My Community: Fernandina Beach, Florida

    There are many valuable stakeholders in this fight to stimulate upward social mobility, but when this topic inevitably arises in everyday conversation, I can’t help but think about my own community of Fernandina Beach, Florida. The population of my hometown is still relatively small, with only approximately 13,000 people living on our island (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019a). While our town has seen the average household income increase dramatically over the years to almost $95,00, there are still about 1,500 people living in poverty (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019a). 12% of the children in our county live in poverty and their opportunities to escape our small town and pursue higher levels of education remain small (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019a). Social mobility is a problem in every community across America, but I am concerned with the place I call home and I urge my valued community members to be stakeholders in this advocacy effort with me.

(U.S. Census Bureau, 2019b)

    Community members of Fernandina Beach, I have seen so many of you pour your heart and soul into this community that we love. I have seen you out cleaning the beaches, volunteering at the animal shelters, and sponsoring races for charities. A sincere commitment to making our town the best place in Florida is evident in everything that you do. All of your efforts make a huge difference, but I do believe that we need to pour more of our time and effort into our children and with those who work with our children. Spending time with our most vulnerable children can allow us to see their perspective, understand their value, and then we can help them get the resources they need to be successful. I can not do this alone. We have to work together to get to a level of synergy so that we can experience all of the innovative solutions that we’re capable of generating together. Overall, this will contribute to a better community because our children will have an environment to thrive. 

      Members of our community, I know that some of you do not believe in social mobility. I have spoken to many of you who are from more privileged beginnings and I know that this idea does not align with what you’ve been taught growing up. While some of you may be skeptical, I invite you to be open to the idea of understanding another human being’s perspective. I have provided copious amounts of data in other posts, but the best way to understand our children and their families is to spend time with them. Empathy comes first and from there we can begin to see other perspectives. We have to begin here if we want to move on to this level of synergy where creative solutions are derived from (Covey, 2004).

    Together, there are many actions that we can take to help our community's children move upward in mobility. We can work together to provide our town with more resources. These resources will help our children get all of the assistance they need so they can thrive developmentally and emotionally. This will translate to better achievement in schools and, overall, a better town. We can call on other stakeholders, like The Boys and Girls Club, to help us get connected with the educators and mentors of these children and, in this way, we can broaden our perspectives and see why our work matters. Community members, I need your help with these advocacy efforts. The connections you have, the resources, and your skills can be valuable to stimulating mobility, and together we can make our community the best place to call home.

References

U.S. Census Bureau (2019a). QuickFacts Fernandina Beach city, Florida. Retrieved from                 https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/fernandinabeachcityflorida/IPE120218#IPE120218

Media Source

U.S. Census Bureau. (2019b). Educational Attainment. Retrieved from: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US1222175&tid=ACSST5Y2019.S1501

 

Organization: The Boys and Girls Club

 

    While social mobility remains an issue in our society, there are still those organizations out there that are committing resources, time, and funding to help those who are the most vulnerable to issues surrounding the inability to move upward in society. With the help of organizations, such as The Boys and Girls Club, 76% of low-income children that are between the ages of 12 to 18 report As and Bs in their classes, compared to the 67% of their peers nationally (Boys and Girls Club, n.d.). Yet, we still have children that lack the resources they need to succeed in school. For example, 4.4 million households in America report that they don’t have consistent access to computers for online learning. This is essential for both our digital era and during the pandemic ( USA Facts, 2020). Boys and Girls Club, I am asking you to continue your efforts in closing the achievement gap and help me in my effort to see to it that every child has the education they deserve.

(USA Facts, 2020)

    In my local community, there are many children who are involved in the Boys and Girls Club. But sometimes, it can be challenging for the younger children to access these facilities because their parents don’t have cars or transportation. Boys and Girls Club of America, I know that you value diversity, innovation, and helping those excel beyond grade school. With your help, we can reach into every community across America and ensure that they have the resources they need to get to your organization, get involved, and develop the skills they need to succeed. Together, we can work towards equality in communities across America.

