David Bass
Published: 2015-06-15
Total Pages:
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The longstanding American belief in work is still strong, and still the source of our great successes. But cracks are also visible. Whole subpopulations now exhibit a weak attachment to self-supporting labor. Work is central to escaping poverty. It also plays a vital role in cultivating healthy styles of living, builds self-respect and happiness, and sets a valuable example for younger generations. Any sensible effort to improve prosperity and fairness today must begin by bolstering work.Government agencies have a very checkered history when it comes to helping those who have struggled in the workforce develop the habits and talents to do better. Statistically, most government job-training programs are quite unimpressive. There are, however, many charitable programs that have demonstrated real success at leading unskilled persons, single mothers, inexperienced minorities, released prisoners, former addicts, and other at-risk populations into lasting, transformative employment.This book was written to help donors find those successful models and strategies. It is addressed to generous American leaders who want to lift more of our poor and distressed into mainstream success. Its purpose is to point them to the most effective work-supporting charities and approaches, and to encourage them to put their shoulders to the wheel. Because when it comes to curing deprivation, softening inequality, and improving life satisfaction, work works.