Just got an email from John Edwards...

Most importantly he said that Elizabeth is doing very well. He has accepted a position at UNC to run a center to deal with poverty.

Text here:

Dear Friend,

First of all, a belated happy New Year to everyone! The year has already gotten off to a busy start so I wanted to let you know how Elizabeth is doing and tell you about an important new mission that I am beginning.

Most importantly, Elizabeth is doing incredibly well. She is almost finished with her chemotherapy treatment, and her doctors are extremely encouraged by how well it is going. Throughout this entire process, she has been as strong as she was the day I first met her, and there is no doubt in my mind that she will beat this cancer. You must know that we draw tremendous strength and courage from all the support you have given us during this trying time, and we thank you for it. We are so fortunate to have friends like you and we will never forget all that you have done to help us through this.

As you may know, our family is planning on moving back to North Carolina after Emma Claire and Jack finish the school year. North Carolina is our home, we want our kids to grow up there, and we are very excited about going back.

North Carolina will also be playing a significant role in what I do next. The University of North Carolina has been a big part of my life because it's where I learned the tools I've used all my life to help the people who needed help the most.

I am very proud to say that I will be joining UNC to launch its new Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity, which will examine innovative and practical ideas for moving more Americans out of poverty and into the middle class. The fact that millions in this country go to work every day and still live in poverty is wrong and unacceptable. This is personal to me, and I believe that it is one of the most important moral issues of our time.

Together with UNC, I will work hands-on to explore creative approaches to the difficulties that families in poverty face every day. We may not have all the answers right now, but I can promise you this: we will be asking the hard questions. We will work tirelessly so that America's bright light of opportunity shines on all of us.

As I begin this process, I'm going to once again be asking you for your help.

What ideas do you have to reduce poverty in our country? What is working in your community and what can we as a nation be doing better? Once we get the Center up and running, we'll be asking for your input. This is too important an issue for us to be sitting on the sidelines - we need everybody's ideas.

It is my intention not just to talk about solutions but to work across the country to test ideas and promote successful strategies. I hope you and I will have the opportunity to work together again to restore the promise of America in our workplaces and dignity in the lives of Americans who just want a chance to earn a decent living for themselves and their family. I grew up with these people, and their cause will always be my cause. I hope you share both my commitment and enthusiasm for this exciting venture.

Again, we are so grateful for all of your support through the years, and I'm looking forward to working with you hand-in-hand in the future. Thank you for everything.

Sincerely,

John Edwards

Thanks for the update.

I'm very happy to hear that

and I think the poverty center sounds awesome.

I received the same email from JRE and it was SO NICE to hear from him. It's been ages.

Yes, it's truly wonderful to know that Elizabeth is getting along well.

Nice to hear from them.

Good luck with your new endeavor at UNC, JRE!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

You are so right! I just signed up a couple of days ago, and have had several very nice welcoming notes. It sure does mean a lot...

I also received the same e-mail and appreciated it. 13 minutes until JRE (and hopefully, EAE) on C-SPAN tonight!! :-) :-)

n/t

Elizabeth's positive prognosis and respect John's noble desire for amelioration of the hardships of the working poor, I had really hoped that he would champion election reform. Without reform of our voting systems and procedures, the fascists will remain in charge indefinitely and the divide between the "two america's" will only widen further.

Oh well.

John Edwards Returns To New Hampshire!

On Saturday, February 5, John Edwards is returning to New Hampshire to speak at the New Hampshire Democratic Party's annual 100 Club Dinner. His speech will begin around 8 pm, and C-SPAN will be airing his speech LIVE. Check your local listings for more information and tune in!

I received it as well. It was really great to hear an update from him on Elizabeth Edwards' health. I hope I can remind myself to watch Cspan tomorrow night.

WELCOME jre4me08! :hi:

I thought it was probably going to be in Chapel Hill since the Edwards are moving back to that area. That's very close to where I live.

That is so uplifting to hear that a new Poverty Center is being established.

The Edwards are GOOD people!

News Release from http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/feb05/edwards020405.html
UNC-Chapel Hill creates Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity;
names former Sen. John Edwards as director

CHAPEL HILL -- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is launching a Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity that will be led by former U.S. Senator and vice presidential candidate John Edwards.

The Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity will be a nonpartisan initiative, bringing together UNC-Chapel Hill faculty and other national public policy experts to examine innovative and practical ideas for moving more Americans out of poverty and into the middle class. The center will have an advisory committee of senior faculty representing multiple disciplines across campus. In addition to leading the center, Edwards also will serve as a guest lecturer on campus.

"John Edwards is a distinguished Carolina alumnus, and we are delighted that he will return to campus to bring together today’s best minds to focus on issues that affect us all," Chancellor James Moeser said.

Edwards spent six years in the U.S. Senate. In that time, he championed policy initiatives such as raising the minimum wage, expanding the earned income tax credit, creating matching savings accounts for low-income families, and providing incentives for teachers to teach in low-income schools. Edwards also focused on poverty during last year’s presidential campaign.

"The time I spent at Chapel Hill gave me many of the tools I have used all my life to help those who are struggling, and I am so proud that I will be able to continue this work and also give something back to UNC-Chapel Hill," Edwards said. "As director of the center, I will work to explore creative approaches to the difficulties that families in poverty face every day."

"John Edwards will be a marvelous resource for faculty and students across campus," said Law School Dean Gene Nichol. "His life experiences as well as his time as senator and vice presidential candidate make him ideally suited to lead this new center."

At UNC-Chapel Hill, Edwards will hold a part-time, two-year, fixed-term faculty position. He will be designated a University Professor and hold an Alumni Distinguished Professorship, which is funded by private gifts to the University. It takes effect Feb. 14.

Edwards is a 1977 graduate of the School of Law. His wife, Elizabeth Edwards, earned her bachelor’s degree in English and a law degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. She has served on the University’s Board of Visitors since 2001. The Edwards family plans to move to Chapel Hill this spring.

Through its teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an educational and economic beacon for the people of North Carolina and beyond. Carolina was the nation’s first state university to open its doors and the only public university to award degrees in the 18th century. Today, UNC-Chapel Hill ranks among the nation's leading public universities and belongs to the select group of 61 American and two Canadian campuses forming the Association of American Universities.

Great news about Elizabeth. She is an amazing woman, and its good to hear that she's doing well.