Our World

Returning to the Workforce

2009-06-29T17:15:36Z

Mothers intending to return to the workforce after raising children can face isolation and other issues that make "opting back in" a difficult process. Emma Gilbey Keller shares a similar experience and provides significant steps and solutions in overcoming similar situations in her new book, The Comeback: Seven Stories of Women Who Went From Career to Family and Back Again.

Check out this article from The New York Times for further details:

Start Me Up

By EUGENIE ALLEN
Published: September 19, 2008

THE COMEBACK
Seven Stories of Women Who Went From Career to Family and Back Again
By Emma Gilbey Keller

For mothers contemplating a return to the work force after years spent raising children, Emma Gilbey Keller has good news: if the women she profiles in her new book can do it, so can you. And if you're not quite as well-off, well educated and well connected as most of these woman are -- well, not to worry. You can launch your comeback with a big dose of the self-confidence she serves up in this breezy, feel-good book.

Keller is tired of hearing about the financial, professional and emotional hazards of opting out, and she's betting you are, too. Arguing that isolation and insecurity are among the biggest problems faced by at-home mothers, she embarks on a major pep talk, starting with her own story. After an exciting career as a journalist and author (she wrote a 1993 book called "Lady: The Life and Times of Winnie Mandela"), she was equally excited to start a family and devote herself to motherhood -- until, that is, she developed a serious case of postpartum inertia.

Make that very postpartum, as in: "You turn down one piece of work because you don't want to travel, another because you're tired, then another because your brain feels rusty -- and before you know it, three years have gone by and you can list every child's activity in your neighborhood. . . . You weigh about 20 pounds more than you ever imagined, and people who are put next to you at dinner parties ask you for your husband's opinions."

The condition was especially painful for Keller. Her husband, Bill Keller, is executive editor of The New York Times, so his opinions seemed to matter more than most. When she began to avoid going to events without him, she knew it was time for a change, so she went looking for inspiration from similarly situated mothers who had managed to opt back in. Not only did she find it, but she used it as the basis for her own comeback: this book. Now she wants to inspire you, too.

Keller, who is 47, profiles seven thriving returnees in their 40s, 50s and 60s: a venture capitalist, a furniture designer, a teacher, a human rights activist, a photographer, a doctor and a lawyer. It's easy to see why they excelled at re-entry. All seven finished college (several have advanced degrees), all delayed childbearing until their careers were well under way and all were able to reinvent themselves using work skills that were highly portable -- from one job to the next, one geographic location to the next, even one profession to the next.

Keller will come back just fine, too. She chats and charms her way through the book, interweaving obsessively detailed portraits of her subjects with quick sketches of larger issues including women's entrepreneurship; sexism in the fields of medicine, law and architecture; the benefits of joint custody to divorced mothers' work schedules; and the effect (or not) of changing gender roles on housework.

Keller struggles at times to sustain her central conceit: that these women are Everywoman. For one thing, her subjects are hardly representative. Six of the seven are married, and although she labels them middle-class, most can afford luxuries like world travel and private schools for their children. (The lone divorced woman, the doctor, says that money was tight for a while, but she now enjoys horseback riding and voice lessons.) For another, Keller sometimes works so hard to get past women's differences that she overstates their similarities. At one point, for example, she declares that all women network and "like to join things," but just four pages later she says, "We all feel insecure, shy and anxious." Which is it?

When Keller allows her subjects to speak for themselves, though, they manage to speak to everyone. The photographer describes having her first child: "It was like stepping off the world into a part of eternity. I loved being a mother. I didn't miss photography at all." The lawyer remembers being so exhausted after she first returned to work that about once a month she took a two-hour lunch and stole away to her friend Bebe's house. "She would cook me lunch, give me a pair of her silk pajamas, and I would climb into her water bed and go to sleep. . . . It was heaven, absolute heaven."

In the end, these accomplished, lucky women bring reassuring voices to our increasingly urgent national conversation about mothers and work; now it's time for their less fortunate peers to make themselves heard. Earlier this summer, new Congressional data confirmed what some experts have been warning about for years. Many women have left the work force not because they craved more time with their children, but because they've been squeezed out of a weak labor market.

The publication of "The Comeback" is nearly synchronous with two landmark moments in the debate about work/family balance: John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate, and the 20th anniversary of the Harvard Business Review article that introduced the galvanizing notion of the mommy track. If Keller's Everywoman can finally effect lasting political and economic change, perhaps her daughters won't need to stage a career comeback: they won't have to leave in the first place.

Tips On Writing A Résumé

2009-06-23T19:14:58Z

Looking for a job? Need to know how to write a resume? Does your resume need improvement?

Having a resume is not only the traditional norm of providing employers with your employment and/or educational history, but also a great way to showcase what skills or attributes you are willing to bring to the workplace.

Women Work is a "National Network for Women's Employment" dedicated to providing the information and resources women need in the workplace. For tips on writing a resume and other information regarding resumes, click here, or read on.

Writing A Résumé

Have you taken a lot of time off work or learned skills off the job?
Are you unsure of how to explain that time or experience on a resume?
Do you feel uncertain about how to "sell" your talents and knowledge?

Getting Started
Putting together a résumé will help you organize information so an employer can quickly look at your history. There is no one way to put together a résumé but the guidelines below will help you include key information and highlight your strengths and experiences.

