David Dodson to Shed Light on Saint Paul’s Opportunity Ladder: Who’s Moving Up?
Project SPIRIT scholar and her peers listening to a story on African American culture.
By Randi Ilyse Roth
Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul will hold its Annual Assembly on the evening of April 12, 2016, at Saint Paul College. It will be a wonderful event. Registration for the dinner will stay open this week, until the event is full. So register today to reserve your spot. You may also register for the program only to hear the keynote address beginning at 7:00.
Interfaith Action’s vision is:
People of faith will relieve the effects of poverty and address its causes through the transformative work of thousands of volunteers.
We are dedicated to supporting economic mobility in greater Saint Paul. At this year’s Annual Assembly, David Dodson, president of MDC, will talk to us about, “Who’s Moving Up?” He will help us to look at inter-generational poverty through the lenses of equity and economic mobility, and will share his thoughts about how we might truly build an infrastructure of opportunity in Saint Paul.
Guests at the Annual Assembly will also hear our Report to the Community, elect new Board members, and will join us in congratulating our 2016 Margaret Dreves Scholarship Winners.
Dinner Invests in Students
We are walking the talk in part by investing our catering dollars into furthering students’ education. Rather than going to a commercial caterer for the Annual Assembly dinner, we have asked the students in Saint Paul College’s Culinary Arts program to prepare and serve our meal. We will see a short video at the dinner featuring these students talking about the role that this education plays in their ability to build a career that will give them a firm economic foothold in our community. The students are from many different countries, and will be serving appetizers that highlight their home cuisines.
Learn About the Infrastructure of Opportunity
David Dodson, our keynote speaker, has directed major projects to increase student success in public schools and community colleges, address regional economic decline, strengthen community philanthropy, and build multiracial leadership across the South and the nation. As president of MDC since 1999, he frequently speaks around the country on the imperative of advancing equity and opportunity for low-wealth and marginalized communities and has advised major philanthropic foundations on strategies to address poverty and reduce social disparities, based on the premise that “society benefits when everyone succeeds.” Even if you can’t make it to the dinner, try to make it to Saint Paul College to hear Mr. Dodson speak at 7:00 – there is no charge for this part of the event, and you will be enriched by hearing his deep, thoughtful, passionate, and elegant analysis.
Warm Regards,
Randi Ilyse Roth
Executive Director