FORUM
? *
Unmarried mothers can make a difference in
2016 election
Over half
Jolonda of all babies
born in the
Ware US today are
born to
Guest unmarried
Columnist S^ph*
trend with
tremendous
potential to resnape puouc policy lor the
better.
Unmarried motherhood has economic
implications for families and children that
we should expect to surface in this year's
coming election. Not only should we
expect increased clamor for progress on
wages, paid leave, affordable childcare
and other policies that level the playing
field for women in the workplace, but
reproductive health and rights will be front
and center as the lynchpin of women's
economic security.
It's clearer than ever that the decision
of when and how many children women
have is determinative when it comes to
their financial security and family stability.
Significant work remains to transform
the economy into one that works for
today's families.
More than half of unmarried young
mothers with children under the age of 6
live below the poverty line; that's five
times the number of married women with
children. In addition:
?Almost 50 percent of the 3.3 million
adult Americans earning minimum wage
or below are unmarried women.
?58 percent of all children living in
poverty live in single-parent households,
most often led by an unmarried mother.
Among unmarried women, black,
Latina and Native American women face
greater challenges than white women
when it comes to earnings, wealth, health
care access and other indicators. African
American women made 64 percent,
American Indian and Alaska Native
women made 59 percent, and Hispanic
women made just 54 percent of what white
men make in the U.S.
The number of unmarried new moms
is increasing most rapidly among non-col
lege educated women who are also most
impacted by economic downturns, stag
nant wages in low-wage industries, lack of
access to health care including reproduc
tive health services, as well as antiquated
workplace standards that leave most work
ing women without affordable child care,
earned sick days or paid family leave.
2016 will be a landmark election year
for women, the majority of them working
moms. For the first time, unmarried
women will outnumber married women as
a share of the voting age electorate.
Although getting these women to the polls
is a challenge, unmarried women poten
tially have an even bigger role in determin
ing the future direction of our country than
in 2012, when they made up over one-fifth
of the electorate.
Unmarried women are the largest seg
ment of the New American Majority - a
set of voters who tend to participate less
frequently in elections but who tend to
support populist economic and social
issues as well as a robust role for govern
ment in ensuring fairness, opportunity and
safety.
Unmarried moms play an increasingly
central role in securing the future of our
economy and our elections. With that role
comes tremendous opportunity to advance
policies that don't just help them and their
families, but make our country better for
everyone. That's something we should all
celebrate.
Jolonda Ware is a Working America
N.C. Member and single mom. She lives in
Greensboro.
"Unmarried women
are the largest
segment of the New
American Majority."
-Jolonda Ware
High School graduates are poised
to make a difference
James B.
Ewers Jr.
Guest
Columnist
It is that time of year
when high school gradua
tions will be front and cen
ter. These festive events
are filled with congratula
tions, high fives and tears
of joy.
It is my opinion that in
many ways, the high school
graduation is a rite of pas
sage. It signals that a
young person has crossed
into adulthood. The many
years of late nights, writing
papers and taking copious
notes have all paid off.
Students will have many
fond memories of field
trips, club affiliations and
favorite teachers. Some
students will graduate with
multiple honors while oth
ers are happy just to finish
high school. The common
element among them all is
that they aire now members
of the class of 2016.
Parties and receptions
are held in honor of the
graduates. They are toast
ed and roasted and all have
a good time. The lurking
question in the minds of
both graduates and parents
alike is, what is the next
step after high school?
Let's take a quick tour
of the available options.
First and foremost, we
must make the assumption
that new high school grad
uates will want to take
another step. It is my
strong belief that doing
nothing is not an option.
Parents will agree. Many
high school graduates will
enter college either during
the summer or the fall ot
this year and some high
school graduates already
have earned some college
credits. What is important,
I think, for students going
to college is that they really
want to go. It sounds sim
ple but it is true. I will say
more on that later.
The academic bar is
raised and more is expected
of you. Late nights writing
papers will turn into later
? nights. Deadlines for
receiving papers will oe
listed in the all-important
syllabus that you will
receive from your teacher
at the first class meeting.
There are some high school
graduates who have trouble
adjusting to college
because they were accus
tomed to getting assign
ments done at the last
minute. I speak from my
experience both as a col
lege student and as a col
lege teacher that this strate
gy does not work. You will
only meet with frustration
and failure.
Going to college for the
right reasons is also
extremely important.
Going to college to be with
your friends, to escape real
work or because your par
ents "forced" you to go will
probably not keep you in
college. The rigors and
demands of college are
such that you will have to
stay focused.
Increasingly, there are
more students coming out
of high school who want a
position with training. The
most important part of this
option is that it is a job with
training. The training ele
ment allows you to
advance and to acquire new
skills. Going into a job
without a training compo
nent will not give students
the job satisfaction that
they need. In fact, some
graduates will job hop until
they find one with a train
ing opportunity. Many
companies bebause. of
downsizing are willing to
invest in new high school
graduates by training them
for a long-term commit
ment.
There are some compa
nies that will also pay for
college courses or provide
tuition reimbursement.
Either way gets your foot
in the door and keeps it in
the door. A lot of high
school graduates want
hands on experience, so
getting a position after high
school is a great idea. To
some, sitting in a classroom
all day is boring so they
would rather be on the job
practicing their craft.
The Armed Services is
another wonderful opportu
nity for many high schd&l
graduates. Memorial Day
is coining, and it reaffirms
the important role that the
military has played in shap
ing our country and allow
ing us to live free each day.
We probably take our serv
ice perspnnel for granted
because they have always
been there for us.
Recent wars have given
us new perspectives on just
how important our men and
women in uniform are.
High school graduates who
are interested in the mili
tary should thoroughly
research their chosen
branch. As you might have
heard, requirements are
getting tougher. It is a great
career choice with wonder
ful opportunities.
Parents and love
providers of new high
school graduates need to
give them support and
encouragement. Knowing
that you are in their corner
will give them a "big boost.
Not to worry as their suc
cess may not happen on
your time table but it will
happen, just on their time
table.
The competition for all
of these options has
become increasingly more
competitive. My advice is
to take your options seri
ously and don't waste any
time. Your high school
days will soon be behind
you. You will close that
chapter and enter a new
chapter filled with both
opportunities and chal
lenges.
Good luck and much
success. Keep your dreams
ever alive and never, ever
give up!
James B. Ewers Jr.
EdJ). is a former tennis
champion at Atkins High
School in Winston-Salem
and played college tennis
at Johnson C Smith
University where he was
all-conference for four
years.
He is the President
Emeritus of The Teen
Mentoring Committee of
Ohio and a retired college
administrator. He can be
reached at
ewers jr56@yahoo