Unemployment and Civic Responsibility

It seems whatever the topic of discussion may be these days, the conversation always turns back to unemployment. And, of course, the same is true in the non-profit sector. However, recent studies are providing evidence that civic engagement and active volunteering in communities has helped protect against high rates of unemployment.

According to a study by the National Conference on Citizenship, states with high rates of volunteering were less effected by unemployment in the recent economic downturn. The study was based on five measures of civic engagement: helping neighbors, volunteering, registering to vote, voting and attending meetings; the most effective measure being helping neighbors, followed by volunteering. An increase in 1% of working with neighbors, corresponded to a decrease of .256% in unemployment.

The correlation between helping neighbors and low rates of unemployment speaks to the fact that in these difficult economic times we cannot always do it all on our own. Where before a street consisted of a row of houses, there is strength in identifying it as a neighborhood or community where one supports another. Unemployment can thus be prevented by lending a hand to those who need it and ensuring that our neighbors do not fall behind.

Over the past year I worked with the non-profit organization A Better LA. Their mission statement summed up in one sentence is: "Helping to change communities from within." In essence, the organization changes inner-city communities who have suffered from gang violence and poverty by creating unity and trust within the community and teaching individuals to support one another. This unique model is saving lives and creating jobs in neighborhoods which had previously been forsaken and deemed hopeless.

Whether you live in the inner-cities of South Central or the suburbs of Pasadena, this model of helping neighbors and volunteering is applicable to your neighborhood. There is great strength and power in the idea of community, and we can help change unemployment and poverty by lending support to those who need it. We tend to view Los Angeles as a cluster of neighborhoods: Santa Monica, Downtown, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, etc. But if we change this perspective, and begin to see Los Angeles as a whole, as one large community, perhaps we can begin to solve the greater issues which face us all.

I leave you now with this quote, in the hope that today you will consider reaching out to your neighbors to help them up:

"Never look down on anybody, unless you are helping them up."



For more information on this study by the National Conference on Citizenship please visit:

http://www.ncoc.net/unemployment-release