Charity January 16, 2011
Posted by matthew5sixteen in Uncategorized.add a comment
I am trying a new approach to social entrepreneurship. I am thinking about starting a charity that donates money to the poor. My abilities as an entrepreneur are not good enough for me to help others start their own businesses. But perhaps I can find a way to raise money to help the poor.
I will try to update this site as I progress in my efforts to help the poor through a charity.
Matthew5sixteen.
Finding Certainty in Uncertain Times January 6, 2011
Posted by matthew5sixteen in Civic Engagement, Education.Tags: economy, education, recession
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A June 2009 article from the New York Times describes this generation as “Generation R,” the recession generation.
As the New York Times article says,
“…the millions of teenagers and twenty-somethings struggling to carve out a future for themselves when the nation’s economy is in its worst shape in decades. Many are settling for second choices or pursuing low-cost detours because the recession has wiped out hoped-for jobs.”
They are not alone in their struggles. A recent article from the Washington Post reports,
The share of working families earning less than double the official poverty threshold – $43,512 for a family of four – increased from 28 to 30 percent between 2007 and 2009…
An article from the Huffington Post reports,
Last year, 45 million people, including 22 million children, lived in low-income households…
Even older, more established people are vulnerable in this current environment. There are concerns about outsourcing and age discrimination. As another Huffington Post article reports,
“Job seekers and employees in their 40s and 50s seemed to have the biggest concerns. I think that’s been an age group that has seen more struggles than others, because of this notion that they are potentially ‘too old to hire, to young to retire…’”
In these uncertain times, where can we go to find a measure of certainty? Family? Community? Religion? Education? Government? What is the answer? Perhaps these trying times demand that we choose to depend on each and every one of these options.
The suggestion of education should be qualified. As these articles from Slate and Monster indicate, education will not provide a quick answer to a person’s problems. It should be emphasized that it is not necessary to spend a large amount of money on education. Community colleges along with the federal Pell grant present a low cost option for pursuing an education.
This current economic environment demands that we set aside ideals of self-sufficiency and independence. We must rely on one another to get through these difficult times.
Matthew5sixteen.
Is This My New Reality? January 3, 2011
Posted by matthew5sixteen in Civic Engagement.Tags: civic engagement, economy, unemployed, volunteer
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During a town hall meeting in Washington, D.C., Velma Hart asked President Obama those fateful words. She is now unemployed.
She says in a Huffington Post article,
“I want to focus on the positive and be optimistic … And assume that somehow things will work out, that there’s an opportunity out there with Velma’s name on it that’s right around the corner.”
But being positive and remaining optimistic has been a struggle for some of the unemployed.
As KOMO News reports in an article,
“Losing your job is akin to identity theft,” says Nancy Collamer, a career counselor in Connecticut and author of layoffsurvivalguide.com. “You’re robbed not only of a sense of who you are, but of what you were supposed to be doing on a daily basis.”
…
“I feel aimless, empty … worthless is also a good word to describe it,” Urbanski says. “I’ve had jobs for 30 years. It’s devastating.”
The Providence Journal reports in an article,
“When this first started, we saw a lot of anxiety disorder and insomnia — people laying in bed worrying about the economy,” she says. “But what has happened in the last two years is profound. That anxiety has morphed into depression. People are numb. They are reluctant to get up and look for work. They are feeling beaten down, helpless and hopeless.”
As unemployed people such as Rochelle Sevier, Errol and Gus Poulos have found, our current economy makes it difficult to find a job even when a person has one or more degrees and an extensive work experience.
But not all is hopeless. Both the KOMO News and Providence Journal articles go on to tell stories of people who have decided to not let their unemployment define who they are. Some have taken up hobbies. Some work on new business ideas. And others volunteer their time at nonprofits.
As a New York Times article reports,
About two years ago, to fight the despair, Mr. Cesarelli increased his time volunteering from weekends to seven days, 20 hours a week, caring for the medieval society’s three horses, stabled nearby at the Sands Point Preserve on the North Shore of Long Island. “Gives me a reason to wake up,” he said. One recent morning, he arrived at the barn at 9:30 and went straight to work, feeding the horses their oats, changing their water, spreading hay across the pasture, then taking Eli, Monte and Gunther out to graze. The temperature was just 23 degrees, but it was sunny and still; within an hour, sweat was trickling down his face. “Feels good to work,” he said.
For those of you who are unemployed, don’t let your unemployment define who you are. Don’t allow yourself to be caught in a downward emotional spiral. Develop safe, inexpensive hobbies. Find a nonprofit in your community and volunteer your time there.
Matthew5sixteen.
Knowledge is Power January 1, 2011
Posted by matthew5sixteen in Education.Tags: college, community college, economy, education
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“Knowledge is power.” It is a quote attributed to Francis Bacon (1561-1626). Let us explore the meaning of this quote.
Imagine that you are a chef working in the kitchen of your very own restaurant. You get your ingredients from a local store. Any of your customers can go to the same store and purchase the exact same ingredients that you purchase. But what distinguishes you from your customers? It is your culinary knowledge. You have the ability to turn ordinary ingredients into extraordinary cuisines.
No one is born a chef. Even the greatest chefs had to learn their art or science. So, what does this mean for an aspiring cook? Culinary school.
Some may say that school is not for them. There are various reasons. One of them is cost. For these people, community college combined with the federal Pell grant may be an option. Another reason is the lack of benefit that one may get from an education. For these people, I would like to present the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Occupational Outlook Handbook. The handbook projects the demand for different categories of jobs in the near future. It also lists the education and training required to perform these jobs. For those who want to start their own businesses, it is good to know what sectors are projected to grow in the future and which are not.
It is not being recommended that everyone immediately enroll at a school to obtain the highest degree possible. What is being recommended is that school be looked at as a resource. When you go to a grocery store, you don’t purchase everything in the store. Rather, you pick out the best ingredients that you currently need. Consider taking one or more classes at a time at your local community college. At first, pick the classes that you want to take. But later on, as you get more comfortable, consider the suggestions of your school counselors.
The first step in getting education and training for your business does not have to be at school. For example, the Small Business Administration has resources available for aspiring entrepreneurs. There is also a national network of Small Business Development Centers available for entrepreneurs.
One of the most difficult things to face is an educational bar set so high that you give up before even trying. Start where you’re comfortable. Work your way up.
Matthew5sixteen.
