Search Results for: war on poverty

Board of Pardons and Parole

In 1908, shortly after Jacob Billikopf moved to Kansas City to head up the Federation of Jewish Charities, he became involved in a variety of non-sectarian civic projects and philanthropies. Due to the deplorable conditions in penal institutions, the Mayor of Kansas City, Thomas Crittenden, asked Billikopf to serve as Chairman of a Commission and undertake a study of the area’s correctional institutions and submit to him a list of recommendations on ways to improve conditions.

Billikopf, Jacob

Jacob Billikopf (1882—1950): Social Worker, Labor Arbitrator and Leader in American Jewish Philanthropies By John E. Hansan, Ph.D. Jacob Billikopf was born in Vilna, Russia, on June 1, 1882, to Louis and Glika (Katzenelenbogen) Billikopf. He emigrated to the United States in 1895, and lived in Richmond, Virginia with an older sister, Rebecca Billikopf Tatarsky….

March on Washington, D.C.: Rev. King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech

On August 28, 1963, more than 250,000 people from across the nation came together in Washington, D.C. to peacefully demonstrate their support for the passage of a meaningful civil rights bill, an end to racial segregation in schools and the creation of jobs for the unemployed. It was the largest demonstration ever held in the nation’s capital, and one of the first to have extensive television coverage. The march is remembered too as the occasion for Reverend Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech.

Wald, Lillian

Lillian D. Wald (1867 – 1940) — Nurse, Social Worker, Women’s Rights Activist and Founder of Henry Street Settlement Introduction: Lillian D. Wald was a nurse, social worker, public health official, teacher, author, editor, publisher, woman’s rights activist, and the founder of American community nursing. Her unselfish devotion to humanity is recognized around the…

Volker, William

William Volker — (April 1, 1859 – November 4, 1947): Successful businessman, philanthropist and community leader who participated actively in the creation of the nation’s first public welfare department in Kansas City, MO. Introduction: William Volker was an entrepreneur who turned a picture frame business into a multimillion-dollar empire and who then gave away his…

Townsend, Dr. Francis

After the war the Townsends lived in Long Beach, Calif. But Townsend’s private medical practice did not prosper so he took a position as assistant city health director. Because of the Great Depression, he soon lost that job. Then, at the age of 66 and wanting to retire, Townsend grew increasingly indignant over the plight of the large number of poverty-stricken old people like himself. In 1933 he proposed a plan whereby the Federal government would provide every person over 60 a $200 monthly pension. The plan called for a guaranteed monthly pension of $200, a quite-considerable sum in the 1930. The pension would be sent to every retired citizen age 60 or older, to be paid for by a form of a national sales tax of 2% on all business transactions with the stipulation that each pensioner would be required to spend the money within 30 days. His idea was to end the Depression through consumer spending by way of ending poverty among the elderly.

Taylor, Lea Demarest

Lea Demarest Taylor (June 4, 1883–December 3,1975) — Settlement House Director and Chairman of the Board of the National Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers Early Years: Lea Taylor was born in Hartford, Connecticut, the daughter of Graham Taylor and Leah Demarest Taylor. Graham Taylor was a fifth-generation Dutch Reform church minister who, at…

Randall, Ollie A.

Ollie A. Randall (1890-1984) — Social Worker, Welfare Administrator and Advocate for the Aging Introduction: Ollie A. Randall had a long career as a social worker, welfare administrator, lecturer, consultant, writer, and advocate for the aging. She worked for the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor (later Community Service Society) in New…

Loeb, Sophie Irene

Sophie Irene Loeb (July 4, 1876–1929): Child Welfare Advocate, Social Welfare Reformer, Journalist and Author. During the Progressive Era, Sophie Loeb was one of many women to enter the political arena through reform work, calling for government involvement to mitigate the problems of poverty. Loeb brought her life experience and her personalized approach to…

Konopka, Gisela

Gisela Konopka (1910 – 2003) — Social Group Worker, Researcher, Educator and Author by Rhoda G. Lewin Gisela Konopka’s outstanding career in youth and adolescent services, social work, education and history is reflected in her litany: “All my life I have been fighting for justice, and for respect for all people. I abhor any arrogance…