New U.S. census data is out.  For Connecticut's
cities, results not good.  

Poverty and particularly child poverty, have not improved in Bridgeport and Connecticut's other largest cities -- despite the fact that Connecticut is the third wealthiest state in the country.

Barbara Edinberg, BCAC's Assistant Director, was quoted in the Connecticut Post saying that in high-cost Fairfield County, 55% of Bridgeport children are living in families with incomes below the state-developed "self-sufficiency standard," or the income needed in Fairfield County for families to provide basic needs such as food, housing medical care and transportation.  Marta Calderon, BCAC Board member, described the challenges for families with job losses, high gasoline costs, higher heating costs, higher food costs, and ever-increasing costs of health insurance.  All of these higher costs are hitting struggling families like a landslide, driving them deeper into poverty in the current economic downturn.  

Read more, including full analysis of the new U.S. Census data at Connecticut Voices for Children news release.

Official: Education keeps poverty down
BRIDGEPORT — The city was urged to examine the long-term effectiveness of the many programs designed to help inner-city youth at the annual breakfast conference Thursday of the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition.  Story appeared in Connecticut Post, 4/24/08, with photo of Linda Gibbs, Deputy Mayor of New York City, who was the keynote speaker.