McGinley-Rice Symposium on Poverty Free to Faculty and Staff

Faculty and staff can attend the School of Nursing’s McGinley-Rice Symposium on Social Justice for Vulnerable Populations for free. This year’s event, which will be held virtually, will focus on those living in poverty.

The 12th Annual: McGinley-Rice Symposium on Social Justice for Vulnerable Populations - The Faces of the Poor - October 21-22, 2021The 12th annual symposium, The Face of the Person Who is Poor, will be held Thursday, Oct. 21, and Friday, Oct. 22. Its keynote addresses, breakout sessions and plenary panels will showcase organizations and professionals that have developed programs to help support those who are poor, in particular, families and children.

“Poverty is a root cause of many of the social problems we see whether it’s hunger, mental illness, addiction or some physical disability that a person might have where they can’t get or keep a job because of their illness,” said Nursing Professor Sister Rosemary Donley, S.C., who is the Jacques Laval Chair for Justice for Vulnerable Populations. “It’s very hard to get out of poverty.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 37 million Americans made up the 11.4% poverty rate in 2020, the same year the United States was hit hard by COVID-19. More than 16% of the 2020 figure were people under 18.

“Through this year’s symposium, we’re saying that poverty is a global problem, but it’s also a problem here in the United States,” said Donley, who founded and directs the two-day event. “And if you look around, it might be in your own neighborhood.”

Symposium keynote speakers include:

  • The Rev. David Beckmann, president emeritus, Bread for the World
  • Joan Rosen Bloch, associate professor emeritus graduate nursing, the College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University
  • Sister Donna Markham, O.P., president and chief executive officer, Catholic Charities USA
  • Ken Regal, executive director, Just Harvest.

Some of the topics to be discussed during the two-day event include Changing the Culture of Poverty, Outcomes of Poverty and Poverty is a Social Determinant of Health.

This year’s symposium is an example of how Duquesne University has been standing up for the health and economic well-being of people and communities on the margins for more than 140 years.

For more information, including the event schedule, list of speakers, continuing education details, registration and cost, visit the McGinley-Rice Symposium website.