Join WCLK Saturday morning at 7:00am for the Public Affairs Block. This weekend we'll hear from Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Gail S. Tusan, who represents the Buckhead Cascade City Chapter of The Links, Inc.. The Links is calling on all Georgians to support the expansion of Medicaid and improved attention to child welfare across the state.
Georgia Chapters of The Links, Inc. to gather at the Capitol to Rally for Medicaid Expansion and Child Welfare Reform
WHO: More than 100 members of The Links, Inc. from 15 Georgia chapters located in Albany, Athens, Atlanta Cluster (6 chapters), Augusta, Brunswick, Columbus, Fort Valley, LaGrange, Macon and Savannah will participate in Links Day at the Capitol. Georgia Legislators and Link members Senator Freddie Powell Sims (Albany) and Representative Carolyn Hughley (Columbus) will serve as honorary chairs of the event. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, State Rep. Stacey Abrams, head of Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Representative Dee Dawkins-Haigler and Links, Inc. Southern Area Director Eneid Francis will address the members.
WHAT: Link members will convene upon the state capitol to urge legislators to support (SB) 295 and defeat (HB) 990 which creates an additional impediment to Medicaid expansion as they call for the Governor’s reconsideration of his decision to forego participation in Medicaid Expansion. They will also encourage the passage of (HB) 923 Georgia Child Fatality Review Panel, which calls attention to the improvement of protecting the health, safety and well-being of children. The Links will host a forum that will include two panel discussions in support of these bills.
Panel Discussion #1 (10:30 am – 11:15am) - The Medicaid Expansion: Why Not Now, Why Not Today
Panelists: (Moderated by Cynthia Tucker (Former AJC Editor) & Sheila Robinson-Douglass, MD. (Links, Inc.)
1. Pat Gardner, Georgia State Representative -- Initiated efforts to expand PeachCare.
2. Link Lisa Perry-Gikes, MD. -- President of Medical Association of Atlanta
3. Lawrence Sanders, MD. -- Associate dean for Clinical Affairs at Morehouse School of Medicine.
4. William Cleveland, MD. -- Clinical Nephrologist, Past President, Crawford Long medical staff.
Panel Discussion #2 (11:30am – 12:15pm) - Children's Welfare: Protecting Our Greatest Legacy
Panelists: (Moderated by Karyn Greer (WXIA) & Nina R. Hickson, Esq. (Links, Inc.)
1. State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver -- Authored and passed significant legislation for the protection of children.
2. Melody McCloud, MD -- Calling for oversight of DFCS case management and particularly.
3. Hon. Tom Rawlings -- Former circuit juvenile court judge, Georgia’s state advocate for the protection of children.
The Links will address these and other critical issues when meeting with their individual state legislators following the panel discussions. A closing rally, Linking Together Across the State to Engage Our Communities, will take place at 2pm at the Georgia State Capitol, North Wing and a statewide advocacy strategy will be implemented for all Georgia chapters.
WHEN: Friday, March 21, 2014
WHERE: Sloppy Floyd Building, Empire Room
200 Piedmont Ave. NE, 20th Floor – West Tower
Atlanta, GA 30334
For information about how to attend this event, click here.
About the Links
The Links, Incorporated, founded in 1946, is an international organization consisting of 12,000 plus women committed to leadership, friendship and service. Our 274 chapters, throughout the United States, have positively impacted the lives of children and families globally since our inception. Links Day at the Capitol is a project of the 77 chapters in the Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated. The members of this organization hope to have an impact on their state capitols and flex the collective organizational strength and influence of their membership.