BY: CASH MICHAELTHE WILIMINGTONJOURNALDespite dramatic drops in thenumber of families from thewelfare and public assistance rollssince 1996, the number of chil- .dren in poverty. continues to growacross the country, and here inNorth Carolina, according to thelatest report from a noted childadvocacy group.The Children Ts Defense Fund, anonprofit Washington, DC basedorganization, reports in its oTheState of America Ts Children:Yearbook 2000", that oSeventy-four percent of poor childrentoday live in working familieswho cannot make enough toescape poverty. ?One in five children in America,or 13.5 million, are poor, accord-ing to CDF Ts research, based onUS Censos and US Dept. ofHealth and Human Services fig-uresThirty-two percent of those chil-dren belong to Black familiesmaking less than $13,003 annu-ally. What may be surprising tosome people, however, is that62% are white (which includesHispanics).In North Carolina, according tothe latest US Censos figures, therewere 1,919,774 children in 1998,-25.4% of the total statepopulation.Based on 1989 income (the mostrecent figures used for the 1990US Censos since calculationsfrom the 2000 Censos won't beready until 2002), of NC Ts Don Tt Forget To Vote Tuesday, May 2nd!eae aa _ : whet You See ss Attinat You Get, What You Read Is What Kaew snd Seve. |Many Children Continueto live in Poverty272,923 children under 18 whoare poor (17.2% of total children Tspopulation). 35.9% are Black,9.3% are white, and 24.2% are |Hispanic.The country with the highestpercentage of poor children isHyde with 40.8%. Over 264,079children received food stamps infiscal year 1998. In FY 1999,815,665 children received free,reduced-price or full procedschool lunches through the childnutrition program. Over 261,223were enrolled in the school creak-fast program, and 43,299 were fedthrough the summer food pro-gram.In terms of incidence of low birthweight babies, 13.6% for Blackmothers. compared to 7.1% forwhites, and 6.1 for hispanicmothers. For infant mortality,Blacks again led whites----15.7 to6.9% for 1997, the latest year forfigures.The teen birth rate overall in NChas gone down to 61.3% in 1997,the lowest since 1990. from a high70.5 in 1991.In education, NC clearly has whatcould be called a crisis, accordingto US Dept. of Education figuresfor 1998, 72% of the state's fourthgraders are reading below profici-eny level. The pupil/teacher ratiois 16-1, according to 1996figures. and high school comple-tion from 1995-97 was 87.1%.When it comes to child abuse.NC is prominent as well, accord-ing to the US Dept. of Health andHuman Services. Between 1990and 1997, the number of childabuse victims jumped 34% from24.880 to 33. 347. Neglectaccounts for the highest type ofabuse---87.1%. Sexual abuse is4.1%, while physincal abuse is4.5%.If there is one area of good news,it Ts firearm deaths of children andteens 19 and under from 1995-97.During that three-year period, thestate Ts total number dropped from150 to 92. The most prevalent arehomicides, which went from 77 to1995, to 45 in 1997.In America, nearly 12 childrendie each day from gunfire, accord-ing to figures compiled: by theChildren Ts Defense - Fund.Children under the age of 15 are12 times more likely to die bygunfire than children in 25 otherindustrialized countries.The CDF report recommends thatstates like NC ensure education,training and work at a decentwage for poor families withchildren, that more money beinvested in early childhood inter-vention programs like Smart Start,that children be taught how toreslove their differences withoutviolence, and that states not returnhundreds of millions of unspent T ~public assistance funding to thefederal government, but be al-lowed to spend it to enhancetraining and opportunities for thepoor. oDo what you can right now tomentor and support a child andadvocate for all chiildren ? ? CDFExecutive Director Marian WrightEdleman wrote in the report. * Donot wait for everyone to comealong. ? oThey never will. ?enior Citizen's Gathering " ooSenior Citizen's Gathering shown at Snow Hill's Senior citizen gathering on the campaign trail brotherJim Rouse along with very popular Snow Hill resident Jerry Green. As well as another citizen who ispopular in the Black Communityhouse of Representatives.Brother Brit all encourage you to get out and vote for Jim Rouse NCPhoto by Abdoul RouseMartin Countyposing for the "M" Voice camera along w Cleary and long time Martin County residenty Democratic Women, Brother Rouse who was campaigning in Martin County is T Shownith the Collard Green King Mort Hurts as well as Sandra Mcnt