United Way ALICE Project – A Closer Look at Hardworking New Jersey Residents – Webinar

Libraries strive to serve all members of their communities.  From questions at the reference desk and  everyday interactions in the library, library staff are keenly aware that some patrons and their families are struggling.

During this webinar, the presenters will describe a hardworking demographic of New Jersey residents called ALICE, or Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.

They will describe how vital ALICE is to New Jersey’s economy, the jobs that ALICE performs, where he/she lives and works, and the consequences to New Jersey when 37% of New Jersey residents live below a budget that allows them to afford the basic necessities.

The purpose of the webinar is to stimulate ideas and further discussion about how libraries can continue to assist ALICE households.

REGISTER NOW

(https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4685283312730856707)

Presenters:

Stephanie Hoopes, Ph.D. is the national director of the United Way ALICE Project. Dr. Hoopes’ work focuses on the circumstances of low-income households. She is the author of ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed): A Study of Financial Hardship in 14 states. Her research has garnered both state and national media attention.

Dr. Hoopes has a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics, a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College. She is a third generation graduate of Wilmington Friends School, where her daughter is currently a junior.

Molly Rennie is the Associate Director of the United Way ALICE Project which focuses on the circumstances of low-income households. She has been with the United Way of Northern New Jersey for fourteen years where she has had various roles including managing the corporate workplace fund raising campaigns.

Prior to joining United Way Molly worked at Banker’s Trust in New York City where she managed numerous departments within the Account Services Division. Molly holds a bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Seton Hall University.

John Franklin is CEO of United Way of Northern New Jersey, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving life for ALICE TM (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and all New Jersey residents by removing the barriers that keep hardworking individuals from achieving their potential. As CEO, Franklin has been the driving force behind the United Way ALICE Project, a grassroots movement among United Ways across the country that seeks to shine a spotlight on residents who – despite working – cannot afford to make ends meet.

Through the Project, Franklin is leading a charge to look beyond temporary fixes and instead find solutions that result in long-term, sustainable change for the betterment of all families. At the heart of this strategy is Franklin’s belief that no one organization can accomplish this task alone; it takes diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and talents to achieve the greatest outcomes for those most in need. During his nearly 20 years with United Way, Franklin has been building a coalition of business, community, academic, and political leaders committed to addressing the systemic obstacles that prevent individuals from achieving financial stability.

Moderator:

Andrea Levandowski, Project Manager for Small Business Development and Technology at the New Jersey State Library