Drafting Your Résumé
The first step in creating a résumé is to plan what you want to include. Think about what job experiences you have, skills you have developed and how these things will help you at your new job.

Make a list of all paid and unpaid jobs you have had. Include in your list: when you had the job, who your employer was, what your title was and what you accomplished.

Write down the education you have had after high school, including college classes and degrees, training courses, licenses, certificates and any other learning experiences you might have.

Write down any skills or special knowledge you may have, including languages spoken, experience with computers, ability to use special tools or machinery, etc.

Consider unique knowledge or skills you gained while raising children, caring for family members, volunteering or during other personal experiences.

Create a professional e-mail address where potential employers can contact you. It should contain some combination of your name and initials, but do not use nicknames or silly words or phrases. Get your own free e-mail account at www.hotmail.com, www.yahoo.com or at mail.google.com.

Résumé Formats
There are different ways of organizing your information in differnt types of résumés. Different résumé formats can highlight strengths, such as numerous work experiences, or downplay weaknesses, such as being out of the workforce. Choose between the "reverse chronological" and the "functional" résumé styles. Each style has benefits and disadvantages. Use the one that best fits your life and work experiences.

Functional

Useful for people with breaks in employment history and skills. A functional résumé shows experience not evident in a "reverse chronological" resume.
Focuses attention on accomplishments and minimizes emphasis on jobs.
Lists skills and special knowledge without reference to employment.
Lets you explain openly why you want a certain job or why you think your skills and experience would benefit a certain organization.

Reverse Chronological

Useful for people with a steady employment history.
Lists experiences from most to least recent.
Shows responsibilities and accomplishments at each job.
Displays educational and professional accomplishments.
Lists your future employment goals.
Does not show off skills, experience, and knowledge gained off the job.

Check out free example résumés online:
www.quintcareers.com
www.jobweb.com
content.monster.com

Résumé Tips

Fit your résumé onto one page. Prospective employers will only glance over it at first.
Make all your important information clear and concise. Say what you mean in a few well-chosen, specific words. When describing your work, list your accomplishments, not your duties.
Describe your accomplishments and skills using powerful, action words. Try words like "direct," "analyze," "manage," "examine," and "develop."
Tell the truth. Making false claims on your résumé can only hurt you.
Use one professional looking, easy to read type style for your whole résumé. Arial, Garamond, Times New Roman type styles are all good choices.
Do not repeat the same words. Think of other words that have similar meanings. Check out the free online dictionary at www.dictionary.com and thesaurus at www.thesaurus.com.
Keep it simple. Many résumés are submitted through the Internet and companies will scan the text into their system. Too many bold, italicized or underlined words may not scan as you want.

Perfecting Your Résumé

Check your résumé before sending it to employers. Pay attention to the details and make sure information is correct. Follow the checklist below to avoid mistakes.
Proofread! Check over your résumé many times looking for spelling and grammar errors. Make sure you have used the same formatting throughout.
Have a close friend or relative look it over for you. He or she might find mistakes you missed.
Tailor your résumé for each organization or each job type. You can emphasize experiences and skills relevant to each organization or position. Tailoring your résumé will show you understand their organization.
Print your finished résumé on high quality paper if you are mailing it to the prospective employer. Select an 8-½" x 11" paper that is a bit heavier than standard paper; weights between 20 pound and 50 pound are most often used. White, beige and gray are common choices since neutral colors communicate a professional tone. This paper can be bought at a bookstore or an office supply store. You can also photocopy your résumé onto nicer paper at a copy store and usually you can buy matching envelopes.

Sample of a Functional Résumé

Sample of a Reverse Chronological Résumé

Instructions On How These Samples Were Built

Cover Letter: Tips and Significance

2009-05-20T19:33:45Z

Women Work is a "National Network for Women's Employment" dedicated to providing the information and resources women need in the workplace. Please click here for the organization's detailed tips on writing a cover and why it is important.

According to To Women Work,

A cover letter is a one-page business letter that you send to a potential employer when you submit your résumé. The letter introduces you, explains which job you are applying for and why you think you would be a good candidate for the position. A cover letter is important because it gives you the opportunity to talk more in depth about the skills and experiences on your résumé that are applicable to the job for which you are applying. You can use a cover letter to discuss some important experiences that may not have a place in your résumé. It reflects your personality, your attention to detail, your communication skills, your enthusiasm, your intellect and your specific interest in the company to which you are sending the letter.

The Four Parts of a Cover Letter
Writing a cover letter can seem a little overwhelming at first, but it is helpful to think of it as four separate sections:

1 - Introduction and announcement of the job you are applying for

2 - Description of your skills

3 - How your skills apply to the job posting

4 - Closing and thank yous

The first section should be just a few sentences that state which job you are applying for and where you heard about the job (i.e. a specific Web site or newspaper). It can be helpful to open the letter with a catchy line that will grab the reader's attention, but make sure it is appropriate for a professional letter.

The second and third sections go hand in hand, and it is a good idea to brainstorm these at the same time - then go back and separate what you want to say in each section. When thinking of what to write, look over the description of the job you are applying for and find the most important traits and abilities the organization is looking for. Next, think of ways your skills and experience match with the organization's needs. Come up with specific examples of how you have used your skills. This is a good section to discuss skills developed from non-traditional work. Any specialized equipment or programs you may know how to use could be mentioned in the second or third paragraph.

