National Campaign to Reduce Poverty, Promote Economic Security Announced

Community Action Movement Across America Launches Campaign

EMBARGOED UNTIL 8:40 CTJANUARY 9, 2008

Despite U.S. Census Bureau figures that show a modest reduction in the number
of poor Americans, the Community Action Partnership -- a national organization
with more than 1,000 member agencies -- is releasing a new report, Rooting Out
Poverty: A Campaign by America's Community Action Network. With the aftermath
of Hurricane Katrina as its backdrop, Rooting Out Poverty will be released in
New Orleans and at a dozen other sites across the nation. The report is a
call for action, a campaign, to promote economic security for all Americans,
especially those who are poor.

The Community Action Partnership developed this campaign with input from
several hundred key leaders from the local, state, and national levels.
Rooting Out Poverty offers five action themes and more than two dozen specific
recommendations and strategies to help children, families, senior citizens,
and other individuals who are vulnerable to poverty, economic deprivation, and
other significant barriers to economic self-sufficiency.

The five action themes for rooting out poverty at the community, state, and
national levels are:

-- Maximize participation - maximum feasible participation of those who are
seeking economic self-sufficiency

-- Build an economy that works for everyone - an economy that provides a wide
range of jobs and addresses financial and economic conditions of all residents

-- Invest in the future - provide the training now to develop the knowledge
and skills that today's children and workers will need for the jobs and
industries of tomorrow

-- Maximize equality of opportunity - facilitate access to key opportunities
for personal and professional growth and advancement

-- Ensure healthy people and places - ensure access to adequate health care
and homes that are weatherized to prevent high heating and cooling costs

"While some Americans are enjoying our nation's economic well-being, far, far
too many are not," noted James Norman, Partnership board member and chairman
of the steering committee for the National Conversation on Poverty and
Economic Security. "The number of poor people in the U.S. range from
conservative estimates of 15 million to more than 35 million. Community
Action Agencies have a track record of forty-plus years effectively helping
poor people and families, and our new campaign will enable us to educate,
advocate, and help even more."

Rooting Out Poverty offers solutions and strategies for promoting quality
child care; employment and training opportunities, especially for those
lacking basic skills; responsible health, energy, and conservation policies,
assistance to those elderly and otherwise most vulnerable of people, and more.

In addition to the national release of Rooting Out Poverty in New Orleans, it
also will be released locally and on state-wide levels by the Community Action
Agencies on the attached list.

Based in Washington, DC, the Community Action Partnership is the national
association representing the interests of the 1,000 Community Action Agencies
(CAAs) across the country that are helping low-income people change their
lives and embody the spirit of hope. CAAs care about the entire community and
are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other. For more
information about the Partnership and CAAs, visit the association's website here.

Sites & Key Contacts for Media Events for Release of Rooting Out Poverty: A
Campaign by America's Community Action Network

(In alphabetical order by state; events on January 9, 2008 unless otherwise
noted)

Alabama:

-- Ms. Cynthia Burton, Executive Director, Community Service Programs of West
Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL (205) 752-5429, ext. 231

California:

-- Ms. Kai Nissley, Deputy Director, Community Action Partnership of Sonoma
County, Santa Rosa, CA (707) 544-6911

Connecticut:

-- Ms. Toni Hirst, Director of Research, Development and Planning, New
Opportunities, Inc., Waterbury, CT (203) 575-4211

Indiana:

-- Mr. Ed Gerardot, Executive Director, Indiana Community Action Association,
Indianapolis, IN (317) 638-4232

Michigan:

-- Mr. Jim Crisp, Executive Director, Michigan Community Action Agency
Association, Lansing, MI (cell) 517-388-2033

Missouri:

-- Ms. Elaine West, Executive Director, Missouri Association for Community
Action, Jefferson City, MO (573) 634-2969 (after Jan. 16th)

Nebraska:

-- Ms. Rebecca Christensen, Director of Grants & Communications Lincoln Action
Program, Lincoln, NB (402) 471-4515, ext. 129

New Jersey:

-- Mr. Albert Kelly, President, Tri-County Community Action Partnership,
Bridgeton, NJ (856) 451-6330 (Jan. 10th)

New York:

-- Ms. Kathy Cloutier, Executive Director, Albany Community Action Partnership
Albany, NY cell: 518-378-4692 (w) 518-463-3175, ext. 115

North Carolina:

-- Mr. Matthew Ramadan, Executive Director, Operation Breakthrough, Durham, NC
cell: (919) 730-5933

Ohio:

-- Mr. Mason Gray, Community Relations Director, Cincinnati-Hamilton County
Community Action Agency, Cincinnati, OH (513) 569-1854

-- Mr. Rodney Reasonover, Chief Executive Officer, Stark County Community
Action Agency, Canton, OH (330) 454-1676

Oregon:

-- Ms. Donna Bowman, Director, Klamath & Lake Community Action Services,
Klamath Falls, OR (541) 850-5388

Utah:

-- Ms. Heather Tritten, Executive Director, Utah Community Action Partnership
Association, Salt Lake City, UT (801) 433-3025

Washington:

-- Ms. Pam Taylor, Development Director, Multi-Service Center, Federal Way,
Washington state, cell: (253) 651-4112; (w) (253) 835-7678; week of Jan 14th

/PRNewswire-USNewswire - Jan. 8/

SOURCE Community Action Partnership

Lisa Holland of Community Action Partnership, +1-202-236-6887