For somebody who wasn't allowed a role in the planning of her own testimonial, Nancy Gewirtz seems to have extracted a goodly amount of terms under which it could be held. She was promised it would be "short and sweet." And that it'd be "fun and funny and light." Also that the proceeds would go not to her, but to the Poverty Institute at Rhode Island College.

In fact, it's a bit of a wonder that the event was scheduled at all for Thursday, November 14. Because while Gewirtz frequently is in the news, often testifying before this General Assembly committee or that, and always at the head of her classes at RIC, she comes up shy in the self-promotion department. She gets uncomfortable when the focus is on her rather than on her issues. When reporters do stories about Gewirtz, she begs them to concentrate on what she's working for, not those schmaltzy personal things.

She'd like you to know that, in her view, tax breaks have lately been going to business and the rich rather than to the poor.

Any story ought to include her point that Rhode Island's generous childcare program isn't just good for working mothers, it benefits the state's entire economy.

It also could be emphasized that for welfare reform to work, mothers need to have time to go to college or get other education and training if they are to have half a chance of getting off -- and staying off -- welfare.

Luckily, Gewirtz has lots of friends, who, while sharing her passion for public policy, aren't willing to ignore the personal characteristics that have made her a force to be reckoned with in the fight against poverty.

It's okay, they think, to point out that Gewirtz is dynamic, witty, articulate, and a seemingly inexhaustible whirlwind. That she, with a slew of academic degrees, has taught social work for more than 20 years at RIC to more than 1000 students, and that she founded the Poverty Institute at RIC, a think-tank to debunk myths about, and promote solutions to, poverty through credible research.

For many months, these friends have watched in awe as Gewirtz has continued to battle for better treatment of poor families and children while simultaneously battling cancer.

So they insisted that a tribute dinner be held for her, during which it might be mentioned -- briefly -- that without her Rhode Island might not have a more humane system of welfare than the rest of the country, children might not have decent childcare, and that at least some mention in the coming debate over state budgets should be about the lives of children.

Still, in a brief interview before the event, Gewirtz acknowledged that she was "a little embarrassed" while thinking over what she might say at the event: "I will say -- in brief comments -- that my greatest talents have been surrounding myself with competent, caring, funny people."

-- Brian C. Jones

For tickets and more information about the event, call the RICSchool of Social Work at (401) 456-8042.

Issue Date: November 15 - 21, 2002