| MEDIA ADVISORY FORTuesday, December 6, 6:30 p.m.
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Julie Blust
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Virginia Organizing and First Unitarian Universalist Church Sponsor Unemployment Action Forum
RICHMOND–As the debate over extending unemployment benefits heats up in Washington, Virginia Organizing and the First Unitarian Universalist Church are sponsoring a Richmond Unemployment Action Forum on the impact of unemployment and underemployment in our community.
The Richmond Unemployment Action Forum is in solidarity with the thousands of Americans who will converge on Washington, D.C., for Take Back the Capitolstarting on December 5 to participate in four days of protest to make the voices of the 99 percent heard and counter the influence of the 1 percent over Congress.
In part because of Occupy Wall Street, the country is focused on the growing disparity between the 99 percent and the 1 percent, and its impact on our cities and neighborhoods. The forum will include a panel to discuss the growing wealth disparity, the impact of high unemployment on the Richmond area and how budget cuts have weakened the safety net just when it is needed the most. “Take Action Stations” will be set up at the forum so that residents can contact their members of Congress about extending unemployment benefits and can share their own unemployment stories.
Who:Virginia Organizing and First Unitarian Universalist Church
Panelists include:
Monica Wiley, Disability rights advocate
Amanda Pohl, Policy Fellow at Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
Tavia Ware, MSW
Lillie Estes, Virginia Organizing Richmond Chapter Leader
What:Unemployment Action Forum
When: Tuesday, December 6 at 6:30 p.m.
Where:First Unitarian Universalist Church,1000 Blanton Avenue, Richmond VA 23221
Why: Job creation continues to be below the pre-recession job levels and millions of jobs have been lost. We are gathering to discuss how our community is affected and how we can take action together. Nearly 14 million workers in the United States are without jobs; median incomes for most workers have fallen 6.7 percent in the two years since the recession of 2009; and income inequality is at its worst since the 1920s. And while the middle class and working people are suffering, taxes for the 1 percent are at an all-time low.
Virginia Organizing is a statewide grassroots organization that brings people together to create a more just Virginia.
