A VOICE
(for the reduction of poverty in Nashville)
WEBSITE: http://www.nashvillevoice.org/
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I would like to introduce you to, and invite you to join, A VOICE - a nonpartisan coalition of Nashvillians committed to reducing poverty. We hope to accomplish this by educating our community about issues and realities related to poverty and by raising our collective voice to urge elected officials and public-policy makers to provide substantive economic relief for those living in poverty. Because we believe that reducing poverty is both a moral and economic imperative we are encouraging you to become a part of this effort … something you can easily do by signing up at http://www.nashvillevoice.org/join-us.html.
The reality is that too many among us are struggling just to feed their families, pay their living expenses, and find relief from the high cost of medical care. According to the 2011 census:
The median household income for Davidson County dropped from $50,164 in 2007 to $43,556 in 2011.
In 2011, 30.5% of those living in Davidson County under age 18 lived in poverty.
The 19.3% poverty rate for all people in Davidson County is higher than the U.S. rate of 15.9% and higher than the Tennessee poverty rate of 18.3%.
A VOICE plans to be a union of many voices that want to serve as a force for good. We know from experience that there is strength in numbers. To achieve our goal of reducing poverty, A VOICE will provide you with timely information with links to resources and, on occasion, will call on you to contact decision-makers. While we realize we may not agree on every aspect of every issue related to poverty, our hope is to link as many people together, as often as is reasonably possible, to collectively speak out as best we can.
Please consider joining A VOICE (http://www.nashvillevoice.org/join-us.html). Membership will require very little time and effort. The only thing we will ask of members is to serve as ambassadors of our mission and to occasionally raise your voice. As a member you will receive periodic informational bulletins to increase your understanding of poverty in Nashville and in our country, and carefully selected “calls to action” urging you to contact elected officials and people of influence. You will also be invited to attend periodic educational public forums related to our cause.
If you have any questions or want to become part of our organizing effort, please contact one of our conveners. Please feel encouraged to generously share this invitation to join us with others you know.
Sincerely,
Conveners: Avi Poster (aviposter@comcast.net) and Marsha Edwards (medwards@marthaobryan.org)
Organizers: Bill Barnes, Don Beisswenger, Barbara Clinton, Howard Gentry, Dinah Gregory, Lindsey Krinks, Bob McNeilley, Fran Rajotte, Judy Saks, Bill Sinclair, Charlie Strobel
Advisors: Stewart Clifton, Jennifer Murphy
Avi
5300 Crest Hollow Court
Nashville TN 37211
615/831-0681 (home)
615/414-2396 (cell)
"Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many." ... Larry Kopald/Strategist
"We have not taken care of the least among us. We have allowed a revolting level of income inequality to develop. We have watched as millions of our fellow countrymen have fallen into poverty. And we have done a poor job of educating our children and now threaten to leave them a country that is a shell of its former self. We should be ashamed." ... Charles Blow/New York Times