BY: CASH MICHAEL THE WILIMINGTON JOURNAL Despite dramatic drops in the number of families from the welfare and public assistance rolls since 1996, the number of chil- . dren in poverty. continues to grow across the country, and here in North Carolina, according to the latest report from a noted child advocacy group. The Children’s Defense Fund, a nonprofit Washington, DC based organization, reports in its “The State of America’s Children: Yearbook 2000", that “Seventy- four percent of poor children today live in working families who cannot make enough to escape poverty.” One in five children in America, or 13.5 million, are poor, accord- ing to CDF’s research, based on US Censos and US Dept. of Health and Human Services fig- ures Thirty-two percent of those chil- dren belong to Black families making less than $13,003 annu- ally. What may be surprising to some people, however, is that 62% are white (which includes Hispanics). In North Carolina, according to the latest US Censos figures, there were 1,919,774 children in 1998,- 25.4% of the total state population. Based on 1989 income (the most recent figures used for the 1990 US Censos since calculations from the 2000 Censos won't be ready until 2002), of NC’s ‘Don’t 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 Continue to live in Poverty 272,923 children under 18 who are poor (17.2% of total children’s population). 35.9% are Black, 9.3% are white, and 24.2% are | Hispanic. The country with the highest percentage of poor children is Hyde with 40.8%. Over 264,079 children received food stamps in fiscal year 1998. In FY 1999, 815,665 children received free, reduced-price or full proced school lunches through the child nutrition program. Over 261,223 were enrolled in the school creak- fast program, and 43,299 were fed through the summer food pro- gram. In terms of incidence of low birth weight babies, 13.6% for Black mothers. compared to 7.1% for whites, and 6.1 for hispanic mothers. For infant mortality, Blacks again led whites----15.7 to 6.9% for 1997, the latest year for figures. The teen birth rate overall in NC has gone down to 61.3% in 1997, the lowest since 1990. from a high 70.5 in 1991. In education, NC clearly has what could be called a crisis, according to US Dept. of Education figures for 1998, 72% of the state's fourth graders are reading below profici- eny level. The pupil/teacher ratio is 16-1, according to 1996 figures. 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 and Human Services. Between 1990 and 1997, the number of child abuse victims jumped 34% from 24.880 to 33. 347. Neglect accounts for the highest type of abuse---87.1%. Sexual abuse is 4.1%, while physincal abuse is 4.5%. If there is one area of good news, it’s firearm deaths of children and teens 19 and under from 1995-97. During that three-year period, the state’s total number dropped from 150 to 92. The most prevalent are homicides, which went from 77 to 1995, to 45 in 1997. In America, nearly 12 children die each day from gunfire, accord- ing to figures compiled: by the Children’s Defense - Fund. Children under the age of 15 are 12 times more likely to die by gunfire than children in 25 other industrialized countries. The CDF report recommends that states like NC ensure education, training and work at a decent wage for poor families with children, that more money be invested in early childhood inter- vention programs like Smart Start, that children be taught how to reslove their differences without violence, and that states not return hundreds of millions of unspent’ ~ public assistance funding to the federal government, but be al- lowed to spend it to enhance training and opportunities for the poor. “Do what you can right now to mentor and support a child and advocate for all chiildren”” CDF Executive Director Marian Wright Edleman wrote in the report. * Do not wait for everyone to come along.” “They never will.” enior Citizen's Gathering — oo Senior Citizen's Gathering shown at Snow Hill's Senior citizen gathering on the campaign trail brother Jim Rouse along with very popular Snow Hill resident Jerry Green. As well as another citizen who is popular in the Black Community house of Representatives. Brother Brit all encourage you to get out and vote for Jim Rouse NC Photo by Abdoul Rouse Martin County posing for the "M" Voice camera along w ‘Cleary and long time Martin County reside nty Democratic Women, Brother Rouse who was campaigning in Martin County is’ Shown ith the Collard Green