Edwards resigns as head of UNC poverty center

[JohnLocke]

Edwards resigns as head of UNC poverty center
Associated Press
Friday, December 29, 2006
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--Former Sen. John Edwards has resigned as director of the poverty center he founded at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill so that he can focus on his second run for president.
The Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity was founded in February 2005 to study ideas for moving more Americans out of poverty and into the middle class. Edwards, who has made poverty the trademark issue of his campaign, was its first director.
(...)
The center's work will continue without him. Boger has appointed Marion Crain, the center's former deputy director, to replace Edwards.
Boger, in an e-mail to law school faculty and staff, said the center's future appears strong.
"It will draw upon the remarkable momentum created during the past two years, an interdisciplinary advisory board of renowned UNC faculty members, a very generous base of financial contributions and endowments, and many ongoing scholarly relationships," Boger wrote.
In his resignation letter, Edwards said the center had managed enough money "to ensure that the Poverty Center remains a permanent part of the UNC family and will be able to continue its work for many years to come."
UNC Chapel Hill Chancellor James Moeser praised Edwards for guiding the center's early work.
"He has done an excellent job in guiding the initial work of the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity," Moeser said. "There is a strong foundation in place for the center to continue to address issues related to poverty."
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Read the rest here.

[MH1]

1. So, in brief, what did the Poverty Center accomplish during Edwards' tenure? n/t

[renie408]

2. Well, it was created, for one thing. n/t

[JohnLocke]

3. Here

Read.

http://www.law.unc.edu/centers/details.aspx?ID=425&Q=3

[MH1]

4. Okay, so how do all those conferences and papers help the poor?

Can any of that be tied to concrete outcomes, such as legislation proposed, grants provided to front-line helpful organizations (like shelters, food programs, job training...).

I presume that they can be, I am not saying that scholarly discussion of the issues is necessarily useless. I am saying that if it doesn't lead to some concrete action, it could be perceived as useless.