The Road to One America - Spread the Word
One in eight Americans live in poverty. We’re working with them to shine the light on the darkest poverty stricken communities in America. We need your help in spreading the word and making sure poverty isn’t left off the national agenda. We can eradicate poverty in America but not without your help.
Tell 8 friends about John’s Road to One America tour. It’s a first step in helping 37 million Americans come out of poverty.
Your friend(s) will receive the following message:
Dear [ Friend's Name ]:
One in eight Americans live in poverty. That means they're earning less than $10,000 a year. 37 million Americans struggle to find food for dinner and often have to choose between the medicine they need and their next few meals.
John Edwards' campaign is dedicating this week to focusing on poverty in America. He's visited some of the poorest parts of our country in Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia. I thought you'd enjoy looking at what he's looking at, talking to the people he's talked to and seeing what the face of poverty in America really looks like.
Check it out at:
http://johnedwards.com/road/
Click on the city and tour stop to see photos, video and blog posts about what's going on on the ground.
Thanks so much,Sincerely,
[ Your Name ]
How You Can Take Action
5:22 p.m. CDT - Marks, MS
In Marks,MS we had one of the most moving moments of the tour. On our walk down Cotton Street we stopped at the home of Mrs. Sammie Henley. Mrs. Henley told Senator Edwards about hosting students during Freedom Summer in 1964. She also talked about the flood that came in 1968, and how Dr. King rowed a boat up to the house at the start of the Poor PeopleÂs March when he famously described the situation as "an island of poverty" surrounded by an ocean of wealth.
We also learned the last presidential candidate to come to Marks was Robert F. Kennedy.
4:36 p.m. CDT - Canton, MS
One woman spoke of the back breaking work they do at the plant and what it was like to work in those conditions while pregnant. Other workers spoke about having their time on the clock shaved or not getting paid for overtime. ItÂs not right and itÂs why we have to address these problems
11:11 a.m. CDT - NOLA; Wheels up, headed to Canton
We're boarding the plane and headed for Canton, MS. More when we get there.
10:57 a.m. CDT - NOLA; Visiting Cafe Reconcile
Just stopped at Cafe Reconcile, which provides jobs to at-risk youth living in NOLA. We met dozens of kids who are working there and getting training for careers in the food service industry.
Again, another great example of folks in the community taking the initiative, rolling up their sleeves and building something to improve the community they love. And the food is excellent!
10:32 a.m. CDT - NOLA; Thoughts about NOLA
Just wanted to post a thought that has been sticking with me as we've traveled around NOLA. Over and over we have heard stories of folks getting caught up in red tape. Much of the city looks exactly as it did immediately following Katrina. The level of frustration among the residents is incredible but the commitment to the community is amazing.
It is frustrating to see how hard people are working to rebuild the community they love, and how little, if any, support they are getting from the federal government.
10:12 a.m. CDT - NOLA; Visiting Kingsley House
We're at the Kingsley house, a community outreach center that provides help to thousands of NOLA residents. John met with a group of children kids enrolled in the Head Start program. Currently there are over 600 kids in NO on the head start waiting list. I could tell he was moved - those 600 kids need the services provided by that program, and they're not getting them.
7:44 a.m. CDT - NOLA; At the "Good Morning America" taping
I'm standing backstage at the GMA taping. It's going well - John is speaking with passion about why 37 million people living in poverty is a disgrace, and what we can do to fix it. Ms. Tyler, the woman who owns the house John helped rebuild in December, is here and it was good to see her again. Kwame Asanti, the president of the Louisiana NAACP is here too - it is always good to see him, and hear about the amazing work he and the NAACP are doing to help rebuild and get people's lives back on track.
4:58 a.m. CDT - NOLA; En route to shoot "Good Morning America" segment
It's 4:58, dark and early, and we are getting in the car to go shoot the "Good Morning America" segment. More after the coffee has kicked in.
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