There was great news for the District last week as the Bureau of Economic Analysis came out with its report on personal income across the country. DC ranked number one with a per capita income of $56,307. That's not the only measurement in which DC ranks near the top of the list. Our nation's capital also has more per capita cases of HIV, teen pregnancy, unemployment, illiteracy and poverty than any state in the country. We truly are a city of have and have nots.
For all the talk of one city, we are two cities, primarily divided by the Anacostia River. I admire Chairman Vince Gray's slogan of "One City." In fact, I wear a lapel pin with those words on my business suits. It's great on paper, but when you look at the economics of this city, it's just not true. For people living in Wards 7 and 8 who see the income numbers, do you think they feel part of the economic resurgence in DC? I doubt it, and it's a shame.
I think the first step to solving this problem is for people to become more involved in their communities. Since I work downtown, I'm a volunteer as a tutor Stevens Elementary School. It's one hour per week, but it goes a long way to enriching the lives of our public school students.
Here are some ways that you can help enrich your community:
1) Help out at a local school
2) If you are a parent, attend PTA meetings or volunteer in your child's classroom
3) Participate in counseling and mentoring programs
4) Use your job skills to train others for success
These are just a few ideas. Getting involved locally will increase camaraderie across the city and will ultimately expand opportunities for those who have been left out. When people know each other and work together to improve their communities, neighborhoods and cities become strong and vibrant. Everyone feels invested in community success. If you have ideas about how to help your community, feel free to post them here.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Makes you wonder what really happened...and what came first. Did these problems come first, which adversely affect our kids so they're not ready for school or did our schools do such a poor job for so many years that our families have entered into a cycle of poverty? Does Mayor Fenty have the chutzpah to pull us out of this? Schools are not the only solution, they're not a panacea for the many other social ills we observe.
You mentioned DC in #1 in the country for rates of HIV, illiteracy, etc. What is your source? I'd like to learn more. Thanks!
Post a Comment