     Our society needs these children’s skills, talent, and knowledge but they need our help. I know that the Boys and Girls Club is committed to this cause every day and that innovation is a priority. With your help, together we can reach your goals and live by your mission to assist those children in need and close the achievement gap. Unfortunately, there are many children who still do not seek your resources and I’m asking for help in finding ways that we can reach them all. This will create a society that fights for equality and is driven towards success.

     Boys and Girls Club, I am thankful for you and your efforts thus far. I know children who utilized your organization that go on the achieve greatness. What we need to do is find a way to dig deeper into these vulnerable communities and ensure no child is left behind. We need to provide transpiration, resources, and we need creative ways to gather funding from local communities. With COVID-19, we need this more than ever. Innovation and creativity are the keys to our success and I understand that this fight to close the achievement gap and promote upward mobility could not be done without an organization as wonderful as this one.

References

 

Boys and Girls Club. (n.d.). Club Impact. Retrieved from: https://www.bgca.org/about-us/club-impact

USA Facts. (2020, September 28). Millions of students have no internet while sheltering at home. Retrieved from:  https://usafacts.org/articles/internet-access-students-at-home/

Media Source 

USA Facts. (2020, September 28). Millions of students have no internet while sheltering at home. Retrieved from:  https://usafacts.org/articles/internet-access-students-at-home/

Parents as Stakeholders

 In my opinion, being a parent is the hardest job that there is. As a mother to two toddlers, I constantly find myself on an emotional rollercoaster with no manual and no plan, as each child is unique in their temperament and development. But nurturing our children and fostering healthy development is essential as a parent, as these children will be leaders in our society one day. Parents in poverty, I understand that you have a major disadvantage. In 2019, 91.3% of families with children in the U.S.  had at least one employed parent, meaning that you are out there in the workforce doing what you can to support your family, yet poverty remains a societal issue (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020). Children’s cognitive and socioemotional development can take a hard hit from poverty, as parents who are stressed to make ends meet may partake in more conflict which, in turn, can hinder a child’s development (National Academies Press, 2019).  The odds are against you, parents, but with your effort to advocate for social mobility, together we can pave a new road for our children that have no say in the intergenerational cycles that they may succumb to.

(Brookings, 2018)

Parents living in poverty, you play a vital role in this effort to stimulate social mobility. You are your child’s first educator. You have the ability to help your children reach their full potential by first understanding that your situation may not be entirely in your control and when you see that, you can begin to implement small changes to reverse this intergenerational cycle. Small actions that you take now can have a large impact on how your child will grow and learn. Children in poverty who are exposed to resources and quality education can move towards upward mobility in their adulthood, but they need your guidance in their life now to get there.

Parents, right now in your life you have many needs. You may need food, water, maybe even shelter. You may need to figure out how you’re going to pay a bill or get to work. All of these factors are stressful and they are probably not how you pictured your life. Your inability to move upward in socio-economics classes is usually a product of your own childhood. With this self-realization, we can work together to shift our thinking, focus, and efforts to your children so that they do not have to deal with the same stressors that you’ve had to.

Parents, I am asking you to be a stakeholder in our children’s ability to move upward in society and to help close the achievement gap. To do this, I ask that you connect you and your family with every resource available to you. This may mean putting your children in Head Start programs or have your children actively engaging with The Boys and Girls Clubs in your area. In my next post, I will ask these organizations to come to you as well. I am also asking that you reach out to your child’s school and ensure that the teachers are of high quality and that they are giving your child the education they deserve. If this is not the case, please write to your local and state politicians and ask them why your child’s classroom looks different than the “nice” school in a different area. Lastly, I am asking you to take time to reduce your stress. Your stressors may not go away, but taking the time to understand how you feel and why you react a certain way can shift the entire dynamic of your home and it can allow your child to grow positively both cognitively and emotionally. Please, stand by me and be the voice for our children. Your situation is one that we want to change and while we work on that, we must ensure that we are doing everything we can to break the cycle of poverty for your children and their future.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2020, April 21). EMPLOYMENT CHARACTERISTICS OF

FAMILIES — 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/famee.pdf

National Academies Press (US). (2019, February 28). A Roadmap to Reducing Child Poverty.