For the second section, you can talk about any specific accomplishments or skills you have. In the third section you should mention a few of the traits the employer is looking for and how the information mentioned in the second section displays that you have these traits.

The final section should provide the reader with information on contacting you, as well as make a statement on what you expect from the reader. This would be the section where you could say, "I am available for an interview at any time." By stating that you are available for an interview you are showing that you are confident that you are a right match for the firm. Finally, a short thank you is an important way to end.

The format of the cover letter should be standard business letter format, with your name and address at the top and the recipient's information below that. The letter should be addressed to the specific company and the specific individual who will process your application. You can usually find this through research or simply by calling the company to find out to whom your letter should be addressed.

Cover Letter Tips

Use the sample cover letter included in this tip sheet as a guide. Try to stick as closely as possible to the basic cover letter format. Employers want to know about you in a short amount of time.
Find the name, title and address of the contact person at the organization. It is important to send a personalized letter and not a generic "To Whom It May Concern." By putting the correct contact person you are showing you are serious about the job and not just sending blanket cover letters to everyone.
Think about the employer's needs and wants as you write. Use your letter to highlight ways you will fulfill these needs and wants.
Fit your cover letter onto one page. Say what you mean in brief, direct sentences, using well-chosen and specific words. Keep your paragraphs relatively short.
Describe your accomplishments and skills using powerful, action-filled words. Try words like "direct," "analyze," "manage," "examine" and "develop."
Tell the truth. Making false claims on your cover letter can only hurt you.
Use the same professional looking, easy to read type style you used for your résumé. Arial, Garamond, Times New Roman type styles are all good choices.
Do not use the same words over and over. Think of other words that have similar meanings. Check out the free online dictionary at www.dictionary.com and thesaurus at www.thesaurus.com.
Tailor your cover letter for each organization, using the same basic format. You can emphasize experiences and skills relevant to each organization. Tailoring your cover letter will show you've done your research and understand their organization.
Keep it simple. Many cover letters are submitted through the Internet and companies will scan the text into their system. Too many bolds, italics, or underlines may not scan as you want.
Proofread! Check over your cover letter many times, looking for spelling and grammar errors. Make sure you have used the same type style and formatting throughout.
Have a close friend or relative look it over for you. He or she might find mistakes you missed.
Print your finished cover letter on high quality paper that matches your résumé, if you are mailing it to the employer. Select an 8-½" x 11" paper that is a bit heavier than standard paper, weights between 20 pound and 50 pound are usually used. White, beige and gray are common choices since neutral colors communicate a professional tone. This paper can be bought at a bookstore or an office supply store. You can also photocopy your cover letter onto nicer paper at a copy store and usually you can buy matching envelopes.

For a sample cover letter click here

For instructions on how this sample was created click here

A Special Message for Mothers from Mary J. Blige

2009-05-09T21:22:14Z

I want to say Thank You to all the mothers in the world for their strength, endurance, love and obedience to God. I thank God for all the mothers who endure till the end, who raise their children no matter what, and love them unconditionally. When they are abandoned by the father, they sacrifice to still raise the children, educate, appreciate them and prepare them for life - it's amazing to me.

I have traveled the world and met so many amazing women. I have seen and even had the privilege to help many women do wonderful things with their lives. But the one thing I have realized is that when a woman is a mother, there is no job or career as important to her as that role. Motherhood is many jobs in one. A mother is a teacher, a friend and a doctor. She is a best friend and a sister. A mother is the one person who will forever love unconditionally and welcome their children with open arms for all of their lives.

I believe that a mother's love is never changing. A mother's love makes you feel warm all the time. A mother's love reminds you that no matter how hard life gets, you can still come home. A mother's love has a healing power that no one can even explain.

When I think about what it means to be a mother, my heart fills with so much joy and appreciation for every woman who honors their place in a child's life. There are many women who may not have given birth to a child but play a very big role in a child's life. These women have titles such as step mom, teacher, guidance counselor, coach or mentor. To all of you, I hope you know that just because you didn't give birth to them, doesn't mean they don't belong to you.

Love has no boundaries. Love knows no limits. Love for a child comes in many forms and from the many different women in their lives.

In closing, I would like to wish ALL of you a very Happy Mother's Day and thank you for being a friend of FFAWN. May God continue to give you the strength to press on!!

All My Love,
Mary

The 411 on Student Loans

2009-05-04T21:34:24Z

Do you need to take out a loan to help pay for your education? Are you confused about how student loans work, and how much they'll actually cost you? Well, you're not alone - FinAid.org points out that according to the 2003-2004 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS), nearly two thirds of students in 4-year undergraduate programs graduate with some debt, with an average student loan debt among graduating seniors of $19,237. The site also suggests that preliminary data for the 2007-08 NPSAS shows an increase in the average amount of debt among graduating seniors at 4-year institutions, up to $22,500. Average cumulative debt increases by about 3%, or approximately $550 per year.

Students' debt burdens are becoming increasingly heavy, due not only to an increase in the average amount borrowed, but also to an increased reliance on private loans, which tend to have higher interest rates than federal loans. While President Obama's administration is actively working toward solutions to help reduce student debt, it will be at least another year before those changes take effect.

Student debt is no laughing matter, either - a study conducted in 2002 for Nellie Mae, a major student lender and subsidiary of Sallie Mae, found that 38% of graduates held off on buying their first house because of student loans, 14% put off marriage, and 21% delayed having children.

Anya Kamenetz, author of "Generation Debt," suggests that "people need to approach college like they approach purchasing a car. Different people can afford different models. Don't be deterred from going to college, but students need to be smart shoppers."

Here is a collection of resources to help you find the best options for your education needs.

FinAid.org's guide to student loans explains the different categories of education loans:

Student loans (eg. Stafford and Perkins loans)
Parent loans (eg. PLUS loans)
Private student loans (also called alternative student loans)

There is another type of loan, the consolidation loan, which allows the borrower to lump all of their loans into one loan for simplified payment.

Consolidation loans can seem like attractive options, since they do lower your monthly payments. However, the U.S. Department of Education's website on Federal Student Aid cautions that "although consolidation can simplify loan repayment and lower your monthly payment, it also can significantly increase the total cost of repaying your loans. Consolidation offers lower monthly payments by giving borrowers up to 30 years to repay their loans...so, you'll make more payments and pay more in interest...If you don't need monthly payment relief, you should compare the cost of repaying your unconsolidated loans against the cost of repaying a consolidated loan. You also should take into account the impact of losing any borrower benefits offered under nonconsolidated repayment plans. Borrower benefits, which may include interest rate discounts, principal rebates, or some loan cancellation benefits, can significantly reduce the cost of repaying your loans."

The U.S. Department of Education further cautions that consolidation loans are permanent: "Once made, Federal Consolidation Loans cannot be unmade. That's because the loans that were consolidated have been paid off and no longer exist." Be sure to take your time and study your consolidation options before committing yourself to a situation like this. You can consult resources like this Consolidation Checklist to help guide your decision.

FinAid.org also offers a variety of helpful resources, including a number of calculator tools, a Student Loan Checklist to help you keep track of your debt, and helpful articles like "Solutions for Borrowers Who are Having Trouble Repaying Student Loans".

BlackStudents.com also offers a Student Loan Calculator tool to help you compute an estimate of the size of your monthly loan payments, assuming a standard fixed interest rate. You can use tools like this to help plan ahead to avoid being caught off guard after you graduate.

Another great source for advice is the website of the Project On Student Debt for articles like "The Top 10 Student Loan Tips for Recent Graduates" and the "Tip Sheet for Student Loan Borrowers."

Finally, you can check out our Finance resources to help you understand and take control of your personal finances, starting with creating a realistic monthly budget.

Are you in the process of paying off your student loans? What have you found helpful along the way? Have you found any monthly routines that help you stay on track with your loan payments? Share the tricks that have worked for you by commenting below - your struggles and tried-and-true methods can be extremely helpful for someone starting out in the same position!

Summer Programs for Students of Color

2009-05-04T16:28:24Z

Courtesy of a community blog on Barack Obama's Organizing for America website, below is a list of summer programs primarily for students of color.

Black Excel

College Horizons
Target: Native American students; rising sophomores and juniors

Dedicated Enginerers

Dow Jones Newspaper Fund

INROADS

Quality Education for Minorities (QEM) Network

WECAAARE Education Foundation

College-Specific:

California Institute of Technology: Young Engineering and Science Scholars
Target: Historically under-represented student in science and engineering; rising sophomores and juniors

Carleton College: Liberal Arts Experience
Target: African American students; rising juniors

Cornell University: CURIE Academy
Target: High school girls

Cornell University: CATALYST Academy
Target: African America/Latino or Native American students interested in science, technology, engineering and math; rising sophomores, juniors and seniors

Howard University: Summer Enrichment Program and Recruitment
Target: African American/Hispanic students applying for admission to health professions in the CPNAHS at Howard University

Lehigh University: Students That Are Ready (S.T.A.R.) Academies
Target: Economically and academically disadvantaged and/or at-risk middle/high school aged students

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): MITES
Target: First-generation, historically under-represented in science & engineering; rising seniors

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: PREFACE Summer Program
Target: Historically under-represented students in science/technology; rising sophomores and juniors interested in engineering and technology

University of Notre Dame: African American Scholars Program
Target: Catholic African American high school students

University of Notre Dame: Latino Community Leadership Seminar
Target: Catholic Latino students; rising seniors

Worcester Polytechnic Institute: STRIVE
Target: African American/Latino/American Indian students interested in engineering

Emerging Leaders Scholarship from The New York Urban League Young Professionals

2009-04-28T17:31:54Z

EMERGING LEADERS SCHOLARSHIP, 2009-2010 Academic Year
DEADLINE: Postmarked by May 15, 2009

See below for official invitation for applications. For more information, contact Raniece Medley at 212-631-3690 or EmergingLeader@nyul.org. To view or print the application, click here.

Dear Applicant:

The New York Urban League Young Professionals (NYULYP) is a unique entity of the New York Urban League designed to serve as an empowerment forum for young professionals that live and work throughout the five boroughs of New York City. We are committed to training the next generation of leaders in the pursuit of social and economic equality.

The scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding high school senior for excellence in scholastic ability and demonstrated commitment to the community.

Ideal candidates have made contributions to the enrichment of the school community through active enrollment in extra-curricular activities. The recipients will have demonstrated individual initiative, creativity, responsibility, cooperation and leadership ability.

Applicants for the Emerging Leaders Scholarship must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8.

Five $500 scholarships will be awarded to select high school seniors. Awardees must be classified as high school seniors at the time the application is submitted. The award is only to be used for tuition and fees required for enrollment, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses.

Sincerely,
The New York Urban League Young Professionals

2009 Tylenol Scholarships

2009-04-20T16:14:24Z

The Tylenol scholarship program helps students who are pursuing careers in the healthcare, life sciences, or related fields, manage the rising costs of education. The program will award $250,000 in scholarships based on leadership qualities and academic performance, including ten $10,000 and thirty $5,000 grants.

DEADLINE: May 15, 2009
Qualifications:

Must be a resident of the 50 United States, Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia
Applications must be received by May 15, 2009. Winners will be selected by July 15, 2009. Funds delivered by August 2009.
Scholarships awarded to students pursuing healthcare-related education at an accredited institution
Must have completed at least one year of undergraduate or graduate course of study in the Spring of 2009 at an accredited two or four year college, university or vocational - technical school; must have one or more years of school remaining
Must provide proof of enrollment to a public health/health education, medical school, nursing and/or pharmacy degree program
Past winners are not eligible to apply or win for the 2009/2010 year

For more information, visit http://www.tylenol.com/scholarship

Tax Credits That Could Help Your Family This Year - Don't Miss Out!

2009-03-01T21:39:47Z

Don't miss out on tax credits that could help your family this year! You may not be eligible for all of these - and you certainly should never lie to receive a credit you're not eligible for! - but every year, many people who are eligible never know, and if you are, you could save a bundle this year.

Tax time can be daunting, but extra preparation could save you and your family a great deal of money. The Daily Parent, an online publication prepared by the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies urges families to be aware of tax credits: "over 600,000 families did not take advantage of $238 million in tax refunds for Child Tax Credit and 15% of eligible families do not claim Earned Income Tax Credit. Many states have their own Child Care and Dependent Care Credit. If the state that you live in has this credit, you can file this type of claim both in your state and federal taxes."

The Internal Revenue Service explains that "while tax deductions and tax credits can both save money, they are fundamentally different. A deduction lowers the income on which the tax is figured, while a credit lowers the tax itself." The IRS has a very helpful section on their website that defines each credit. Please see the Child Tax Credit example below:

"Child Tax Credit
A taxpayer who has a dependent child under age 17 probably qualifies for the child tax credit. This credit, which can be as much as $1,000 per eligible child, is in addition to the regular $3,500 exemption claimed for each dependent. A change in the way the credit is figured means that more low- and moderate-income families will qualify for the full credit on their 2008 returns. The child tax credit is not the same as the child care credit. Details on figuring and claiming the child tax credit can be found in IRS Publication 972."

In addition to the Child Tax Credit, you can find information about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Education Credits, Savers' Credits, and more - find more information from the IRS here and from the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities here. Be sure to review them closely to find out whether or not you are eligible!

Tracy L. Coenen, CPA, MBA, CFE writes about three main tax credits that are often overlooked by taxpayers in her article, "2009 Money Moves: Take Advantage of Tax Credits," the child care credit, the retirement savings credit, and education credits. The IRS is not responsible for letting us know if we qualify for these credits and taking advantage of them could mean money back in our pockets. If a parent is still claiming their college student as a dependant, they can claim up to $2,000 depending on total tuition and fees!

The first-time home buyer tax credit provides a wonderful opportunity and a tax credit of as much as $7,500 for first-time buyers. However, only homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009 are eligible. Please visit the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit site to learn more.

Finally, in addition to claiming all the credits you are eligible for, be sure you don't pay more than you need to if you are planning to get help preparing your tax returns - there are plenty of free clinics and programs for low-income taxpayers. One alternative to try is a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site - to find one in your area, call 1-800-829-1040. For more options, check out our article on where to find free services.

A special thank-you to Mehgan Williams for contributing the material for this article.

Women's Heart Health

2009-02-26T20:15:15Z

Although Valentine's Day has come and gone, now is still a good time to think about how to take the best possible care of your heart.

According to the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, more than 8 million women are currently living with heart disease, and more women than men die of heart disease each year. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) puts this into perspective: While one in 30 women dies of breast cancer, one in four dies of heart disease. Furthermore, after adjusting for age, African-American women have a 72% higher rate of heart disease, and an African-American woman between the ages of 55 and 64 is twice as likely to have a heart attack as a white woman of the same age.

Womenshealth.gov explains that heart disease, the number one cause of death among women in the United States, is caused by coronary artery disease (CAD), when plaque builds up on the walls of the arteries that carry blood to the heart. This causes the arteries to narrow and lose elasticity, keeping the heart from getting all the blood it needs and increasing the risk of blood clots. A heart attack takes place when a clot completely or partially blocks blood flow to the heart, causing the muscle and other tissues to die from lack of oxygen.

