Conference: Ending Extreme Poverty Now

Conference: "Ending Extreme Poverty Now: Working Together with the Poor"

Tuesday, April 28, 4 to 6:30 p.m.

The Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies (IPR) at The Catholic University of America will bring together representatives from several major relief organizations for a discussion focused on fighting poverty around the world. "Pope Francis has called on Catholics to be a Church for the poor," said Stephen Schneck, director of IPR. "Catholic aid organizations are on the frontlines in efforts to end the crisis of extreme poverty around the globe. We are proud to host this important conference at The Catholic University of America." The event will include remarks from Schneck, as well as Melissa Rogers, special assistant to President Barack Obama and executive director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and J. Mark Brinkmoeller, director for the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Keynote speakers will include Most Rev. Bernardito C. Auza, Apostolic Nuncio to the United Nations and archbishop of Suacia; and Alex Their, assistant administrator for the Bureau for Policy, Planning and Learning at USAID. Gayle Smith, special assistant to the president and senior director at the National Security Council, will moderate a discussion on "Successes: Catholic Action to End Extreme Poverty." The discussion panel will include Anne St. Amant, IPR undergraduate fellow; Stephen Colecchi, director of the Office of International Justice and Peace for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Rev. Aniedi Okure, director of the Africa Faith & Justice Network; Kathy Brown, senior director for mission and Catholic identity at Catholic Charities USA and regional coordinator for Caritas North America and Caritas Internationalis; and Michelle Broemmelsiek, vice president for overseas operations for Catholic Relief Services. The night will also include a musical reflection and performance by Sara Groves, a singer, songwriter, and recording artist who has been nominated for seven Dove Awards.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information or to R.s.v.p., go to http://iprcua.com/2015/04/28/extreme-poverty/ , email CUA-IPRStaff@cua.edu , or call 202-319-5999.