American poverty: realities and prescriptions

Alvin Nance, President and Chief Executive Officer of Knoxville Community Development Corporation, discusses Sasha Abramsky's book The American way of poverty: how the other half still lives, which explores the new realities of poverty in America 50 years after the publication of Michael Harrington's groundbreaking book, The other America. (Recorded August 20, 2014) Freelance reporter Abramsky demonstrates “how the structure of federal programs works against the recipients when our economic system experiences a recession,” Nance said. “It was interesting to see how elected officials viewed assistance provided to those who were working and lost their jobs, versus those who were working in low paying jobs who received assistance.” Prior to joining the housing authority, Nance worked in the banking industry for 20 years and served on the Knoxville Community Development Corporation Board of Commissioners for eight years. Nance graduated from Maryville College in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in art.