Risk factors for heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, physical inactivity, obesity, and diabetes, according to the NHLBI. In addition, WomenHeart.org points out increased risk factors for minority women, including a higher incidence of obesity, high cholesterol, poverty, language barriers, physical inactivity, and lack of information. The website further points to recent studies that found that minority patients face disparities in health care, and that minority women were more likely to mistrust their health care provider. Perhaps most importantly, minority women need to made more aware of their risk for heart disease: statistics show that about 68% of white women know that heart disease is the leading killer of women, compared to only 31% of black women and 29% of Hispanic women.

No matter your age, heart health is extremely important. It's never too late to take action to improve your health, and there are steps you can take to lower your risk of having a heart attack or developing other heart-health-related conditions.

So, what can you do to improve your heart health?

The National Heart, Lungs, & Blood Institute recommends the following six steps to address each of the major risk factors for heart disease:

Stop smoking. Cigarette smoking greatly increases the risk of fatal and nonfatal heart attacks in both men and women, and increases the risk of a second heart attack among survivors. However, just one year after quitting, the risk drops to about one-half that of current smokers and continues to decline over time.
Lower high blood pressure. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, makes the heart work harder and increases the risk of developing heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke. It usually has no symptoms, and once developed, typically lasts a lifetime. You should consult with your doctor to determine your risk and to create a plan of action to address your situation. Actions that can help prevent or control high blood pressure include losing excess weight, increasing physical activity, eating foods lower in salt/sodium, and limiting alcohol consumption.
Reduce high blood cholesterol. High cholesterol in the blood leads to CAD (see above), reducing blood supply to the heart and greatly increasing the risk of blood clots, heart disease, and stroke. Diet, weight, physical activity, age, gender, and heredity all affect cholesterol levels. Like high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol may not cause any direct symptoms, so it is important to have your cholesterol measured regularly - adults age 20 or older should get checked at least once every 5 years.
Aim for a healthy weight. In the United States in 1999, nearly 61% of adults were overweight or obese. Being overweight or obese not only increases your risk of heart attack, but also increases your risk of developing high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes - each of which in turn increases your chance of heart attack even further. If you are overweight, a small weight loss - 10% or less of your current body weight - can significantly lower your risk of developing these diseases.
Be physically active each day. In addition to improving cholesterol levels, helping control high blood pressure and diabetes, and helping to manage weight, physical activity also increases physical fitness, promotes psychological well-being and self-esteem, and reduces depression and anxiety.
Manage diabetes. Up to 75% of those with diabetes develop heart and blood vessel diseases, and are also at risk for stroke, kidney failure, and other severe health concerns. Fortunately, new research shows that the same steps that reduce the risk of heart disease also lower the chance of developing type 2 diabetes, and can delay or prevent the development of complications of diabetes (such as eye disease and nerve damage) for those who already have it.

In addition to these suggestions, WomenHeart.org offers the following tips for your daily nutrition:

Do not skip meals.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day - be sure to fit in even a small snack before you run out the door in the morning!
Eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day
Broil and bake foods instead of frying them
Eat 2 servings of fish per week
Be active every day - walk, jog, or dance for at least 10 minutes
Remove the salt shaker; use spices and herbs for traditional flavors

FREE Assistance in Preparing Your Tax Returns

2009-02-22T23:30:45Z

Why pay when you can get it for free?

Paying a commercial tax preparer to help you with your tax returns can sometimes be costly, but you may be eligible to receive free assistance with your tax preparation. One example of an alternative is to find a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site near you - to find one in your area, call 1-800-829-1040. Information on VITA and other free assistance programs can be found here.

If you do choose to fill out the forms yourself, some companies, like H&R Block, provide easy-to-use programs that walk you through each section of your tax forms to help you figure out which items are relevant to you, and where to find the information you need. For workers earning under a certain threshold, preparation and e-filing of your federal return may be free, but you will still have to pay to submit your state returns.

Below are a more few options for receiving free assistance in preparing your tax returns, courtesy of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities resource, "On-Line Tax Filing Tools." You can access pdf versions of several helpful documents from their website, including a checklist of the items you need to bring with you when you meet with your tax preparer (whether they are commercial preparers or volunteers), a list of Online Tax Filing Tools, Alternatives to Commercial Tax Preparation, and a list of Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics, which provide assistance and legal representation to low-income taxpayers who are in disputes with the IRS. Be sure to take advantage of these services, which can help save you hundreds of dollars this year when you file your taxes.

Free File Alliance
In 2003, the IRS began a partnership with the Free File Alliance, a consortium of companies that provide free on-line tax preparation and electronic filing. Under an agreement with the IRS, workers earning less than $52,000 in 2007 could use its on-line tax filing system at no charge to file federal returns. (Companies may charge to file state tax returns.) In January 2008, workers may access the Free File Alliance at the IRS website to explore what these companies offer and link to tax filing programs they may wish to use. Any changes in income limits or other qualifications for filers in 2008 have not yet been announced. Last year, 3.8 million taxpayers filed returns through the Alliance service. Outreach organizations can make their computers and Internet access available to low-income workers who want to use this service.

Note: The Free File Alliance can make it cost-free and easier for low-income tax filers to take advantage of electronic filing, but Tax Credit Outreach Campaigns should use caution in promoting this service. The services available may not be the best option for all low-income filers. Filers must complete their own tax forms at these sites. While companies attempt to make their sites "user-friendly," they may charge extra fees to answer a worker's tax questions.

