The fight against urban poverty, a priority in both France and the United States
When: Tuesday November 6, 2012 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Where: The TSRB auditorium at Georgia Tech (Technology Square Research Building - 85 Fifth Street NW - Atlanta, GA 30308)
With a poverty rate in France of 13.5% and in the United State of over 15%, urban poverty in developed countries is an unfortunate reality. During France-Atlanta 2012, this problem will be explored and addressed with two hands-on projects and a conference bringing together key associations in France and Atlanta that strive to fight against this global urban reality.
Taking practical, concrete action to fight urban poverty, members of the American community of the Metz area, especially Georgia Tech-Lorraine students, helped with a renovation project by French NGO Habitat et Humanisme. To parallel this endeavor on the other side of the Atlantic, a house will be built in the metropolitan Atlanta area on November 3, by volunteers from the local French community with the support of Atlanta Habitat for Humanity.
With the same goal in mind, these concrete efforts will be followed by a public conference at Georgia Tech on November 6 on “The fight against urban poverty, a priority in both France and the United States,” with guest speakers from both Atlanta Habitat for Humanity and Habitat et Humanisme.
Public Event: 
Roundtable on “The fight against urban poverty, a priority in both France and the United States”
When: Tuesday, November 6, 2012 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Where: The TSRB auditorium at Georgia Tech (Technology Square Research Building - 85 Fifth Street NW - Atlanta, GA 30308)
What: Exploring different models and methods to fighting against urban poverty, Mr. Bernard Usquin, President of Habitat et Humanisme (Paris region), Ms. Patricia Decker, the U.S. Operations Director with Habitat for Humanity International and Ms. Larrie Del Martin, President and CEO of Atlanta Habitat for Humanity will share their NGOs’ models and discuss the current and upcoming challenges of access to housing in developed countries and urban poverty in general.
Roundtable Schedule:
| 2:00-3:00 pm | Introductions, Presentations of the renovation project in Thionville and the building project in Atlanta. | |
| 3:00-3:15 pm | Coffee Break | |
| 3:15-3:35 pm | Remarks by Laurrie Del Martin, President of Atlanta Habitat for Humanity and the issue of urban poverty in Atlanta. | |
| 3:35-3:55 pm | Remarks by Patricia Decker about Habitat for Humanity International and the issue of urban poverty in the Unites States. | |
| 3:55-4:15 pm | Remarks by Bernard Usquin, President Ile-de-France Habitat et Humanisme about Habitat et Humanisme and the issue of urban poverty in the Paris region and France. | |
| 4:15-4:40 pm | Q&A by moderator Pinar Keskinocak, Co-founder of the Georgia Tech Center for Humanitarian Logistics. | |
| 4:40-5:00 pm | Q&A by the audience. |
To register, please complete the form below:
Building Projects:
I. Construction project in Atlanta by the French community:
When: Saturday, November 3, 2012
Where: Southeast Atlanta (Precise location given upon registration)
What: 40 members of the French community will build an Atlanta Habitat Home, helping one Atlanta family-in-need achieve homeownership. No particular skill is necessary, just a willingness to help!
To register: www.atlantahabitat.volunteerhub.com. The code is "France".
Help with registration or e-mail claire.collobert@diplomatie.gouv.fr.
II. Renovation project in Thionville (Metz area) by the American community:
When: Friday, September 28
Where: Thionville, Lorraine (France)
What: 15 members of the American community of the Metz area participated in a renovation project to help provide access to housing to French constituencies in need.
Highlights from this event will be shared at the November 6 conference.
For more information regarding this project, please contact Claire Collobert at claire.collobert@diplomatie.gouv.fr.
With the support of: