WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons will host a four-part discussion series entitled, “Winning the Fight Against Urban Unemployment,” to bring together key stakeholders to openly and candidly discuss causes, symptoms, and potential solutions to the stubborn issue. The first meeting will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County and will feature a panel of leaders from the non-profit, education and urban-revitalization communities offering their input on the challenge of urban unemployment.

“Chronic urban unemployment is an epidemic that is tearing at our communities and eroding our neighbors’ quality of life,” Senator Coons said. “Unemployment rates in Delaware’s urban communities are significantly higher than in other parts of the state, and have been for years. Crime, poverty, chemical dependence, and lack of educational opportunity all contribute to stubborn jobless numbers that have confounded elected officials and community leaders for decades. The goal of this series is to confront the problem head-on, generating actionable ideas for addressing it locally in our community and legislatively in Washington.”  

Recent data has shown that while the unemployment rate in New Castle County was 5.7 percent in December, in Wilmington it was 8.3 percent. While Kent County’s unemployment rate was 6.0 percent, Dover’s was 7.1 percent.

Senator Coons and Goodwill’s director of workforce development, Zanthea Nichols, will moderate Wednesday’s discussion. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the work currently being done and open the door to future collaborative efforts, setting the parameters and framework for the future discussions.

“We cannot let the complexity of this challenge scare us away from confronting it,” Senator Coons said. “As elected leaders, we need to keep trying and we have to come together as a community to find solutions.”

EVENT DETAILS

WHO:         Senator Chris Coons and leaders from academic, non-profit, community investment groups

WHAT:       First in a series of discussions entitled, “Winning The Fight Against Urban Unemployment”

WHEN:       Wednesday, February 19, 2014 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE:     Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County, 300 Lea Blvd., Wilmington, DE

PARTICIPANTS:                   

Rhonda Austin, Business Community Liaison, Wilmington Job Corps

Dr. Michael Casson, Professor, Delaware State University

Jim Coyne, Director, Strategy and Community Engagement, United Way

Kia Ervin, Regional Director, Communities in Schools

Darryl Graham, Vice President, Global Philanthropy & Community Relations, JP Morgan Chase

Eva Howell, Executive Director, Wilmington Job Corps

Rev. Terrence Keeling, Pastor and Community Leader

Catherine Lindroth, Director, Strategy and Community Partnerships, Teach for America

Charles Madden, Executive Director, HOPE Commission

Andrew McKnight, Executive Director, the Challenge Program

Secretary John McMahon, Delaware Department of Labor

Patti Mengers, Regional Workforce Development Manager, Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County

Rev. Donald Morton, Pastor and Community Leader

Zanthea Nichols, Director of Workforce and Business Development, Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County

Dr. Yasser Payne, University of Delaware

Dr. Jack Perry, Head of School, Prestige Academy

Chandra Pitts, Executive Director, One Village Alliance

Saad Solomon, Re-Entry Specialist, United States Probation Office

G. Stephen Williams, Mayor’s Office, City of Wilmington

Deborah Wilson, President, Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League