Community Town Hall Meeting

Helping Families Deal with the Rising Impact of Household Debt

October 26, 2006, 6:00pm – 8:30pm

About This Event

From high credit card bills and predatory lenders to rising interest rates on mortgage loans, high debt is preventing many American families from getting ahead. To better understand why this is happening and the specific impact of debt, the Center for American Progress, Associated Ministries and the Pierce County Asset Building Coalition, are hosting a community town hall on Thursday, October 26th at Urban Grace Church in downtown Tacoma.

The evening will include a panel discussion featuring leading local and state advocates discussing the causes and effects of debt, as well as legislative and policy-based options to address debt. The evening will also include a presentation of the film "Maxed Out," a new documentary about the way debt is affecting people and their families across the United States. The panel and film will be followed by a community discussion moderated by Seattle radio talk show host, Dave Ross. For more information about the film go to www.maxedoutmovie.com.

Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma
State Representative Jeannie Darneille, 27th Legislative District
Rev. David Isom, Pastor, Miles Memorial CME Church
Bruce Neas, Consumer Attorney, Columbia Legal Services
Mark San Souci, Northwest Regional Liaison for Military Families
Derek Douglas, Director of the Economic Mobility Program, Center for American Progress
A community discussion will follow the panel and the film moderated by Dave Ross, of Seattle's KIRO-AM.

Location

Urban Grace - The Downtown Church
902 Market St.
Tacoma, WA 98402

Resources

Video

• Almas Sayeed introduces the program
  
• David Alger introduces the Mayor of Tacoma
  
• Mayor Baarsma makes opening remarks
  
• Panel Discussion
• Q and A

The Center for American Progress is a nonpartisan research and educational institute dedicated to promoting a strong, just and free America that ensures opportunity for all. We believe that Americans are bound together by a common commitment to these values and we aspire to ensure that our national policies reflect these values. We work to find progressive and pragmatic solutions to significant domestic and international problems and develop policy proposals that foster a government that is "of the people, by the people, and for the people."

Associated Ministries represents over 200 congregations, religious groups, and interfaith partners in Pierce County. Our mission is to build community that is humane, compassionate and just. To that end, Associated Ministries provides direct human services, mediates conflict, unifies diverse churches and faiths, and serves as a bridge between the secular and religious life.

The Pierce County Asset Building Coalition is a collaboration of 50 partners working to actively engage all of Pierce County residents in building community prosperity. The Asset Building Programs serve to break the cycle of poverty and dependency of the poor and assist low-income families in gaining economic justice.