Live & Learn Builds a Diverse Healthcare Workforce in Maricopa County

On August 12, 2020   /   Discussing the Issues, Live and Learn Arizona  

A central pillar of the Live & Learn program is to help women experiencing generational poverty begin professional careers. Each year, about 33% of Live & Learn women choose to pursue a career in healthcare. This is a prudent option for many women because it offers a fast track to employment with plentiful opportunity for advancement. Yet, there is another, larger-scale benefit achieved when the diverse women of Live & Learn enter the healthcare workforce. By building a diverse healthcare workforce in Maricopa County, Live & Learn combats the profound inequalities in healthcare that exacerbate broader social inequalities. Healthcare careers

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Arizona Public Service Supports Live & Learn Women During Covid-19

On July 28, 2020   /   Community Champions, Covid-19, Live and Learn Arizona  

Amidst a relentless pandemic, Arizona Public Service (APS) has awarded Live & Learn with a $2,000 grant that will support Arizona women. These funds will provide needs-based financial assistance to low-income women who have lost work due to Covid-19. During the Covid-19 pandemic, low-income women are losing employment at a higher rate than any other group. They are often primary caregivers for elderly or high-risk family members, as well as for children doing schoolwork from home. Isolation, stress, and worry are taking a serious toll on mental health. Rates of domestic violence are surging. Covid-19 infection and death rates are

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Become a Sponsor: Take action against the economic impact of Covid-19

On July 23, 2020   /   Community Champions, Covid-19, Live and Learn Arizona  

Covid-19 has devastated low-income women in Maricopa County. Women are losing jobs and struggling with surging rates of domestic abuse, mental illness, and hunger and eviction. We invite local businesses to become Live & Learn sponsors by providing funding that will allow us to reach more women. Right now, Live & Learn is working with 100 women each month to: Access basic needs like food Stay housed Regain employment Receive counseling When you help women regain stability, you mitigate the impact of the pandemic on their children and you shorten our community’s recovery time. Working together, we will survive this.

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Desert Financial Credit Union Takes Action Against Covid-19

On July 9, 2020   /   Community Champions, Covid-19, Live and Learn Arizona  

Amidst a relentless pandemic, Desert Financial Credit Union has granted $5,000 to support Live & Learn. These funds will help low-income women regain employment despite challenges posed by Covid-19. From the start, the pandemic has devastated low-income women. They are losing employment at a higher rate than any other group. They are often the primary caregiver for elderly or high-risk family members, as well as for children doing schoolwork from home. Isolation, stress, and worry are taking a serious toll on mental health. Rates of domestic violence are surging. Nonetheless, Live & Learn women are determined to secure new employment

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The Complexities of Unemployment in the Age of Covid-19

On July 1, 2020   /   Covid-19, Live and Learn Arizona  

The economic impact of the Covid-19 began taking a toll on the Phoenix-metro community immediately. Women face serious obstacles to employment with children home due to school closures and increased scarcity of childcare facilities, obstacles that continue four months later. As businesses slow down or close, many women have lost wages, been furloughed, or been let go entirely. Health concerns for high-risk individuals present a need to isolate for safety regardless of employment status. The uncertainty for many low-income women remains high. Between March and June, 68 Live & Learn women have lost jobs due to Covid-19, and another 22

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Success Story: Meet Brisa

On June 22, 2020   /   Success Stories  

By her mid-20s, Brisa had lost hope. She worked hard in everything she did, from school to job to family, but still she could not seem to reach her goals. As happens to many in our community, the very institutions meant to help her were, instead, further destabilizing her and her family to the point that Brisa gave up. Then, she found Live & Learn. With Live & Learn’s help and her hard work, Brisa is now thriving, and she is focusing her career on advocating within schools for change on behalf of children growing up in circumstances like those

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Covid-19 Deepens the Digital Divide in Arizona

On June 15, 2020   /   Discussing the Issues, Live and Learn Arizona  

Covid-19 Deepens the Digital Divide in Arizona When schools moved online, Covid-19 deepened the Digital Divide in Arizona almost overnight. With the possibility of school continuing online for the fall 2020 semester, the digital divide threatens to become an even bigger obstacle for low-income students. Live & Learn women enrolled in Maricopa Community Colleges and local universities have overcome significant obstacles to get to a position of pursuing post-secondary education. Many had dropped out of high school as teenagers. Many had never known anyone who went to college. When college classes moved online mid-semester due to Covid-19, most of these

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Continued Support from the Arizona Community Foundation

On June 9, 2020   /   Community Champions, Live and Learn Arizona  

This month, the Arizona Community Foundation’s Covid-19 Community Response Fund provided $13,400 to Live & Learn. This is in addition to support from the Arizona Community Foundation in April (read about it here). With this second wave of funding, Live & Learn can continue to mitigate the devastating effects of the pandemic on low-income women in Maricopa County. Covid-19 continues to pose serious challenges to women in our community. As stress and anxiety increase, women’s mental health is in jeopardy. Live & Learn program staff are working hard to ensure women are receiving the mentoring and emotional support they need.

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Female Entrepreneur Elected Live & Learn Board Chairperson

On June 4, 2020   /   Community Champions, Interviews, Live and Learn Arizona  

Susanne Johnson was unanimously voted to serve as Chairperson of the Live & Learn Board of Directors in November 2019. Ms. Johnson is an inspiring entrepreneur with an admirable work ethic and a passion for what she does. She is currently the founder and owner of Verbena Sky, but she began her career in banking and auditing, followed by several years building digital products at technology companies. Then, Ms. Johnson founded her own company, inspired by a desire to boost women’s confidence. VerbenaSky.com Verbena Sky is an online accessory business that showcases a wide variety of jewelry, bags, and home

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