Battle Against Poverty

Local Students Get Serious

originally published April 4, 2007

Ben Emanuel

Counter-counter-protest. UGA student Logan Scholfield (r) found this run-of-the-mill sign in a dumpster recently, and decided to use it to run interference on Chuck Jones’ regular counter-protest of the weekly anti-war vigil at the Arch. Concerned he might confuse motorists, ACC police told him to cut it out shortly after this picture was taken Mar. 27.

This weekend, Apr. 6–7, local artists, musicians and students will join with civic leaders to show that the high poverty rate in Athens is no longer something that can be ignored. The ” Battle Against Poverty“ is an event geared to all members of the community, young and old, to come together to raise awareness about poverty. As avid readers of the local papers well know, the poverty problem is reported on almost daily. Although articles provide grim facts and figures and encourage readers to help out, the problem still persists. The Battle Against Poverty was dreamed up by Cedar Shoals High School senior Judy Bau and organized with the help of students from area high schools, Partners for a Prosperous Athens (PPA), and the UGA Chapter of Amnesty International.

“Athens is definitely portrayed as a nice college town on the surface and people don’t see a poverty problem,” Bau says. “It just isn’t fair that there is such a distinction between those who are well-off and those who are impoverished. As a town with such a large population of young people, I feel like we have a chance to make a difference. The ‘poverty cycle’ spans generations for some families and affects lifestyle, behavior, perspectives on education, and it’s just got to stop.“The process of organizing the event has raised awareness among the younger, and oftentimes more oblivious denizens of Athens. Volunteers have attended biweekly meetings at Nuçi’s Space for the past several months to discuss promotional materials, fundraising and how to involve more people in the event.

The "Battle Against Poverty" includes a “Poverty in America” juried art show on Friday, Apr. 6 in the Cedar Shoals High School fine arts building, hosted by the high school’s art club. Open to anyone in Athens, the exhibition will be juried by local art supply business owners Irene Dodge of Elements Art Supply, and Scott Pope of the Loft. The "Battle Against Poverty" free concert at Legion Field on Saturday, Apr. 7 is set up as a “battle of the bands” (separated into high school and adult categories), a rap battle hosted by local rapper Ishues, and a headlining performance by local group Bling the Children Back Home. There will also be speakers from the PPA (including Mayor Davison, who is also hosting the high school band battle) and several UGA students. (See Threats and Promises and ABC for more info.)

Catherine Reagan

catherine.reagan@gmail.com