"So often I see these stories in other outlets about, 'Well the economy is doing better.' But the question I always find myself asking is: Better for whom?"
Let's talk about Girl Scouts, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and other nonprofit organizations who use women's volunteer labor as their primary business model. This is different than Habitat for Humanity (come, work on a house, DONE!) because it requires sustained investment in individual humans. We have paid work for other types of youth mentorship, such as sports programs. I am increasingly uncomfortable with this model for our youth. If leaders and mentors were paid for their services as teachers and coaches are, programs would be more sustainable and consistent.
I write all this as a 10 year volunteer for BBBS and have been a scout leader since 2006. Parents expect me to provide the same service as their paid programs (sports, robotics, etc). I'm a trained educator with an Ed. M. in learning and teaching. The children I work with get the highest quality experience, but I have little incentive to train others and I'm honestly tired of working without pay and showing my girls that this is somehow normal.
Biden saying he’s created jobs makes no sense to me. Who are those jobs for? Do those jobs provide a living wage? How come all the businesses are desperate for employees but people aren’t applying? I really appreciate the question of who does the economy benefit. I have been on unpaid maternity leave and then medical leave for a broken ankle for month’s. The CTC is a small boost, but does not fix the problems at all.
Let's talk about Girl Scouts, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and other nonprofit organizations who use women's volunteer labor as their primary business model. This is different than Habitat for Humanity (come, work on a house, DONE!) because it requires sustained investment in individual humans. We have paid work for other types of youth mentorship, such as sports programs. I am increasingly uncomfortable with this model for our youth. If leaders and mentors were paid for their services as teachers and coaches are, programs would be more sustainable and consistent.
I write all this as a 10 year volunteer for BBBS and have been a scout leader since 2006. Parents expect me to provide the same service as their paid programs (sports, robotics, etc). I'm a trained educator with an Ed. M. in learning and teaching. The children I work with get the highest quality experience, but I have little incentive to train others and I'm honestly tired of working without pay and showing my girls that this is somehow normal.
Biden saying he’s created jobs makes no sense to me. Who are those jobs for? Do those jobs provide a living wage? How come all the businesses are desperate for employees but people aren’t applying? I really appreciate the question of who does the economy benefit. I have been on unpaid maternity leave and then medical leave for a broken ankle for month’s. The CTC is a small boost, but does not fix the problems at all.
Great piece and also - thank you so much for shouting out Imagine Water Works, they do great work and your $$$ is well spent!
Thank you- I loved this and can’t wait to check out more of Chabeli’s work.