Get A Job

If you have a job, I'm happy for you.  Truly.  None of my usual sarcasm here.  But for the friends that I have who are out-of-work or evicted or foreclosed-upon, this blog piece is for you.  You know who you are.  Long-term unemployment takes a toll on a person financially, of course, but also socially and emotionally.  Demographically, according to a study by the Pew Research Center, long-term unemployment has "left a larger footprint among black workers, older workers, and blue-collar occupations."  Males have also been hit particularly hard and, recently, young people are beginning to bear more of the jobless burden, according to this Department of Numbers report.  Ultimately, none of these numbers even begin to tell the full story, because as the recession drags on more and more people have dropped off the demographic radar -- either by becoming permanently unemployed or permanently underemployed. 

"It's the economy, stupid." 

By posting this blog piece, BlogHer has agreed to donate $5 to Starbucks for my efforts.  Starbucks, in turn, is donating $5 million dollars to fund small business loans and other projects with the intent of stimulating job creation.

Beginning today, you can also donate to this fund through the createjobsforusa.org website, or at Starbucks, and 100% of your donation will go directly to the fund.  Donors who contribute $5 or more will receive a red, white and blue wristband with the message “Indivisible.” 

Every $5 donation will result in $35 in financing to support community businesses, because the CDFI lenders will issue $30 in financing, on average, for each $5 donation. You can read about some of the fantastic success stories at the Create Jobs for USA site: http://www.createjobsforusa.org/Success-Stories/success-stories,default,pg.html.