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Donna Stiglmeier

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Donna Stiglmeier
Donna Stiglmeier
Wed, 10/08/2008

Food vs. Credit Challenge: Days 3 and 4

It is a challenge!
in

Day 2 into Day 3 was really hard…light headed…energy level low. I can see the link between food insecurity and education/work performance.  read more »

Donna Stiglmeier
Donna Stiglmeier
Mon, 10/06/2008

Food vs. Credit Challenge

...the impact of $21 a week of Food Stamps
in

Food Stamp Challenge: A daily log...

Pre-Challenge…prepping for the next seven days

Okay…at the suggestion of my co-worker, I went to a website to strategize about what I can get for $21…to create my shopping list. I decided to try to go with food I would eat normally…however, switching to non-organic and less expensive brands (and what is on sale) and then, minimizing portions. I am lactose intolerant and don’t eat a lot of carbs…so that also impacts my food choices. How long can I last?  read more »

Donna Stiglmeier
Donna Stiglmeier
Fri, 06/13/2008

Are you good?

The reality of economic insecurity
in

The Center for Economic And Policy Research recently released a report Working Families and Economic Insecurity in the States: The Role of Job Quality and Work Supports” which found that only about one in four jobs are “good jobs” in a typical state, that is taking into account pay, employer-sponsored health insurance and retirement benefits.

In Massachusetts,
• 28.2% of jobs are “good jobs,” with a roughly equal amount
• 28.5% meets none of the ”good job” criteria
• 28% of people in working families are economically insecure  read more »

Donna Stiglmeier
Donna Stiglmeier
Wed, 05/21/2008

The Income Outcome

The Common Good: Promoting Financial Stability
in

In response to my colleague, Meghan's post "what gets measured, gets done"  and the interview that she linked us to, I thought about my benefit bike ride last summer (it is Springtime!).  In training, I needed to "measure" miles per ride, rides per week, etc., so I could "get done" the benefit ride - my goal.  Some people might relate to measuring calories, carbs, fat, sugar, and/or protein for the goal of good health...or measuring progress toward writing a research paper in school...narrowing focus, doing research, connecting with experts and practitioners, then, writing the paper and have someone else review it before the due date - so eventually, you can pass the class, receive the degree, and get a decent job...  read more »

Donna Stiglmeier
Donna Stiglmeier
Thu, 04/24/2008

Teachable Moments

Financial Moments
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April is Financial Education Month…so in this spirit…

On Monday, a Financial Education Summit took place in Chicago (see video-on-demand of the hour long summit ) focusing on “Millennials” or Generation Y, and more specifically, young adults in college…graduating with an average debt of $23,000! Including a college student, the business owner who inspired the movie “Pursuit of Happyness”, and heads of government, higher education, financial services, and national not-for profit entities, the panel conveyed many messages (not shared by all panelists): Some are...  read more »

Donna Stiglmeier
Donna Stiglmeier
Wed, 04/16/2008

Better Help Wanted

How can Massachusetts strengthen families, business, and the economy?
in

“Better Help Wanted”
was an editorial title from the Globe today. Its last sentence sums up the article. Bidding the Legislature to follow Governor Patrick’s prudent desire to give the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund $15 million, it says:

“The state’s economy can grow only if it has enough skilled workers”

The Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, created in the economic stimulus bill of 2006, is one way to focus on regional industries and gives grants to projects backed by partners in education, training, and employment. This seems to be a “win-win-win” proposal  read more »

Donna Stiglmeier
Donna Stiglmeier
Thu, 03/13/2008

Economic (In)Security: Report Released

The Experience of the African-American and Latino Middle Classes
in

 I wanted to post about a couple of segments that caught my attention from the recent report "Economic (In)Security: The Experience of the African-American Latino Middle Class." The report says:

"African-American and Latino families are less likely to be part of the middle class, and those who have entered the middle class experience significantly less economic security.  This stark reality is dramatically out of sync with where we as a nation need to go in the future."

"Past investments to build a middle class have not benefited African Americans and Latinos to the same extent that they have benefited whites." 

(Click the post title to read more)  read more »

Donna Stiglmeier
Donna Stiglmeier
Fri, 02/15/2008

The Economy on the Presidents' Weekend - Past and Future

Meeting the Challenges
in

I, for one, am grateful for the “economy-focused” message that is being prioritized in the Presidential Campaign and its coverage right now. No matter where you stand politically, economics impacts all…from an individual’s or household’s budget to global shifts in the trade of goods and labor. (See here, here, and here).  However, economic downturns rest disproportionately on the most vulnerable among us....  read more »

Donna Stiglmeier
Donna Stiglmeier
Mon, 01/14/2008

Building Wealth in Lower-Income Communities: Follow-Up

Great examples of families, organizations, and communities at work!
in

In December, some great examples of how organizations are assiting families and communities to build wealth were presented at a Strategies Forum called, "Working Together to Build Wealth in Lower-Income Communities." (See previous blog) I wanted to highlight just a few of many insightful presentations...  read more »

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