I just finished reading the winter issue of Contexts, one of my favorite magazines.

Contexts has much to recommend it. One of the more interesting articles in this issue was on hunger, wherein I learned that for the first time in human history, the world is home to more than one billion hungry people. Interestingly, the article suggests that hunger has less to do with a shortage of food than with a shortage of affordable or accessible food. In other words: We have plenty of food, it just isn’t going where it’s needed (or if it is, the people there can’t afford it). Population has grown, yes; but food production has grown even faster.

In Minnesota, more than 1 in 10 households are what is called “food insecure,” meaning that they have difficulty obtaining enough food for all their members due to a lack of money and other resources. One of the things Greater Twin Cities United Way is doing to help address hunger is working with food shelves and food banks to make systems more efficient—primarily by increasing capacity—so that we can get more food to hungry people. You can read more about these efforts on our Website.

A few other things that caught my eye in the winter issue:

• Ageism in the workplace
• Sexism in food advertising
• Civility in U.S. society (going downhill)
• Redefining retirement

And then, when I went to get the links for this blog, I found the most interesting thing of all: Sociological Images. As you might guess from the title, it focuses on interesting visuals—maps, graphics, etc.—that viewers/readers submit. (You know, I wouldn’t have thought that you could even get 2,800 pigs in a square mile.)

While some of the visuals focus on advertising (truth in advertising, silly advertising, misleading advertising), many are simply good depictions of data, like this age pyramid: such a good way to see where we’re going over time in one graphic. Look at all those 85+ women—by 2050, they will be the largest age demographic!

Since the start of the year, for some unknown reason or whim I’ve been doing a lot of reading by association. In January it was Queen of Dreams, followed by The City of Dreaming Books, followed by The Little Book. I was going to follow up with The Little Women or Little Beauties, but then I kind of lost interest; the January book thing had run its course. 

But before January was quite over, I had already started Definite Space by Ann Iverson and The Love of Impermanent Things, by Mary Rose O’Reilley. I once saw Mary Rose O’Reilley at the Hamline Public Library. She has a commonsense approach to life that I find grounding.

Photo credit: Martin Kalfatovic

When it came time to select a new novel, I decided to go local again, but I didn’t feel like a mystery (Ellen Hart, John Sandford) and felt a tug for a little gender balance. I went online for Minnesota fiction authors and found a great list through the St. Paul Public Library. (Are we sensing a St. Paul theme here?)

So I’m planning to round out February with (mostly) Minnesota authors. I have a few in mind: Larry Millett, Diane Jarvenpa, Bill Holm. If you have additional suggestions for Minnesota authors, please send a comment or e-mail me.

I’m thinking about stones for March. As I was looking for local books I happened upon From Stone to Living Word, by Debbie Blue. And I also have Honey from Stone by Chet Raymo. And I know I have a book somewhere about the Rolling Stones. But it’s still February and I am going back to my local books. Suggestions for additional authors (or themes) are welcome.

Photo credit: Viking 79

We’ve just posted the January edition of State of the Economy. This is a monthly publication that pulls together key economic developments both locally and nationally. It also includes the most recent data available about referrals made by United Way 2-1-1.

A few highlights from our most recent issue:

• Both local and national unemployment rates remained steady in January at 10% (U.S.) and 7.4% (MN) respectively.
• Lender-mediated home sales averaged $124,000 in the Twin Cities in 2009 compared to $204,000 for traditional home sales.
• The Twin Cities’ housing inventory is down 22% from a year ago.
• Teenagers are experiencing the highest unemployment rates nationally (27%) while women and Asians are experiencing some of the lowest rates (8%).
• Weekly wages declined 1.6% in 2009 when inflation is factored in.
• TCF is ending its “Totally Free Checking” program. More than 1,000,000 accounts that were previously free will be charged a monthly maintenance fee beginning early this year.
• Target Corp. is opening fewer than 10 new stores this year, but is renovating 340 stores already in operation.
• UnitedHealth Group reported fourth quarter profits up 30% and profits for the year up 28%.
• United Way 2-1-1 made nearly 175,000 referrals for basic needs in 2009. More than one-third of these were for either emergency food or emergency shelter.

For more news on the local and national economy, read the full report (including graphics!) here. 

