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Grassroots and Groundwork Conference to Highlight Successful Poverty Reduction Strategies; Registration Opens

Marian Wright Edelman, Paul Saginaw keynote the national conference on poverty reduction
ST. PAUL, Minn. (February 1, 2010)  Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children’s Defense Fund, and Paul Saginaw, a nationally recognized advocate for socially responsible businesses and co-founder of the internationally known Zingerman’s Delicatessen, will deliver keynote addresses at Grassroots & Groundwork:  Seizing Opportunities to Reduce Poverty and Build Community Prosperity held May 13-14, 2010 in Portland, Ore.  This year’s conference will feature 20 different break-out sessions on new and emerging models of workforce development, jobs creation, asset and wealth building programs, public policy advocacy, and building capacity and leadership.  Participants can also register for one of two half-day Community Builder Institute workshops:  “Public Works”: Tools for Shaping Public Opinion, and Advancing Public Policy Solutions, and High-Impact Communications to Advance Social Change.

Online registration with special-early bird rates is now open for this national conference on reducing poverty and building prosperity. 

“Past attendees have told us that they valued the new ideas, practical tools, and network contacts they experienced.  We hope that holding this year’s conference in the Pacific Northwest will enable more people in western states to attend than ever before,” said Kevin Walker, president and CEO of Northwest Area Foundation, sponsor of Grassroots & Groundwork.

Drawing on suggestions from past conference goers, Grassroots & Groundwork 2010 will include expanded networking opportunities.  Also new this year are site visits to effective poverty reduction models such as green initiatives, health care programs and initiatives working to overcome homelessness.  Space on the site visits is limited, so be sure to register early.   

For more information on the conference and registration, visit www.grassrootsandgroundwork.org.  To hear to what attendees have had to say about Grassroots & Groundwork, listen to our podcast, from the 2008 conference.

The Northwest Area Foundation is dedicated to supporting efforts by the people, organizations and communities in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity. These states were served by the Great Northern Railway, founded by James J. Hill. In 1934, Hill’s son Louis W. Hill established the Foundation.

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