King Mort Hurts as well as Sandra Mc nt Miss Manson, The fellowship was strong and very friendly, Photo by Abdoul Rouse ) Edgecombe County Democra lad May 2nd, you have the opportunity to vote for the canidate of your choice. Voting has the power to create change and make things happen. Edgecombe County Commissioner Florence Arnold Armstrong is shown with Edgecombe County Sheriff Knight and newly appointed House of Representative John Hall. All encourage you to get out and vote. Photo by Abdoul Rouse it Easley Leads in the Polls 53%. By Stephen Johnson Editor Candidates. endorsed by the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People have been judged to be capable of improving the lives of Black citi- zens.However several people ar- .gue intimidation from the Political Committee played a part in this year's.-endersements, primarily: its open vote policy. “The process just wasn’t quite correct” city council member and Political Committee voter Jackie Wagstaff said. “Because it was an open ballot people had to be seen they couldn't vote ‘with their hearts. And it’s a shame in a political process that you have to vote that way. “its sort of like being under a slumlord rule. The slumlord has all the power and the tenants feel powerless” Wagstaff said fear was particle evident in the com- mittee’s gubernatorial endorse- ment , in which it endorsed Lt Governor Dennis Wicker over Attorney General Mike Easley. Some voters lobbied for a secret ballot but failed to get enough support. Because Easley leads Wicker in the-pells and -has-appointed blacks to high powered positions and tackled issues pertinent to blacks, Wagstaff said he would have been the more favorable choice if votes were done by a secret bal- lot.According to a new WTVD poll released Tuesday, April 18.2000 conducted by Survey USA showed Democrat Mike Eastley maintain a significant lead in the gubernatorial primary. Easley 53% Wicker 24% other 11% undecided 11% In recent news Attorney General Mike Easley announced that Medicaid recipients are now eligi- ble for the Lifeline/Link-Up dis- count telephone programs. the Lifeline program allows persons in need to receive telephone service’ at a discounted rate while the 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 programs should contact their local phone company, the North Carolina Utilities Commission at (919) 733-2435 or the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section at (919) 716- 6000 Some information in this article taken from the Triangle Tribune. Clebration 2000 may be held in Greenville CELEBRATION 2000 TO BE HELD IN GREENVILLE MAY 26 & 27 Greenville, N. C., April 12, 2000 Eastern Carolinians for Unity and Spiritual Renewal, a group com- prised of many of the principals involved with the highly success- fid Franklin Graham Crusade in Greenville in 1998, will conduct a follow-up spiritual rally — in Williams Arena, Minges Coliseum May 26 and 27, 2000. Nationally recognized speaker Arlee Griffin of the Berean Batist Church in New York Citv will be the featured speaker on Friday night May 26th. Griftin. who has eastern North Carolina ties, now ministers to one of the largest —~ Vote for Sh Congregations in the USA with a chuch membership of around 6.000 members. Griffin, a gradu- ate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill also holds a PHD degree from Boston University and is currently serv- ing on the Board of Directors at Shaw Universtiy in Raleigh. N.C. On Saturday night. May 27, the speaker will be local evangelist Reverand Tom Holtsclaw. the pastor of Jarvis United Methodist Church in Greenville. Reverand Holtsclaw was one of the facilita- tors of the Franklin Graham Crusade in Greenville and is now called on by the Graham orgaini- zation to speak to Communities across the USA on behalf of the crusade. The event will also feature a Mass Choir Comprised of singers and musicians from area churches. There is no admission charge for any Celebration 2000 events. Organizers feel the timing for a Franklin Graham Crusade follow- up is right considering the prob- lems the area has suffered in recent months with the flooding following Hurricane Floyd and recent problems. in local govern- . ments that have caused a divsion and created philisophical differ- ences There is a sense that bringing the eastern North Carolina community together in the name of Jesus Christ once again 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. te gon? ye oe ath Photo by Abdoul Rouse — ut i