Children living in poverty is a reality many families in Reading know all too well and one the mayor is on a mission to change.

In fact, national statistics show that Reading has one of the highest poverty levels in the country with nearly half of the children in the city living below the poverty level.

The U.S. Census reports Reading has the sixth highest poverty level out of 521 cities. It's a fact everyone has heard, but tonight people shared what it means.

Betina Mixon said she has sold drugs before and if she can help prevent another kid from doing what she did then that's what she was at the meeting for.

Mixon is just one of the people who showed up to share her struggles of living her whole life in Reading. She says even now that she's trying to turn things around by going to school she is still frustrated.

People at the meeting said that poverty is the root to so many of issues facing Reading.

Over a five hour time frame the Rebuilding Reading Poverty Commission listened to ideas from the public.

Michelle Singleton says that people should all have a vested interest in the city, they should all want it to turn around.

Dr. Rachel Yiengst says that if these things are being heard then perhaps there is something that could be done about it.

But by whom? This isn't the first time people in Reading have come together.

Eron Lloyd, who is a member of the committee says that this is yet another commission, another blue ribbon panel it's going to release a report with great ideas but no traction or teeth.

Lloyd is on the commission as an economic adviser and says this report will be different. He says the actual policies that they are developing are not pie in the sky they are trying to use a lot of real world models especially right around Reading that they can look to.

Mixon sayd that she thinks Reading is going to be able to do something, but she thinks they also need to hold the city accountable for what they say they're going to do.

The commission's report is expected to be complete this November. The Mayor says he wants action items when he gets it.