Organizations that make their computers available to community residents so they can use this service may wish to have trained staff or volunteers available to answer questions and to review returns for errors before they are submitted to the IRS. In addition, some companies in the Free File Alliance offer refund anticipation loans at the same website. Outreach Campaigns should emphasize to workers that they are under no obligation to purchase these or other services offered by these companies. Outreach Campaigns should also let workers know that they can have their tax refunds deposited directly into their own bank accounts when using these services. For more information on the Free File Alliance, see www.irs.gov/efile.

I-CAN! E-File
The Legal Aid Society of Orange County, CA has developed I-CAN! E-File, a web-based program that enables community partners to assist taxpayers with incomes under $50,000 in preparing and e-filing their own tax returns. I-CAN! E-File is written at a fifth grade literacy level and provides materials at no charge in English and Spanish. In 2007, 13,438 tax returns were filed through I-CAN! E-File, resulting in EIC claims worth more than $6.8 million. I-CAN! E-File completes federal tax returns and state returns for California, Michigan, Montana and Pennsylvania. For more information, please contact Jeanette Valencia at 714-571-5269 or
jvalencia@legal-aid.com. Visit the I-CAN! E-File website at www.icanefile.org.

The Beehive
The One Economy Corporation has created the "Beehive," an on-line resource for people to find child care, social services, money management, employment and education resources in their communities. The Beehive provides information on the EIC and VITA sites, as well as offers workers an opportunity to complete their tax returns on-line. Through the Beehive's partnership with CompleteTax, anyone earning under $40,000 can e-file their federal and state tax returns. While CompleteTax normally charges individuals to use their services, this partnership with Beehive allows qualifying individuals to receive a promotional code through
email that will waive all fees. Visit www.thebeehive.org to learn more.

Scholarships for Minorities in Advertising, Marketing, & PR

2009-01-20T20:32:39Z

The Madison Avenue Project, led by the NAACP and attorney Cyrus Mehri of Mehri & Skalet, was created in 2008 to address the deep rooted racial bias in the advertising industry. According to the NAACP, the Project's findings included a gap between African-American professionals and their colleagues in pay, hiring, promotions, assignments, and more, including the following:

Racial discrimination is 38% worse in the advertising industry than in the overall U.S. labor market
About 16% of large advertising firms employ no black managers or professionals, a rate 60% higher than in the overall labor market
Eliminating the industry's current black-white employment gap would require tripling its black managers and professionals

One way to address this disparity is by increasing educational opportunities for African American students who aspire to work in the advertising industry.

In that spirit, Mr. Kim L. Hunter, Founder/Chairman of The Lagrant Foundation, believes that "it is important to help ethnic minority students achieve their education goals and help guide them toward their future careers." The Lagrant Foundation (TLF), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase the number of ethnic minorities in the fields of advertising, marketing, and public relations, provides scholarships, career development workshops, internships, professional development and mentors to African American, Asian/Pacific Island American, Native American, and Hispanic/Latino undergraduate and graduate students.

TLF announced last week that it is now accepting applications for $100,000 in scholarships for the 2009/2010 academic year, with scholarships of $5,000 for undergraduate students and $10,000 for graduate students. Applications must be submitted by Friday, February 27th, for consideration. To view scholarship requirements and to apply, click here.

Join President-elect Barack Obama and Help to "Renew America Together"

2009-01-16T23:01:54Z

This Monday marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but besides giving you a long weekend to catch up on sleep, this year Americans are being asked to acknowledge the other significance of the day. While the government has an important role to play in helping to address the significant problems facing our nation today, President-elect Barack Obama believes that we, as American citizens, also have a responsibility to do what we can for our communities and for each other.

On January 19th, 2009, Obama is asking America for a renewed commitment to national service to take on the challenges our country is facing, calling for a day of service to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which Congress transformed into a national day of community service in 1994 in honor of a man who lived his life in service to others.

Obama, who started his career by serving Chicago communities struggling with tough economic times, saw what could be achieved when ordinary people organize and work together, and he is now inviting all Americans to share in that experience.

Renew America Together is about more than just a single day of service - it is about making a continued commitment lasting throughout the year and beyond. He is asking all of us to make an ongoing commitment to our communities. Never has it been more important to come together in shared purpose to tackle the common challenges we face.

To get active in your community, visit www.USAService.org - the website offers information about volunteer opportunities across the nation, as well as suggestions for hosting your own event. Our strength as a nation is built on the ideal that we all have a stake in one another. Please be a part of renewing America together.

"We are one people; We are one nation;
and together, we will begin the next great chapter in America's story."

~President-elect Barack Obama

Keep your New Year's resolutions: Setting S.M.A.R.T. goals

2009-01-01T08:00:00Z

Do you find it difficult to keep your New Year's resolutions? Do you find yourself coming up with excuses for why you haven't done something you promised yourself you would months ago? Still haven't lost the weight you gained during your last pregnancy? Haven't found room in your schedule to spend more time with your family? Is the basement still a mess after several halfhearted attempts at "spring cleaning"? Here's a decision-making process that might be able to help. Instead of making empty promises and setting unachievable New Year's resolutions this year, try creating S.M.A.R.T. goals.

