Events

Events from 2004-2005

Choose for Children
A Panel Discussion of Issues Facing Indiana's Children in the 2004 Election

On Tuesday, October 26th, at Jefferson Intermediate Center, the Children's Defense Fund at Notre Dame proudly presented "Choose for Children",a panel discussion on issues facing Indiana's children in the 2004 election. With this panel, we brought together the voices of the community in cooperative dialogue. Members of children-oriented student service groups at Notre Dame were on hand to participate in the discussion.

Panelists were given an opportunity to explain the nature of their work and the most pertinent issues they face before answering questions. The event was covered by the local media and featured our special guest, Dick Nussbaum, Special Counsel to former Governor Kernan. Other honored guests included principals of local schools and youth organizing groups from the Robinson Community Learning Center. We welcomed the following featured panelists:

Margaret Lewis of Warren Primary Center

Vicki McIntire of the Juvenile Justice Center

Vera Martin of the Center for the Homeless

Kregg Van Meter of the Boys and Girls Clubs

and Becky Zakowski of Healthworks

Past Events

Saturday, March 27, 2004
Panel Discussion: Children in Poverty in South Bend This is our section of the Peace Conference and will take place from 10:15 to 11:30 on Saturday morning in the Hesburgh Center. The panel consisted of Jeani Jenkins, a teacher from Brown Intermediate Center in South Bend who has connections to the Youth Justice Project and the Take Ten Advisory Board, Peter Morgan who is the Coordinator at the Youth Justice Project, Apryl Davis who works for Child Protective Services, and Maurice Scott who is an ex-gang member now working for South Bend Recreational. Dennis Barett served as moderator.

Thursday, March 25, 2004
Rabbi Michael Lerner will speak in 101 Hesburgh at 5PM, the event is co-sponsored by CDF.

Saturday, January 23 - Wylie Chen Speaks about SPROUT
Wylie Chen from the Children's Defense Fund of Washington, DC came in to give a presentation about SPROUT and the types of tax credits which low income families may be eligible for. There are over $40 billion in unclaimed income funds each year. Two tax credits, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) are easy to apply for with a tax return and can often be the boost which helps pull a family above the poverty line. Workers who don't owe any taxes, new parents, disabled workers and workers with lost jobs often miss out on these benefits. Around the country, schools like the University of Michigan, Duke, UVA and UNC are sponsoring similar programs.