About the Family + Community Forum

In September 2010, throughout Pennsylvania, Community Action Agencies and other community minded organizations will hold a series of forums on the status of Pennsylvania’s families. The forums will provide an opportunity to hold an open conversation on the many challenges Pennsylvania’s families face in achieving economic success.

The Family + Community Forum is an organized event to be held in counties across Pennsylvania. The forums will consist of a structured discussion on the current economic status of the particular community holding the forum - focusing on the most economically vulnerable families. The forums will also include an interactive exercise called the Poverty Simulation which provides insight into living in poverty.

The forums will follow a basic format to be adjusted as each local participant feels will work best for their community. The basic format will include an opening panel discussion on key issues, the poverty simulation exercise, break out/group discussions and a call to action.

CAAP has partnered with a number of state and regional organizations. State partners promote the forum to their membership/network and encourage their group to connect locally with the participating Community Action Agencies. Partnership information can be found on the Get Involved page.

More information on planning and organizing a forum is found on the Tool Kit page. There is information that is specific to forum coordinators and forum partners.

Information on the poverty simulation can be found on the Poverty Simulation and Video + Media pages.