Monday, October 27, 2003

By: Kenneth Luck, PR Intern

WILMINGTON, NC – The departments of Social Work and Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington will host a conference to discuss the state of social development in the region. Sponsors for the conference include UNCW, the Eastern N.C. Poverty Committee and the City of Wilmington. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13 in the Warwick Center Ballroom on the campus of UNCW.

The conference offers information-based briefings on the inequalities in jobs, income and education in Pender, Brunswick and New Hanover counties. Information on the state of affordable housing and the availability of health care for the poor will also be discussed. Panel members representing the three counties will respond to each briefing. The keynote speaker will talk about the issues of homelessness and the need to empower the poor.

The registration fee for the conference is $10, which includes a box lunch. For more information contact Lynn Smithdeal in the UNCW Department of Social Work at 910/962-3426 or visit the conference Web site at http://home.ec.rr.com/johnranalli/.

Agenda:

8 - 8:30 a.m. Registration, Coffee and Bagels

8:30 a.m. Welcome

Dr. Nelson Reid, UNCW Department of Social Work

Dr. Paul Hosier, UNCW interim provost and vice chancellor of acadmic affairs

Mayor Harper Peterson, City of Wilmington

8:45 - 9:30 a.m. Inequality in Jobs, Income and Education: An Overview

Dr. Leslie Hossfeld, UNCP

9:30 - 10 a.m. Panel Discussion

Facilitator: Dr. Tom Barth, UNCW Department of Political Science

Cleve Simpson, assistant secretary, N.C. Department of Commerce

Dr. Marc Sosne, superintendent of Pender County Schools

Joan Weld, chairperson, Pender County Rural Initiative

10 - 10:15 a.m. BREAK

10:15 -10:45 a.m. Affordable Housing

Gary Dimmick, director of Community Planning and Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development



10:45 - 11:15 a.m. Panel Discussion

Facilitator: Ms. Emilie Swearingen, associate planner, City of Wilmington

Mayor Frank Wilson, Town of Bolton, N.C.

Walter Vincent, supportive housing coordinator,

Southeastern Center

Paul Hicks, director, Cape Fear Regional Community Development

11:15 - 11:45 a.m. Health Care of Underserved Populations

Dr. Sandra Flynn, UNCW School of Nursing and Department of Social Work

11:45 - 12:15 p.m. Panel Discussion

Facilitator: Paul Hicks, executive director, Cape Fear Regional Community Development Corporation

Dr. Perry Bomar, UNCW School of Nursing

Fred Michael, health educator, Brunswick County Health Department

Lucy Vasquez, executive director, Amigos International

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. LUNCH

Introduction of Keynote Speaker; Mayor Harper Peterson, City of Wilmington

Keynote Speaker: Lee Stringer, homeless advocate

1:40 - 2:10 p.m. Power of the Poor to Effect Change

Dr. Mary Bricker-Jenkins, professor, Department of Social Work, Temple University

Cheri Honkala, director of Kensington, N.C. Welfare Rights

2:10 - 2:30 p.m. Regional Economic Development

U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre (D-NC, 7th District)

2:30 p.m. Adjournment

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