What is the state of your economy? What one issue has had the most impact on you, your family, or your work in the past year? What do you think the State of the Economy will be next year at this time? Let me know, and I’ll post selections of the answers I receive.

Is inequality worse for us than poverty? That’s what Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett argue, sometimes convincingly, in their book, The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger.

Wilkinson and Pickett examine income inequality across 23 countries. (Income inequality is measured in many ways, but one typical measure is to compare the income of the richest 20% of the population to the income of the poorest 20% of the population.) In Japan, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, the richest 20% are about four times as rich as the poorest 20%. At the other end of the spectrum (i.e., the U.S. and Singapore), that is more than doubled, which is to say that the U.S. has very high inequality (only Singapore is worse).

Does it matter? Absolutely, say Wilkinson and Pickett. They tie inequality to many of our major social populations:

If you fail to avoid high inequality, you will need more prisons and more police. You will have to deal with higher rates of mental illness, drug abuse, and every other kind of problem.

Take the example of health and life expectancy. The United States spends more per person ($6,000) on healthcare than any other country. You’d think that would at least put us in the top half for life expectancy, wouldn’t you? But no. In fact, only 3 of the 23 countries have lower life expectancies than the U.S. (those would be Portugal, which spends about $1,800 per person; Denmark, which spends about $2,800 per person; and Ireland, which spends about $2,500 per person). Highest life expectancy goes to Japan, which spends about $2,200 per person. The same pattern holds for infant mortality and teen pregnancy (see chart).

Conclusion? The more equally wealth is distributed in a society, the better the health of that society. They examine social relations, mental health, drug use, life expectancy, violence and homicide rates, obesity, education, teen pregnancy rates, incarceration rates and social mobility. The pattern holds.

Not convinced? They also look at inequality within the United States, and compare many of these same social ills across states, and the same pattern obtains. The authors contend that if the United States could reduce its income inequality to the average of the four most equal countries (Japan, Norway, Sweden, Finland), we would see:

• The proportion of the population feeling they could trust others increase by 75%
• Rates of mental illness drop by two-thirds
• Rates of obesity drop by two-thirds
• Teen birth rates cut in half
• Prison populations reduced by 75%

Now that’s something worth striving for!

Sarah Caruso, the new president and CEO of Greater Twin Cities United Way, officially took the helm on November 30.  She was kind enough to meet with me to answer a few questions while she’s still getting her sea legs.

• Why did you choose this job (CEO of Greater Twin Cities United Way)?

Sarah: This is a really important job in the Twin Cities because United Way has a tremendous impact across so many parts of the community. To me, both the breadth of the work as well as the depth of the work is profound. I was born in St. Paul, I live in Minneapolis: This is my home, and this is the community I want to be part of strengthening. I saw this as the leadership opportunity of a lifetime.

• What do you want to accomplish as the new CEO?

Sarah: In the near term, support and enhance the incredibly strong work of our volunteers and staff. We’re doing great work during really tough economic times, when the demands and needs have never been higher.

• What about the long term?

Sarah: I’m only beginning to realize the possibilities of where we can go with our rich history, strong leadership, organizational knowledge, and committed donors and volunteers.  I think my job in the long term is to create a culture that leads to lasting change in the community that raises our overall quality of life.

• What was your most exciting achievement at the Minnesota Children’s Museum?

Sarah: Developing and growing our leadership in the early childhood community: Both bringing the museum out to the community as well as bringing more of the community into the museum.

• Are you a reader?

Sarah: Yes! I’ve kept a list of the books I read since I was a teenager. Currently, I read about 20 books a year.

• What are some of your favorite books?

Sarah: My favorite business book is Good to Great and the Social Sectors, a monograph by Jim Collins. It focuses on how and why managing a nonprofit is different from a for-profit business. I refer back to it quite often. It’s my foundation as a nonprofit leader.

My favorite fiction book of all time is Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy.

• What newspapers do you read daily?

Sarah: New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Star Tribune, and Pioneer Press. We have a big recycling bin.

• What’s your favorite way to relax?

Sarah: Sleep.

• Fruits or vegetables?

Sarah: Both. Maybe a small preference for vegetables.

• What’s something that most people don’t know about you?

Sarah: I’ve been kissed by Michael Jordan.

Thank you, Sarah, for taking time out of your already-busy schedule to talk to me. On behalf of all United Way staff, I would like to say: Welcome aboard!