‘COO’ Talks

On Monday night, USF is having what they are calling COO Talks. This year it’s “A robust evening of having our eyes opened to the ‘Scandal of Poverty’ in its various forms.” Faculty and staff and members of the community will present 12-minute talks.

When?  Monday, April 16 at 7 pm until 8:15 or so.

Where?  Zbornik Hall (Room 120) of the Salsbury Science Center on the USF campus. The Salsbury Science Center is at the corner of Summit Ave and 23rd St, and there is a parking lot adjacent to the building.

Cost: No cost for the event. Attendees, if they are able, are invited to contribute non-perishable food items at the door.

WHY? “The organizers of this week-long event believe that poverty is a scandal (in the truest sense of the word), and that many of our students are simply unaware of its impact on our community, in our region, and around the world.”

Exposure is the first step: increasing awareness creates desire to see change, and that desire is critical to inspiring action.

This is a kick-off event to a week-long focus on poverty at USF.  Tuesday, in addition to a morning Chapel service on the topic, there will be two poverty simulations (at 1 pm and 6 pm) in which about 100 students will participate.  Wednesday, they will have an opportunity to donate their Flex money (used for retail dining on-campus) to the cause, and our food service provide will purchase food for The Banquet at their corporate rate.”

On Monday night, I will do one of the talks, called “You may not need Medicaid Expansion, but your Neighbor does.”  I will suggest this: Right now we can seek out candidates for governor and state legislature, and ask if they will work to expand Medicaid.