AFL-CIO-ALA Library Service to Labor Groups-American Library Association Conference-June 25, 2006

S U N D A Y
June 25, 2006
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Race, Poverty, and Aging Baby Boomers

AFL-CIO-ALA Library Service to Labor Groups, RUSA The tragic aftermath of hurricane Katrina has laid bare the race and class disparities in this country like no other event in recent history. Twenty-eight percent of the residents of New Orleans lived below the poverty line prior to Katrina and 84% of them were African-American. Katrina demonstrated that along with race and class, age matters in America. While many aging Baby Boomers will be healthier and wealthier than their parents'generation, the number of older adults in poverty and at risk will increase significantly so that by 2008 there will be 6.7 million persons aged 55 or over below poverty, a 22% increase from 2000. This panel will present findings from recent research, explore implications for librarians, and provide an update on efforts to clean up and rebuild New Orleans.

Speakers: Andrew Sum, PhD, director, Center for Labor Market Studies,
Northeastern University; Monique Harden, Esq., co-director, Advocates for
Environmental Human Rights.