Project Independence

Participants Receive College Degrees

This year, 12 participants in CORE’s “Project Independence” Job Training Program reached a critical milestone on their way to success when they received their hard earned Associate Degrees from ASA College.

The Graduation Exercises took place at Madison Square Garden and was attended by several elected officials and other VIPs.

Many of the Project Independence trainees also attend a college or other trade school while enrolled in the program.  This allows them to pursue their academic skills and practical experience simultaneously.

     This year’s graduates include: Lilia Godovskaya (pictured above) Diana Komuhendo Bing Qi Xie, Robert Knowles, Fritzgereld Laurent, Maria Morfe, Ruilin Pan, Robin Riley, Jia Lin Huo, Percival Wilson;, Ludmila Yugay and Derrinda Hinds. CORE congratulates all of this year’s ASA Institute graduating class.

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First Lady Laura Bush poses with Project Independence participants at CORE’s Dr.  Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Awards Dinner.

Program Updates

The Campaign to

Fight AIDS:

Ensuring Access to the Best Medicines

     On May 6, 2005 Global Aids Coordinator Randall Tobias reported that 14 focus countries are currently receiving help and treatment due to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a major initiative that received its first funding from Congress just months ago. In January of this year, CORE kicked off its Health Care Awareness Initiative and has declared health care the new civil rights movement.

Fast forward to June 10, 2005, CORE with the help of noted organizations such as the Manhattan Institute, International Policy Network, and Institute for Policy Innovation; put together a ground-breaking conference addressing the crisis of the treatment of AIDS and other terminal diseases.

The conference comes in  lieu of a new  plan that American pharmaceutical companies and the U.S. Government has undertaken to quickly develop and distribute low cost and convenient combination pills to treat HIV in the developing world.

       The newest U.S. Government HIV initiative was discussed with a question and answer forum led by keynote speaker Dr. Mark Dybul of the U.S. Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator. 

CORE Endorses Consumer Choice

      There is a growing uproar about the increasing access to financial services that “payday advance” companies provide to communities in need. The opponents of choice allege that the Payday Advance companies take advantage of vulnerable populations. 

     CORE is a supporter of consumer choice. The additional options that the Payday Advance Industry provides, expands the options of those who often don’t have many. CORE suggests that the industry could provide educational courses on the importance of certain banking procedures and how to maintain good credit or repair bad credit.

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