Long-term jobless fight rejection, fear, despair
Submitted by Patty on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 21:09
By SUE STOCK
News & Observer, Staff Writer
Dennis Shaver has been looking for a job for 17 months.
His wife, Patty Edwards Shaver, has been out of work for a year.
In eight weeks, the unemployment checks that have been helping to pay their mortgage will stop coming.
The Shavers, who live in North Raleigh, are among the 2.3 million people nationwide who have been out of work for more than a year. In North Carolina that figure stands at 88,000.
The long-term jobless are blue- and white-collar workers. They come from all age groups, income levels and ethnicities. And with the state's unemployment rate at a 30-year high of 11.2 percent, their numbers are growing.
EMS veteran Don Mathews strikes new career note
Submitted by Patty on Mon, 02/01/2010 - 09:23
By Patty Edwards Shaver
MCV Career Development Facilitator
Who said you must be under 30 and beautiful to make it to Nashville? That may be the criteria for American Idol contestants, but not for late bloomer, Don Mathews of Galesburg, Michigan, whose song Tribute to EMS (Emergency Medical Services) has become a counseling tool for emergency responders around the world.
“I was shocked when I first learned about this,” said Mathews. “I wrote Tribute to EMS because I had no one to talk to for counseling after a very traumatic call.” After 40 years in EMS it was difficult for Mathews to understand why he was not coping as time passed. He questioned God about his career choice and wondered if it mattered to anyone else. “I kept thinking about that call during church and when I went home I wrote the song Tribute to EMS. Once I started writing I couldn’t stop. The words just flowed from me.”
R&B singer and disability advocate, Teddy Pendergrass, dies
Submitted by Patty on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 20:57
By Patty Edwards Shaver
MCV Career Development Facilitator
Teddy Pendergrass, legendary Rhythm and Blues (R&B) singer and advocate for the disabled, died Jan.13 of colon cancer. Pendergrass had been hospitalized for several months after undergoing colon cancer surgery in May 2009. He was 59.
Pendergrass’ music career started to take off in the 70s. He was lead singer with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes before embarking on a solo career in 1976. He quickly became an international superstar and sex symbol with popular hit records: Turn off the Lights, Close the Door and TKO. Pendergrass became the first black male singer in history to record five consecutive multi-platinum albums. He had several Grammy nominations, numerous awards, movie appearances, TV specials, sold out national and international concerts and endorsements.
Laid off worker earns income through hobby
Submitted by Patty on Mon, 01/11/2010 - 10:07
By Patty Edwards Shaver
MCV Career Development Facilitator
The recent recession has created a tough job market with unemployment rates in the double digits leaving many dislocated workers at wits end on how to earn an income. Melinda Hawkins of Raleigh uses her jewelry-making hobby to bring in extra money to help pay her bills. Hawkins was laid off from her insurance job in Sept. 2008. When a job didn’t materialize, Hawkins decided to become a self employed insurance agent. Building a business during a downturn in the economy takes time and Hawkins could not afford to wait. With Christmas approaching, Hawkins switched to entrepreneur mode and started uploading photos of her jewelry creations on Facebook. And to her amazement, the jewelry started selling right away.
Planning for retirement: Why you’ll need recurring income
Submitted by Patty on Mon, 11/30/2009 - 08:01
By Steve DeVane
SteveDeVane.com
For years, most people planning for retirement have heard about the wisdom of contributing to a 401(k) or similar plan. But as the financial crisis turned into a full-blown recession, everybody saw their investment accounts shrink.
Plans like the 401(k) let people contribute pre-tax dollars into an investment account that is expected to increase in value over time.
Job Crunch Even Harder On People With Disabilities
Submitted by Patty on Fri, 11/27/2009 - 09:07By Joseph Shapiro
National Public Radio (NPR)
As large numbers of Americans deal with losing jobs, the unemployment rates are even higher among certain groups, including men, minorities — and also people with disabilities.
Lenny Kepil knows. He was laid off from his job this spring as a software test engineer. He'd been the last hired, but his whole department took a hit. "It makes you nervous when you're laid off a long period of time. And right now, it's been seven months so far," he says. "So I have to get ready for the reality that things are stacking up against me."
Kepil, who lives in Naperville, Illinois, has an impressive resume with more than 26 years as a software engineer. He's also deaf.
Latest Buzz: Recession's New Victims Are … Men?
Submitted by Patty on Tue, 11/24/2009 - 08:01By Jeannie Babb Taylor
Ethics Daily
Have you heard the latest buzz? Some writers and commentators are now calling the recession a "he-cession."
The new word, coined somewhere out on the blogosphere, incites fear and trembling in the masses because now the recession is actually affecting, well, men.
Gov. Perdue Honors Veterans, Announces "I Hire Military" Campaign
Submitted by Patty on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 10:37
Office of the Governor
Gov. Bev Perdue thanked North Carolina veterans at a Veterans Day Remembrance Ceremony in Jacksonville Nov. 11 and issued a proclamation honoring the men and women who have served and sacrificed for our country. During the ceremony, Gov. Perdue announced the creation of the “I Hire Military” campaign to encourage businesses to hire veterans and military spouses.
Gov. Perdue, Microsoft Unveil New Partnership to Offer Job Training
Submitted by Patty on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 09:55Office of Governor Bev. Perdue
Gov. Bev Perdue on Thursday announced that North Carolina will join forces with Microsoft in an innovative, public-private partnership to provide free technology training to individuals across the state. The Governor joined Gail Thomas Flynn, Microsoft’s Vice President of State and Local Government, at the Harris Campus of Central Piedmont Community College to applaud the unique partnership titled “Microsoft Elevate America.”
Obama calls for White House summit on job creation
Submitted by Patty on Tue, 11/17/2009 - 16:02By Michael A. Fletcher and Neil Irwin
Washington Post Staff Writers
Unemployment is 'one of the great challenges that remains'
President Obama plans to hold a White House forum on job creation next month, an attempt to signal his concern about the growing ranks of the unemployed and build consensus on future action to stoke the economy.
The summit will bring together small-business owners, corporate executives, economists, financial experts and union leaders to discuss ideas for accelerating job creation during the worst labor market conditions in a generation, Obama said Thursday.
