Buies Creek, N.C.—As the poverty level rises to approximately 16 percent nationwide, this issue has become more and more relevant to Americans. To make students and the public more aware of its devastating impact, Campbell University’s VISTA Office and The Office of Campus Ministry will conduct an educational miniseries on poverty, “Your Part in Poverty,” introducing representatives from relief organizations and agencies throughout the region.
The first portion of the series will be held Monday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. in The Oasis lounge area of the Wallace Student Center and features speaker Richard Fitzgerald, Director of Fundraising and Agency Relations for the Raleigh Rescue Mission.
Fitzgerald holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Religious Education with an emphasis on psychology and counseling. He has been employed with the Raleigh Rescue Mission for 22 years where he developed and administered programs for homeless men, women and children.
Campbell University VISTA member Sara McCarthy said the series is an initiative to make Campbell students aware of poverty, how relevant it is locally and how it can affect people in ways other than not having enough money. Another important goal of the series is to empower students by helping them understand what they can do as college students to help those in need.
“Most of my expectations are centered on the second goal,” said McCarthy. “My greatest hope for the outcome of the series is that students leave more knowledgeable of the world around them and that they gain a desire to reach out to try to fix the problems in it.”
Other speakers in the series include LaCount Anderson, CBF missionary and executive director of the Union Mission in Roanoke Rapids and Hugh Hollowell, preacher and director of Love Wins Ministries in Raleigh. Myriam Hudson and Leonardo Galván of the North Carolina Farmworkers Project are also tentatively scheduled to speak.
Additional dates for the series are Tuesday, Oct. 26, from 12:30-1:30 p.m, in the Alumni Room of Marshbanks Cafeteria.; Wednesday, Nov. 3, from 6-7 p.m, in the Oasis lounge area of the Wallace Student Center.; and Wednesday, Nov. 10, from 12-1 p.m., in the Alumni Room of Marshbanks Dining Hall.
The series is open to faculty, staff, students and the general public. Residents wishing to attend should call Sara McCarthy at 910.814.4726 to register as seating is limited for each session.