wfn.org | Edelman Challenges PHEWA on Welfare Reform

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

18-June-1997 
GA97061 
 
                  Edelman Challenges PHEWA on Welfare Reform 
 
                           by Joanne Hines 
 
 
SYRACUSE--The Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association event 
was marked by celebration and challenge on Tuesday evening as they 
announced awards for work well done and agonized over the never-ending work 
of this advocacy group. 
 
    Peter Edelman, featured guest speaker for the evening, gave an 
impassioned address on the state of welfare reform in the United States. 
Citing the incongruity of the dedication of the FDR memorial in Washington 
D.C. on the same day that the balanced budget amendment was signed by the 
President, Edelman elaborated on the implications of that act on the poor 
people of the United States.  Calling on the need for welfare reform, he 
detailed  many items which need to be considered: job accessibility, 
workfare, job displacement because of low wage competition. 
 
    He challenged PHEWA to work for a living wage campaign, for fair work 
instead of workfare and for benefits of child care and health care, 
literacy, transportation and support service considerations. 
 
    "Welfare reform is needed", he said," but we should be about ending 
poverty, not just ending welfare."  He called for positive approaches to 
the problems of poverty, racism and gender attitudes.  In a call for 
action, Edelman said "When things get really bad, it's a tremendous 
opportunity for us to do our work!" 
 
    Awards were given by COMANO, the Community Ministries and Neighborhood 
Organizations, to Martineztown House of Neighborly Service.  Martineztown 
House is a social service arm of the church to the disenfranchised and low 
income in Albuquerque, N. M.  Eugenia Cabiendes, executive director of the 
ministry received the award.  The Urban Presbyterian Pastors' Association 
(UPPA) awarded two ministries for outstanding service. 
 
    The Eliot Presbyterian Church in Lowell, Mass. was recognized for its 
outstanding commitment to be an inclusive community for many races, 
cultures, languages and ages.  Cambodian refugees comprise nearly half of 
the Eliot Church's congregation.  Calvin Presbyterian Church of 
Philadelphia, Pa. also received an award for its community service, youth 
programming and outreach ministry. 
 
    Rev. David Malone, Chet Phauk, D'Ann Cooper and Betty Boggs will accept 
the award for The Eliot Presbyterian Church and Rev. Dr. J. Bernard Taylor 
will accept for Calvin Presbyterian Church.  The awards will be presented 
at the General Assembly meeting later this week.   

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