Students are integral to fighting poverty and shaping the nation former U.S. Senator and vice presidential candidate John Edwards said Friday at the keynote address for the University’s first annual Working in Public Interest Law Conference.

“Young people on college campuses have changed this country before,” Edwards said. “You can do it again.”

In his speech untitled “Restoring the American Dream: Fighting Poverty and Expanding the Middle Class,” Edwards outlined a number of possible solutions to the poverty he said affects 37 million Americans.

“This is wrong,” Edwards said of the widespread poverty. “It’s not complicated, it’s wrong.”

Twenty-six percent of the Athens-Clarke County population lives in poverty.

Hurricane Katrina opened a “window of opportunity” not only to see firsthand the living conditions of America’s poor but also to correct the system that put them into that situation, Edwards said.

“(The poor) live every day on the edge of a razor,” he said.

Minorities are most affected by the issue, particularly blacks, Edwards said. Although bridging such wide gaps might seem daunting, Edwards said much can be done.

First, the minimum wage of $5.15 – a “national embarrassment” – must be raised, he said, adding that he has launched a grassroots campaign in a number of states for the initiative.

“We will win,” Edwards said. “We’ll will every one of them.”

Since education is a bedrock of economic success, Edwards discussed a trial program started in one North Carolina county, “College for Everyone.” It provides college tuition for eligible low-income students who commit to work 10 hours per week during the school year.

He also suggested expanding earned income tax credit for single adults, increasing the unionization of service industry jobs and finding ways to significantly reduce the rate of teen pregnancy.

Although poverty is an important national issue, Edwards said it’s an issue worldwide as well.

“There is a huge void of America’s moral leadership around the world,” he said, adding that the United States has not taken an active enough role in becoming a leader in the war on global poverty.

“The world needs to see the real character of America,” he said.

Edwards asked students to commit to one of many opportunities to volunteer and become the “champion of 37 million” people living in poverty.

“I want you to embrace this issue as the cause of your generation,” he said. “Together, we can build a moral and just America and lead in a moral and just world.”

Students at the event said they found Edwards’ speech inspiring and appreciated his attention to them.

“He definitely proved that students really do care about the issues,” said Keri Hochgertle, a sophomore from Snellville.

Former Student Government Association President Will Childs agreed.

Edwards was on target to challenge this generation to step up to the plate, Childs said.

For Jolene Jurss, a sophomore from Sylva, N.C., just seeing Edwards was inspiration enough.

“Those blue eyes,” Jurss said.