Richard Stockton College of NJ to Host Panel on Poverty and Homelessness

Cities all over the country are trying to revitalize downtown areas to attract visitors and residents back to their Main Streets. However, cities also attract the poor and homeless because historically, urban centers have provided services for the most disadvantaged.  How do the proponents of redevelopment work with or oppose providers of services to the poor and homeless?

Richard Stockton College of New Jersey will host a panel entitled “Poverty and Homelessness in the Context of Urban Revitalization,” on Thursday November 1, at 4:30 in Alton Auditorium to address these issues. The panel discussion is a joint effort among the Noyes Museum of Stockton College, and the recently newly formed Stockton Center for Community Engagement.  The panel will be moderated by Dr. Joseph Rubenstein, Stockton Professor of Anthropology.

The speakers represent varying perspectives on the topic. “It is Stockton’s goal to be the ‘honest broker’ by bringing together the stakeholders in this social issue so that this might be the first step in partnership and problem solving,” Dr. Rubenstein said.

The program includes opening remarks by Stockton Provost Dr. Harvey Kesselman, and a keynote speech by Dr. Albert Raboteau, the Henry W. Putnam Professor of Religion at Princeton University.  A panel discussion will take place featuring Dr. Reva Curry, Executive Director, Stockton Center for Community Engagement; Bill Southrey, formerly chief executive officer at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission who worked there for more than 30 years; Ron Cash, Business Administrator, Atlantic City who also serves as both the Health Officer and Director of the Department of Health and Human Services, Atlantic City;  John Emge: Executive Director, United Way of Atlantic County; and Howard Kyle, Chief of Staff for Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson.  Dr. Ira Harkavy, Associate Vice President and Director, Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania will also take part in the discussions