Public lecture Jan. 22 at Auburn University to examine poverty in Alabama Black Belt

The Auburn University Honors College kicks off its k(no)w poverty? Lecture Series Jan. 22 in 2370 Haley Center at 6 p.m. Michael Lynch, managing director of Project Horseshoe Farm in Greensboro, Alabama, will give a public talk on "Poverty In The Black Belt: A Complex Issue And A Grassroots Initiative To Help Support Vulnerable Members Of The Community." The lecture series is an opportunity to discuss issues relevant to poverty in the community, region, state and world. Participants are asked to bring non-perishable food items for the Campus Food Pantry.

Lynch has a strong track record of building coalitions and helping to initiate important community-based projects in the Black Belt and in the state. In 2007, he initiated and helped lead the effort to build local and statewide support for the successful recruitment of Teach for America to Alabama. Since that time, he has worked to develop relationships between local organizations and state leaders to help strengthen our local community.

Project Horseshoe Farm is a grassroots organization focused on service and support programs to improve the quality of life of seniors, adults living with mental illness and at-risk children in the Greensboro area. Lynch was serving on the board of Project Horseshoe Farm prior to joining the organization in 2012.

The Honors College k(no)w poverty? lecture series supports the Auburn University land-grant mission and includes a variety of speakers over the semester. Other speakers in the series will include Lisa Pierce, Alabama Rural Ministry; Conner Bailey and Michelle Worosz, Auburn University Department of Agricultural Economics and Sociology; and Rusty Smith, Rural Studio.