Issue 27: Poverty
Kristina Scott || Executive Director, Alabama Poverty Project
President-elect Obama has restored a sense of hope in Americans. He got millions of us reinvested in the political process and in putting the American dream back within the reach of working families.
On a policy level, I expect the Obama administration to help those at the lower end of the economic ladder by creating jobs, helping make college affordable and cutting taxes for working families.
However, that is only part of the equation. The real bottom-up work will be done by ordinary people taking responsibility in our communities, in our states, and in the nation. We are only going to eradicate poverty when there is broad citizen empowerment in poor communities so that they can push through their doubts to gain the skills and confidence needed to create a different future.
President-elect Obama has said that his mission is “giving voice to the voiceless and power to the powerless.” If he can make good on that promise by inspiring and facilitating community empowerment, we actually have a chance to end poverty as we know it.
Kristina Scott is the executive director of the Alabama Poverty Project.
Before joining APP in August 2008, Kristina served as the Managing Attorney for External Affairs at the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, where she handled policy matters including gang prevention, children’s health and elder protection.
Kristina’s career in public service started during the 2000 presidential race, when she worked on the Gore campaign in Iowa, Illinois and California and served as the Communications Director for the California Democratic Party. In 2001, she helped Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo become the first Latino elected to citywide office in Los Angeles in 125 years.
Kristina earned her bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Florida and her juris doctor with distinction from Emory University. She is a member of the California, Georgia and New York Bars.
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- The inauguration for the first U.S. president, George Washington, was held on April 30, 1789 in New York City.