Washington (DC). Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547361/

Media Sources

Brookings. (2018). Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings [Digital Image]. Retrieved from:

https://www.brookings.edu/research/working-parents-are-key-to-covid-19-recovery/

Organizational Leaders

      When we think about social mobility, we must ask ourselves: what drives social mobility upwards? I have already addressed educators and policymakers, but perhaps one of the most essential players in this fight for equality are organizational leaders. The entire goal of advocating for this vital issue stems from a desire to cultivate a more inclusive society, one that allows everyone equal opportunity to flourish. Data consistently shows us that white males continue to have the highest incomes, while African Americans and Latinos remain at the bottom of the spectrum. The average income of a white family in 2019 was approximately $101,732, and $75,058 for Hispanic families. Black families only earned approximately $56,812 in 2019. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019). When we break the data down further, we’ll find that only 3.2% of senior leadership roles at  large corporations are held by black people (Coqual, 2019).

(Coqual, 2019)

                Organizational leaders, I am asking you to assess who you are hiring and why. Due to outside societal influences and experiences, it's our human nature to have implicit biases. This does not mean it is okay. As leaders, we must be self-aware and strive to change the dynamic in our work culture. A research experiment was done by the National Bureau of Economic Research, titled Are Emily and Greg More Employable than Lakisha and Jamal? A Field Experiment on Labor Market Discrimination, researchers Bertrand and Mullainathan (2003), indicated that those with names from Black culture we’re less likely to receive a call back from an interview, regardless of their credentials. Proactive leaders can look to the future and help break these trends and biases that are hindering the advancement of people from lower socioeconomic statuses.

                Leaders, I understand that you are constantly addressing big issues and the people under your leadership look to you to be effective, as being efficient and effective are not congruent (Covey, 2004). When we consider how we can have an authentic impact on those we are serving, one of the greatest contributions we can have to our community and to the country is by assessing how we can close these wage gaps that keep these vulnerable populations in the socioeconomic status that they are born into. There is talent out there that may never have the opportunity to make your company, business, or organization better simply because we are not considering our implicit biases or the situations that may have stunted these individuals from obtaining a higher education or formal training.

                Fortunately, there are many actions that can be taken to help stimulate social mobility as an organizational leader. Leaders in education and in organizations can partner together to help hire those from more diverse backgrounds and help them with the resources they need to reach their full potential. Organizational leaders can examine their empathy and integrity and ensure that their core mission and values are inclusive and equal for people from every background and that it reflects a deep, shared vision across the board (Covey, 2004). Finally, organizational leaders can effectively impact change by creating a plan to solve this problem of social mobility and ensuring that it is a priority. As stakeholders in this effort, both the organization and society have a chance at prospering.

References

Bertrand, M. & Mullainathan, S. (2003, July). Are Emily and Greg More Employable than Lakisha and Jamal? A Field Experiment on Labor Market Discrimination [PDF]. National Bureau of Economic Research: NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES. DOI 10.3386/w9873. Retrieved from: https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w9873/w9873.pdf

Brooks, K. (2019, December 10). Why so many black business professionals are missing from the C-suite.

Coqual. (2019). Being Black in Corporate America. Center for Talen Innovation [PDF]. Retrieved from: https://coqual.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/CoqualBeingBlackinCorporateAmerica090720-1.pdf

Covey, S. R. (2004). The 7 habits of highly effective people: Restoring the character ethic. New York: Free Press.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2019). Income and Poverty in the United States: 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2020/demo/income-poverty/p60-270.html

Image Reference

Coqual. (2019). Being Black in Corporate America. Center for Talen Innovation [PDF]. Retrieved from: https://coqual.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/CoqualBeingBlackinCorporateAmerica090720-1.pdf