financial stability

Are you good?

Donna Stiglmeier — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:55:25 -0500

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 »

Economic (In)Security: Report Released

Donna Stiglmeier — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:16:42 -0500

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 »

Get the most from your earnings this tax season!

Donna Stiglmeier — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:13:49 -0600

Tax Time: Get the most of your earnings! read more »

Illiteracy in America

Elizabeth Curtis — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:59:07 -0600

On February 25, 2008 ABC reported a story on its World News program entitled, Out of the Shadows: Overcoming Illiteracy.
I was staggered by this report that found 1 in 20 adults in Grand Rapids, Michigan are illiterate. The city set a goal to cut illiteracy in half in 10 years, and in the last 4 years the program has helped 1,000 people.

Without literate adults, how can we expect to have success for the children of our community? Literacy, education, and financial stability are so intertwined with all issues related to poverty. Sometimes it's critical to focus on the basics. read more »

Navigating College Loans

Meghan Keaney — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:30:35 -0500

A CBS report Sunday focused on the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA)'s recent announcement that it will be unable to provide any more private student loans this year. Every year, thousands of local students rely on MEFA and other lenders to help finance their college educations. read more »

The Economy on the Presidents' Weekend - Past and Future

Donna Stiglmeier — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:17:33 -0600

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 »

The Income Outcome

Donna Stiglmeier — Wed, 21 May 2008 16:16:55 -0500

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 »