Summit drew nearly 100 - Some participants at the Summit on South Dakota Children and Families in Poverty just before the November 18-19 event began.

First panel presents overview of realities, challenges - Annette Case (with mic), policy consultant, STEP (Strategies to Eliminate Poverty) comments after the keynote speech by Dr. Mil Duncan (at left), director of the Carsey Institute, University of New Hampshire. Additional panelists were (left to right) Cecelia Fire Thunder, co-coordinator, Native Women's Society of the Great Plains, Oglala Sioux; and Davison County Commissioner John Claggett, Mitchell.

Economic Security Cornerstone - Pam Bollinger (left), CEO, Volunteers of America-Dakotas, was presider of the Economic Security Cornerstone. That panel of responders included (left to right) Karla Trautman, leadership and community development specialist, South Dakota Extension Service; Randy Parry, executive director, Rural Learning Center, and Elsie Meeks, state director, USDA Rural Development for South Dakota.

Housing Cornerstone - Rebecca Andrew (at left), Black Hills Coordinator for South Dakota Voices for Children, was presider for the Housing Cornerstone. Panelists (left to right) were Barbara Garcia, Rapid City Community Development; Vona Johnson, director, rental housing management, South Dakota Housing Authority; and Sharon Vogel, department director, Program Design and Operations Department, Cheyenne River Housing Authority.

Health and Nutrition Cornerstone - Joy Smolnisky (at left), Bridge to Benefits consultant, South Dakota Voices for Children, was presider for the Health and Nutrition Cornerstone that featured (left to right) Scott Jones, CEO Delta Dental; Veronica O'Leary Handeland, MPH, RD, LN, Wagner Service Unit, Indian Health Service; and Matt Gassen, director, Community Food Banks of South Dakota.

Education Cornerstone - The Education Cornerstone panel included (left to right) presider Dr. Greg Boris, senior policy and program specialist, South Dakota Voices for Children; Dr. Rick Melmer, chair of the education department, University of South Dakota; Dr. Craig Bailey, director, Western Dakota Tech; and Dr. Thomas Shortbull, president, Oglala Lakota College.

Gary Cunningham, Northwest Area Foundation - Gary Cunningham is vice president of the Northwest Area Foundation, whose mission is to help communities reduce poverty in an eight-state region that includes South Dakota. His remarks focused on viewing South Dakota in a national context.

"Take action!" South Dakota Voices for Children - Dr. Susan M. Randall, executive director of South Dakota Voices for Children, issues an invitation at the Summit on Children and Families in Poverty … shape the future by working together to build on cornerstones.

Back to the Our Work: Children in Poverty page.