So today begins Carol's first week with no income. Her unemployment benefits ran out last week, after she maxed out the 99 weeks provided through federal and local programs.
Her weekly unemployment check was $482 before taxes, $405 after. She says she has some savings, she's living with her mom, so doesn't have a mortgage or rental payments, and she's planning to sell her car and get a clunker.
And she had a yard sale last week.
A whole lot of people face similar situations. And, in reflecting on the response to this experiment so far, I realize it often comes across as "help me find Carol a job."
But here's what I remain really curious about:
Can people who are socially and professionally linked on line can use their networks to loop someone like unemployed Carol into her own new world of networking? Can we help her move from having just heard about Facebook to creating an online presence that can help her find a job?
So far, it's slow going! I've seen people offer suggestions - and their time to - who are perfect strangers. One helped Carol get on LinkedIn. A big hurdle is Carol's own cultural experience and expectations. But the concept seems to becoming embedded in her mind. Even if she doesn't get new connections that help her get a job right now, what else might bridge this incarnation of a digital divide?
For more - here is a Facebook event I created on this.
Check back to see how the story progresses.
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