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Following the Foundation’s first Roll Your Own Lecture (September 10th, 2010) featuring Daniel Brook and his book The Trap, we launched a Zoomerang survey to collect feedback information. We thought we would pass along some of the individual responses to you:
The following sentence sums up the “jewel” of information I picked up by attending this lecture…
- Calculating the new math of being in the social services arena.
- [Brook’s] historical perspective in total was persuasive to me.
- More of an ongoing nagging question in my mind … how do we rebuild the middle class and better value the work of non-profits.
- I appreciate the connection made with the Reagan era.
- Our younger generation is feeling pressured to sell out to higher paying jobs for the income to pay off tuition debt rather than opting for more socially rewarding careers that pay far less.
- There is an increasing disparity among income classes in America and among generations—youth vs. elders.
- Shortages in socal workers.
- I must do more to attract people to the non-profit sector.
- America has been notably successful in creating greater equality with respect to race and gender, and is progressively failing to create equality of economic opportunity and a flourishing middle class—which puts our American democracy at grave risk.
Here are my initial thoughts about how I will begin the process of applying this information to the work I do personally or at my agency…
- Just try to make people aware that certain policy decisions can play a role in increasing the income gap.
- I’ll read the book.
- I am reading The Trap for specific guidance in this area.
- Better state the case for how the creative economy contributes to our overall economic health.
- Not sure.
- By understanding the gaps will help understand target donors and the need for social enterprise.
- I must find ways to attract young people (especially ages 18-30) to the non-profit world and attract them with the joy or serving and giving back vs. a big paycheck.
- I will be looking for opportunities to advocate for enlightened public policies and programs that will strengthen the middle class—at the local as well as federal level.
Please feel free to add any additional comments concerning Daniel Brook’s lecture…
- I wish [Brook] had spent more time on solutions, but it is such a huge systemic problem.
- Thanks!
- Thank you for articulating the problems we all feel but lack the eloquence to describe.
- 1) He needed a microphone—difficult to hear all he was saying; 2) Event was too long, no more than 2 hours; 3) [Flying Star Restaurant] location and food were great—thank you for the lunch!
- Thank you for starting this lecture series and for inviting me and others to explore an area that I haven’t had a chance to talk with or explore with anyone else. I’d suggest doing more with the lunch time, as every minute of time is valuable. There was a wealth of knowledge in the room that could have been tapped into by simply asking people to turn their chairs around, get into small groups, introduce themselves, [say] why they came, and [talk about] what nuggets of information they had learned to that point. I’d be happy to lead this lunch-time discussion if you do future workshops. People [should be able to] get to know one another, network, and also focus on the subject at hand and go into depth or ask more personal questions about the topic. I’d be happy to share more about this if you are interested. THANKS again for a stimulating and thought-provoking day.
- I enjoyed the lecture very much and appreciated the supplementary printed materials as well. I would have appreciated more time spent on how we can use this new awareness to counter the current trend in public policy—among Democrats and Republicans alike—that is eroding the strength of the middle class to our peril.
If you’d like to track the general question results, please use the following link:
If you have an idea for a Roll Your Own Lecture, please use the CONTACT US link above.
