Church of Scientology Community News: A Voice is Formed

The Nashville Church of Scientology supports the good works of others. Today’s highlight: a new initiative called A Voice.

A Voice: For the Reduction of Poverty is a new and emerging grassroots alliance of Nashvillians committed to reducing poverty in the community.  According to the website nashvillevoice.org, “Because more than 117,000 of the 635,000 residents of Davidson County live in poverty, we believe that it is both a moral and economic imperative for us to advocate for programs and opportunities that will help lift them out of poverty and place them on a road towards reasonable prosperity.”

According to the 2011 census of Davidson County, the median household income dropped from $50,164 in 2007 to $43,556 in 2011. In 2011, 30.5% of those living in Davidson County under age 18 lived in poverty. The 19.3% poverty rate for all people in Davidson County is higher than the U.S. rate of 15.9% and higher than the Tennessee poverty rate of 18.3%.

A Voice is striving “to create a well-educated and clearly articulated communal voice that speaks loudly to the need for a dramatic reduction in poverty.” It hopes to accomplish its goals by educating people about issues and realities related to poverty and by raising a collective voice to urge elected officials and public-policy makers to provide substantive economic relief for those living in poverty. 

Organizers are asking that more people join the coalition by signing up on the website.

“The reality is that too many among us are struggling just to feed their families, pay their living expenses, and find relief from the high cost of medical care,” according to nashvillevoice.org.

Organizations already actively participating in A Voice include the Martha O’Bryan Center, Nashville Metro Social Services, Room in the Inn, the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship and others.

For more information about A Voice, visit nashvillevoice.org.