Miss Manson, The fellowship was strong and very friendly,Photo by Abdoul Rouse)Edgecombe County DemocraladMay 2nd, you have the opportunity to vote for the canidate of your choice. Voting has the power to createchange and make things happen. Edgecombe County Commissioner Florence Arnold Armstrong is shownwith Edgecombe County Sheriff Knight and newly appointed House of Representative John Hall. Allencourage you to get out and vote. Photo by Abdoul RouseitEasley Leads in the Polls 53%.By Stephen JohnsonEditorCandidates. endorsed by theDurham Committee on the Affairsof Black People have beenjudged to be capable of improvingthe lives of Black citi-zens.However several people ar-.gue intimidation from the PoliticalCommittee played a part in thisyear's.-endersements, primarily: itsopen vote policy. oThe process just wasn Tt quitecorrect ? city council member andPolitical Committee voter JackieWagstaff said. oBecause it was anopen ballot people had to be seenthey couldn't vote with theirhearts. And it Ts a shame in apolitical process that you have tovote that way. oits sort of like being under aslumlord rule. The slumlord hasall the power and the tenants feelpowerless ? Wagstaff said fearwas particle evident in the com-mittee Ts gubernatorial endorse-ment , in which it endorsed LtGovernor Dennis Wicker overAttorney General Mike Easley.Some voters lobbied for a secretballot but failed to get enoughsupport.Because Easley leads Wicker inthe-pells and -has-appointed blacksto high powered positions andtackled issues pertinent to blacks,Wagstaff said he would have beenthe more favorable choice if voteswere done by a secret bal-lot.According to a new WTVDpoll released Tuesday, April18.2000 conducted by SurveyUSA showed Democrat MikeEastley maintain a significant leadin the gubernatorial primary.Easley 53% Wicker 24% other11% undecided 11%In recent news Attorney GeneralMike Easley announced thatMedicaid recipients are now eligi-ble for the Lifeline/Link-Up dis-count telephone programs. theLifeline program allows personsin need to receive telephoneservice T at a discounted rate whilethe Link-Up program provides a.discount for their initial hook-up*of- phone--service. Citizens-who-have questions regarding eligibil-ity for the Life/link-Up programsshould contact their local phonecompany, the North CarolinaUtilities Commission at (919)733-2435 or the AttorneyGeneral Ts Consumer ProtectionSection at (919) 716- 6000Some information in this articletaken from the Triangle Tribune.Clebration 2000 may be held in GreenvilleCELEBRATION 2000 TO BEHELD IN GREENVILLE MAY26 & 27Greenville, N. C., April 12, 2000Eastern Carolinians for Unity andSpiritual Renewal, a group com-prised of many of the principalsinvolved with the highly success-fid Franklin Graham Crusade inGreenville in 1998, will conduct afollow-up spiritual rally " inWilliams Arena, MingesColiseum May 26 and 27, 2000.Nationally recognized speakerArlee Griffin of the Berean BatistChurch in New York Citv will bethe featured speaker on Fridaynight May 26th. Griftin. who haseastern North Carolina ties, nowministers to one of the largest "~ Vote for ShCongregations in the USA with achuch membership of around6.000 members. Griffin, a gradu-ate of the University of NorthCarolina-Chapel Hill also holds aPHD degree from BostonUniversity and is currently serv-ing on the Board of Directors atShaw Universtiy in Raleigh. N.C.On Saturday night. May 27, thespeaker will be local evangelistReverand Tom Holtsclaw. thepastor of Jarvis United MethodistChurch in Greenville. ReverandHoltsclaw was one of the facilita-tors of the Franklin GrahamCrusade in Greenville and is nowcalled on by the Graham orgaini-zation to speak to Communitiesacross the USA on behalf of thecrusade.The event will also feature aMass Choir Comprised of singersand musicians from areachurches. There is no admissioncharge for any Celebration 2000events.Organizers feel the timing for aFranklin Graham Crusade follow-up is right considering the prob-lems the area has suffered inrecent months with the floodingfollowing Hurricane Floyd andrecent problems. in local govern- .ments that have caused a divsionand created philisophical differ-ences There is a sense thatbringing the eastern NorthCarolina community together inthe name of Jesus Christ onceagain will create healing and:comfort along with spiritual re~newal.acklefort.Shown posing for the "M" Voice camera candidate for Coun Commissioner Brother '$with Jim rouse, Both on hand at Snow Hill Senior Citizen's paharing. hacklefort along.tegon?ye oeathPhoto by Abdoul Rouse "