worth, Texas.  

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081008/CCUSALOGO )

This year, the conference—which annually enables Catholic Charities agencies from across the country to engage in strategy-building discussions for their social programs—will also provide a meeting ground for ten national nonprofit partners, including CCUSA, to host the inaugural National Poverty Summit, which will occur on the first two days of the conference, September 18th and 19th.

"Following our Centennial in 2010 and the re-introduction of The National Opportunity and Community Renewal Act (NOCRA) this week, we begin the 2011 Annual Gathering and inaugural National Poverty Summit with both a wonderful sense of history and strong momentum for our future," said Rev. Larry Snyder, President of CCUSA.  "Poverty levels in our country remain sobering, and we must re-dedicate ourselves to addressing the problem and providing new ways to permanently reduce poverty."

CCUSA will be co-hosting the Poverty Summit portion of the conference alongside a steering committee of national non-profits, including: The American Human Development Project, Bread for the World, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the Corporation for Enterprise Development, the Coalition on Human Needs, Feeding America, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Save the Children, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The organizations will engage in panel discussions and innovative workshops while drawing on inspiration from a series of speakers, including Melody Barnes, Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, and Mark Shriver, Senior Vice President of US Operations for Save the Children.  John Bridgeland, CEO of Civic Enterprises and co-leader of Opportunity Nation, will be leading a panel discussion.

"The summit has been designed to launch a national conversation about poverty—one that will lead to action," says Candy Hill, Senior Vice President of Social Policy and Government Affairs at CCUSA.  "We need to collectively re-imagine the way that America addresses poverty and develop stronger, sustainable strategies to reduce poverty."

CCUSA's annual conference, to follow on September 20th and 21st, will unite Catholic Charities agencies from across the country to address a variety of human services topics, including: human trafficking, child homelessness, and healthy food financing initiatives.  Conference speakers will include: Colleen Barrett, President Emeritus of Southwest Airlines, and Sr. Donna Markham, Chair of CCUSA Board of Trustees.  There will also be a special performance by Elisabeth von Trapp, granddaughter of the legendary Maria and Baron von Trapp.

In 2012, the National Poverty Summit will be held in Washington, DC; the 2012 CCUSA Annual Gathering will be held in St. Louis, MO.

Catholic Charities USA's members provide help and create hope for more than 10 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing. In 2010, Catholic Charities USA celebrated its centennial anniversary.

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA