To the editor:

On Saturday, July 18, 2009, the Virginia Poverty Reduction Task Force will hold the largest-ever simultaneous conversation devoted to reducing poverty in the Commonwealth. At community college sites across the state, the general public and community and nonprofit leaders will be asked to respond to this question:

If you had two minutes with Governor Tim Kaine or your local government leaders what would you recommend to reduce poverty and why? What should we start doing, stop doing or keep doing to expand economic opportunity for all Virginians?

This is a unique chance for citizens, service providers, and religious, nonprofit, and community leaders to share your insights, experiences and ideas. As a member of the task force, I encourage you to attend and I urge you to please use your networks to provide the widest possible dissemination of this information so the Virginia Poverty Reduction Task Force can benefit from a wide range of ideas as we work to develop specific recommendations.

A list of conversation sites across the state is at http://tinyurl.com/kqbuz5, but the site closest to our area is:

Northern Virginia Community College
Alexandria Campus
Bisdorf Building Room # 196
3001 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311
www.nvcc.edu

People who cannot make it on July 18 are encouraged to submit their ideas and input to: poverty@governor.virginia.gov.

David Englin
Member, 45th District
Virginia House of Delegates