When you set goals, you need to carefully consider what you want to achieve and be honest with yourself about how much work you're willing to put in to make them happen.    Having goals helps you feel in control and can give you a sense of purpose. You should keep setting new goals for yourself and not feel limited to just one or two. You should also reassess your goals from time to time and measure your progress. The S.M.A.R.T. process is an effective way to set and meet your goals.

Specific: A specific goal has a much greater chance of being accomplished than a general one. Try to choose goals that deal with behaviors, not feelings. For example, you're your goal to walk 20 minutes each morning instead of just deciding to get into shape. To help yourself set a specific goal, ask yourself the five "W" questions:
   Who: Who is involved?
   What: What do I want to accomplish?
   When: When will I work on my goal and what is a realistic time frame for reaching my goal?
   Where: Where will I accomplish the goal?
   Why: What are the reasons, purpose, or benefits of accomplishing the goal?

Measurable: Choose goals that have results you can measure - when you can measure your progress, you have a better chance at staying on track, reaching your target dates, and having results you can take pride in. When you start planning, decide on the steps you need to take to reach the ultimate goal and set deadlines for each step. Try noting your daily progress each day in a diary or a chart, including how you feel about your accomplishments.

Achievable: Be honest with yourself about what you can achieve. Goal setting is a great way to push yourself beyond your current limits, so you should pick a goal that requires effort and hard work, but be sure to choose a goal that is within reach. For example, you may not be able to run a marathon this year, but over time you can gradually increase the distance you can walk.

Rewarding: While it is exhilarating to reach a goal, you should be sure to find extra ways to reward yourself along the way. Plan rewards ahead of time so you have something to look forward to. For example, treat yourself to a new pair of walking shoes when you can walk a mile without stopping.

Timely: A goal should be grounded within a time frame. With no deadline, there's no sense of urgency. Keeping track of your progress will help you stay motivated.

Remember, reaching your goals can require a good deal of time and effort, and you need to find ways to keep yourself motivated. When you accomplish your goals, you will feel great about yourself, but be prepared to work hard to get there!

Sometimes just sharing your goals with others can help you stay motivated. Please share your progress with us below in the comments section - we'd love to hear your New Year's resolutions and how you plan to make them happen!

How to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions, and Why It Matters

2008-12-16T23:45:50Z

We all want to make positive changes in our lives, and New Year's always seems like the perfect time to declare our goals to ourselves and to the world. However, many of us go strong in the first few weeks of January, full of hope and motivation, and then fizzle out by month's end. Hectic schedules don't allow us enough time to take control of new challenges. Afterwards, we feel deflated, depressed, and guilty. Why do we keep falling into this trap and voluntarily recreating the experience of defeat and powerlessness?

Below, find tips from some experts who feel that they have the solution to following through on healthier, more successful lifestyles in 2009!

Healthline offers some tips for successful goal-setting using the S.M.A.R.T. technique. Clark stresses that we should be "S.M.A.R.T." about our resolutions (Specific-Measurable-Achievable-Rewarding-Timely). We have to be sensible when it comes to setting our goals. For example, many of us want to lose weight, but signing up at the gym is not enough. We have to assign a specific number and date to the resolution. To learn more about setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, you can read the full article from our blog here.

At Motivation Tricks, readers are encouraged to create and begin their New Year's resolutions today. The idea is to feel you've resolved situations before 2009 even begins. A person can feel good about getting ahead of the game and accomplishing goals prior to January 1st. There is no reason you have to put off your commitment to a happier, healthier you.

During these extremely tough economic times, professional women can now turn to their peers for advice on setting and achieving business goals through a new program called "Goals Gone Wild." According to their winter newsletter, Women on the Fast Track, a national networking organization for business and professional women, has set up "an online program where women can work to create clear-set goals for the new year, and then share them with other business women on the site." Upon joining this free program, participants are prompted to fill out a "2009 Goals Sheet" to help define their goals for themselves and to communicate them to the other women on the site.

"This program will allow women to benefit from the insight, experience, and contacts of other business women throughout a wide variety of industries...Every woman's complete set of goals will be posted on the Women on the Fast Track website, where others can review them and see how they may be able to assist. As an additional resource and service for today's business women, anyone who would like assistance in identifying and clarifying their 2009 business goals can call 516-222-0236 to speak with a Women on the Fast Track member who has experience in helping women develop and reach their goals."

Hooked on Phonics wants to challenge parents with a "New New Year's Resolution: Help Your Child Learn to Read." Visit www.learntoread2009.com between December 1st and December 31st and take the pledge to make reading with your children one of your New Year's goals. "To celebrate the first 15,000 resolution pledges, Hooked on Phonics will donate 15,000 Learn to Read kits to First Book to ensure that all parents, regardless of income, can help their children read." This may be your most important resolution, as studeies show "parental involvement in early child literacy matters even more to student success than family income or family education."

Remember, even if you do break your New Year's resolution, all hope is not lost! There's no reason you can't start over again in February or pick up where you left off - there's no time limit other than what you set for yourself. And don't feel guilty over it - you're only human, and no one is perfect!

A special thank-you to Mehgan Williams for contributing the material for this article.