Kids in the child welfare system are among the most vulnerable people in our society. The educational and socio-economic outcomes for foster youth are staggeringly abysmal. According to the Child Welfare League of America: There are more than 500,000 in foster care in the U.S., at an average age of 10 years and an averageContinue reading “Vulnerability and hope for foster children”
Category Archives: General
California Parolees Have a High Need for Health Services; Accessing Services Is a Challenge
By Lois Davis, RAND Corporation As California continues to release more prisoners, most will return to California communities, bringing with them a host of health and social needs. This raises key public health challenges, especially because ex-prisoners are returning to communities whose safety nets have already been severely strained. The RAND Corporation has just releasedContinue reading “California Parolees Have a High Need for Health Services; Accessing Services Is a Challenge”
Giving was down in 2008; Human service organizations hit hard
The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that according to Giving USA’s report findings released today, charitable donations fell by nearly 6% in 2008, the sharpest drop in 53 years. Americans gave over $300 billion to nonprofit organizations in 2008, amounting to about 2% of the gross domestic product. As the article points out, the decline from theContinue reading “Giving was down in 2008; Human service organizations hit hard”
Who are the most generous among us?
There was an interesting article in the Philadelphia Inquirer today reporting on analysis of the 2007 BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey that shows that the poor are in some respects the most generous in charitable giving. The poorest fifth of America’s households (and we’re talking here about households with an average income of less than $11,000)Continue reading “Who are the most generous among us?”
Can microfinance work in the U.S.?
When most people hear “microcredit” or “microfinance,” they think of efforts to addressing poverty in the developing world, as in the village banking model popularized by Grameen Bank in Bangladesh and others. The United Nations designated 2005 the International Year of Micro-credit, and Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank, won the Nobel Peace Prize inContinue reading “Can microfinance work in the U.S.?”
Philanthropic patience
For those of us who have toiled to raise funds from philanthropic foundations to support community efforts, the above words may seem at first to be oxymoronic (like “military intelligence” or “honest politician”). Foundations are famous for having a specific type of attention deficit disorder that looks for just the latest and greatest innovation andContinue reading “Philanthropic patience”
The other side of Bolivia
I had the opportunity to travel to Bolivia last week to visit several projects working to improve the lives of poor residents. Bolivia is a landlocked nation home to about 10 million people and one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere. It ranks 111th on the Human Development Index out of 179 countries.Continue reading “The other side of Bolivia”
Human suffering
Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing. Luke 23:34 I’ve been reading Mountains Beyond Mountains, a great book by Tracy Kidder about the work of Paul Farmer and Partners in Health recently. It tells the story of how the dedication of one talented person can mushroom into a global effortContinue reading “Human suffering”
This is justice?
I recently served on a jury in a civil trial in Los Angeles County. It was the first time I’ve actually gone through the whole process and been selected for a jury, and it was certainly interesting and “good for me” to go through it. It was also frustrating, however, because I couldn’t help butContinue reading “This is justice?”
Countering discrimination through education
LA Times reporter Corina Knoll provides a touching tale in her article, “Thanking her for opening my eyes,” of how important teachers can be in shaping how we view others and the world. She explains how Iowa schoolteacher Jane Elliot helped her third grade class understand the dynamics and consequences of racism in the wakeContinue reading “Countering discrimination through education”
Bill Pitkin 