Fighting the good fight for women and families

Written by Suzanne Marino Wednesday, April 04, 2012 06:47 pm

LINWOOD – The Atlantic County Advisory Commission on Women held its 2012 Women’s Forum for Change at the Linwood Country Club Thursday, March 29 with the goal of giving women information that will help them stay up in a down economy.

The meeting opened with Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson praising the commission for its advocacy for the past 15 years.

Levinson said the work of the advisory group, which addresses issues of teen pregnancy and helps women take advantage of pre-natal services, is important to women of the county.

“We can not address serious issues like low birth weight if we can not get the mothers to come in and take advantage of the services that are available to them,” said Levinson. “I have to thank the commission for advocating and fighting the good fight for every woman and child in Atlantic County.”

The speakers for the annual breakfast included Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt, a Democrat from the 6th District (Camden County), Margie Barham, executive director of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Southern Branch, and Joanna Kirvin, an advocate who has social service consumer experience.

Lampitt covered a number of topics, but spoke at length about women seeking public office.

“Do not wait to be asked if you would like to run for public office,” she said. “That is what I did and too many women do; we wait to be asked. If you think you can do it, that you can make a difference, then just take the jump and do it,” said the legislator.

Lampitt is the author of many bills in the Assembly including the teen sexting bill that avoids prosecution for first-time offending teens. Under current law, teens caught sending lewd photos on their cell phone can be prosecuted as a sex offender.

It passed in the state Assembly in 2011 and is now in the New Jersey State Senate under consideration for a vote.

Lampitt said, “It is important to teach teens the potential consequences of their actions, not saddle them with a permanent criminal record.”

Barham spoke about the increased needs of the food bank.

“We were never meant to be more than a short-term help in an emergency, but people are relying on the food bank to keep their family fed,” said Barham.

She went on to say that some people who might have been too proud to admit they need help in the past will do whatever they can when it comes to helping their children. The economy has necessitated the food bank to reach out for more help.

“We have people who are working two-part time jobs and still living at the poverty level and having difficulty feeding their family,” she said.

Kirvin, a displaced professional from Princeton, spoke of her first-hand knowledge of trying to navigate Atlantic County services while she tries to get back on her feet. Kirvin shared a compelling and frightening tale of attempting to keep a roof over her head and finding a full-time job.

She explained that she never thought she would be in the position she is in, but remains extremely positive that interacting with people and organizations like the Atlantic County Advisory Commission on Women is a key to getting back on her feet.

For more information see www.aclink.org/boards/acacw