Sen. John Edwards tours the Tioga neighborhood May 13 with Philadelphia ACORN member Olivia Dorsey, 82 (right) and ACORN National President Maude Hurd (left) in announcing the new "Half in Ten" campaign to cut poverty in half in 10 years. (Photo by Sharon Gekoski-Kimmel of The Philadelphia Inquirer, used with permission.)

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – On May 13, ACORN National President Maude Hurd joined former Sen. John Edwards in announcing a new campaign – “Half in Ten” – to reduce poverty in the United States by half within 10 years.

“We are thrilled to be here today kicking off a campaign that builds on our work to organize low and moderate income people to fight their way to a better life, including living wage jobs, child care and fair housing,” Hurd said.

Hurd discussed ACORN’s efforts in Pennsylvania to raise the minimum wage to $9.35 by 2010, to enact a state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and to raise awareness and participation of low income families in state benefit programs.

“Our work here in Pennsylvania reflects both the issues and the...