Spreading the Message!
For my spread a message, I decided to take my Prezi offline and transform it into a poster so that I could more easily talk about wealth inequality here on campus. I decided that the best place to try to reach out to students is the Student Life Center, because unlike the cafeteria, students usually come to Farmer to hang out and relax—not just gobble down some food and go! Specifically, I chose to target our student body because college students, as future civil leaders, educators, business men and women, etc., we have great potential to change the lives of the communities we enter as adults. Accordingly, I altered my board so that not only did it offer broad, governmental solutions to income and wealth inequality, but also some ways college students can help alleviate the problem as well. Some of these remedies include tutoring underprivileged children and teenagers, volunteering or donating to organizations working to alleviate the problem, and writing their legislators, both state and Congressional.
Adelyn Gillon stopped by to check out the board!
Overall, I think my spread a message was successful because many people were interested in my board and came to talk to me. It was fun engaging strangers in a topic that affects all but is so rarely discussed among private citizens. Many people had stories about how their friends or family members worked several minimum wage jobs just so they could pay their bills each month. Saving money, they explained, was a nice concept but an unrealistic option. It made sense to them, as my board illustrated, that the wealth gap is even greater than the income gap. It takes money to save money and build assets. Some students worried that even if they did graduate they’d still end up like their struggling friends and family because the job market is so ruthless. Other students expressed a need for more job opportunities wherein employees can learn skills on the job and subsequently move up the hierarchy. As for my solution, most agreed that they should tutor or mentor but lamented that they just didn’t have enough time. Also, many scoffed at the idea that our legislators might do something to address the issue. Overall, I believe my spread a message campaign was successful. Not only did I get to inform others about an issue that I care about, but I was able to participate in a dialogue with people who had firsthand experience with the subject matter. Thus, I think the information session was a positive experience for everyone involved.
More Supporters!
Yet the struggle for greater equality in the U.S. continues and the debate surrounding the issue continues to rage on. For those of you who are interested, listed below are some additional sources you can check out. There are many interesting and diverse perspectives on the issue! I tried to include differing and some conflicting viewpoints so you guys can get a sense of the rhetoric and logic surrounding the issue. In closing, I’d like to share this video that I believe accurately captures Americans’ attitudes toward poverty, though it was in fact filmed in London. We all care—we just have to be committed to doing something about it!
One Way to Spread a Message!
Other sources:
- Income Inequality and Its Cost (NY Times)
- Debate On Wage And Wealth Gap Heats Up; Solutions Elusive (NPR)
- To Fix Income Inequality, The Have-Nots Must Become The Do-Somethings (Forbes)
- Wealth Inequality Is a Problem, but How Do You Even Begin to Solve It? (The Atlantic)
- Fast Food CEOs Make 1,000 Times More Than Their Typical Workers: Report (Huffington Post)