For many DC local districts unemployment has reached an all-time high, marking a cry for rearranging the distribution of power that excludes citizens from decision-making, governing their lives. Occupy Wall Street is a people powered social movement, seeking justice against social and economic inequality, high unemployment and corporate financial greed. U.S. citizen have gathered in various cities to demonstrate their solidarity of demanding real change of a better, sustainable society that takes care of their own. Civilians have suffered through heat and cold conditions to represent their cause… and so, the masses have gathered as representation of the 99% that are no longer tolerating the greed and corruption of the 1%, Corporate America. Supported by local unions and mainstream liberal groups, activists want the world to know that abusive practices in the financial world has activated Occupy Wall Street. Citizens have lost their jobs, homes and finances as a result of total corporate control of government. President Obama rallies against ”gaping” economic equality and employs Congress to implement a payroll tax cut compromise vital to economic recovery; a push for wealthy Americans to pay higher taxes and for big corporate interest to play by the rules, in order for working class to get a ‘fair shot” and “fair share” (Reuters, 2011). Dr. Oz, recently televised a show about how middle class families are struggling to feed their children and the challenges to keep food on the table. Charities are seeking money to feed children abroad, yet our own Americans are experiencing hunger issues that affect a child’s growth, one’s state of mind and health conditions. People with no jobs lack health insurance and often suffer in silence. Did anyone see the Dr. Oz program, where the lady had a breast cancer tumor that had broken through the skin, creating a fungal growth? This woman suffered with her dilemma in silence before she sought help. It’s heartbreaking to know in the United States, third-world conditions exist in our own nation. The quandary of the United States economic state has provided a perfect opportunity for constituents to start their own business, as entrepreneurs, and create jobs for the unemployed. In the District of Columbia, East of the Potomac River, Ward 8 businesses are coming together to address the high unemployment rates that have affected residents. This workforce development strategy focuses on arming new businesses with the tools necessary to help residents gain employment through various educational and training institutions, and self-help programs. Such cooperative efforts encourages businesses to team with one another to provide the essentials of living, maximize the welfare of people, and develop self-reliant, economic-based efforts that revitalize the local economy. Cooperative economics works from the inside-out and spreads a message that local citizen are accountable for what happens in their communities. Clusters of DC work forces have joined together to ratify the growing rate of unemployment offering career training for jobs in demand, such as IT, Security and Medical Services. These workforce developers seek people who are committed to improving their employment conditions. Another highly successful community organization, Operation Hope, offers a 13 week entrepreneur program which has produced successful graduates, partnering with DC Metropolitan businesses and other entrepreneur graduates. In a cooperative economy, good innovation, quality research and development, and the ability to bring new goods and services to market in a timely manner at reasonable prices, is a role done by cutting-edge cooperatives. Harnessing the cooperative entrepreneurial capacity of a group of capable, community-minded people is generally considered to be one of the greatest potential strengths of a cooperative economy (Karlyle, 2005). Cooperative economics plays an integral part in the development of community vision and organization; developing a vision is critical for the success of the plans and decisions that a community or organization must make when revamping its economic state. Certainly, we are a country in crisis. US citizens are taking a stand, on a united front, to say we are tired of riff-raff ruining the financial state of our country. We want to be employable by employers who recognize one’s abilities, puts programs in place to strengthen staff abilities and encourages their employees to continue their education as career stepping stones. Cooperative entrepreneurs embrace collaborating with one another to produce events, create new jobs and products, and conduct research, increasing the chance of success when you have multiple people with various skill sets working on a contract or work opportunity. |
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