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Montage by mclinn.net

Community Journalism

By PNN staff

"We all talk about the digital divide - well, I'm here to tell you…we are in the divide and poor folk haven't got the digital part yet....". Community Journalist at Poor News Network speaking on the "digital divide

POOR Magazine as a component of The People's Budget Collaborative has proposed a program to address the ever-growing lack of media and multi-media access for low and no-income communities in The Bay Area, as well, to address the necessity of living wage employment for folks transitioning from welfare to work, which several of the POOR Magazine staff are currently attempting to do. This program is called; Community Journalism

Community Journalism

FACT SHEET

Amount Requested: $188,000 Annualized

Currently, PAES and CALWORKS recipients are unable to successfully transition off of welfare as they are unable to attain living wage jobs that offer full benefits and child care due to the time limited job training programs and "work-first" mandate of welfare reform. This proposal would include extensive training in the media and technology industries and a "living wage" job created, that would allow each participant to act as a "Community Journalist", reporting and researching their communities' issues, problems and solutions in action, while also assisting their respective communities' involvement in the technology and media industries, therefore closing the ever-growing digital divide that exists in low income and monolingual communities

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Number of People Served: 10

Target Population: Very low income PAES and CALWORKS participants, from ten different neighborhoods, and a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds in San Francisco who have experience with gentrification, homelessness, language barriers and poverty in their communities.

Statement of Need: Due to the cost of living in San Francisco and the drastic cuts in Welfare, it is impossible for participants to make a successful transition off welfare unless they attain long-term living wage employment with full benefits . As well, the Bay Area is one of the leading cities in the production of media and multi-media and yet we also have a severe lack of representation in the media and technology industries of low income and mono-lingual communities ( digital divide)

Expected Fiscal Savings: With an estimated 100% success rate it would save the city an estimated $652,000.00 in PAES and CALWORKS administration funds, medi-cal, food-stamps and cash grants.

Expected Outcomes; Ten people will attain full employment and training and successfully transition off of welfare, as well San Francisco will gain prominence as the only city to foster a media job training and employment program. And at least 300 low income youth and community members will benefit from their communities active role in the media and technology industries through community publishing, reporting and mentoring.

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THERAPY COSTS TOO MUCH!!!!
Dee Gray, M.S.W., M.F.C.   Licensed Therapist specializing in advocacy and crisis counseling. Mother, daughter and family counseling. Adoption and juvenile dependency. Literary and creative art counseling. Individual and group therapy. Sliding scale fee. (415) 541-5629.