(AP) – A series of town-hall style meetings in Kansas next month will focus on ways to reduce childhood poverty.

Gov. Sam Brownback said Tuesday the meetings will be held Nov. 14 at Jack Reardon Convention Center in Kansas City, Kan.; Nov. 16 at the Drury Hotel in Wichita; and Nov. 17 at the athletic complex at Garden City Community College. Each session will run from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Brownback says nearly 24% of Kansas children lived in poverty in 2010, up slightly from the previous year. The governor has identified reduction of childhood poverty as a cornerstone of his first term in office.

The meetings will be led by Rob Siedlecki  secretary of the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.