With the recession still hitting many South Carolina families hard, a broad coalition of community, labor, and faith based organizations is organizing a conference called “Ties that Bind” at the SCEA Building, 421 Zimalcrest Drive, Columbia. The conference will be Saturday, January 9, 12 pm–4 pm, and keynote speaker, Reverend Joe Darby from Morris Brown AME at 1:15 pm.

The conference organizers hope to help shape a shared approach toward addressing the concerns of struggling families on a variety of issues ranging from job creation to affordable healthcare to quality education, budget reform to affordable housing.

The “Ties that Bind” conference will address “kitchen table” economic issues to help shape a shared legislative agenda for the participants with the goals of economic security for working and middle class families.

“It’s a year into the recession and for too many families, times have never been tougher,” said Matthew Costello, executive director of South Carolina Fair Share and one of the conveners of the conference. “That’s why it’s time to come up with real solutions on the issues that matter to working and middle class families, and then demand action from our politicians.”

For more information visit www.TiesthatBind SC.org.