Do you know any experts? Some days I feel like I am surrounded by them. People share their knowledge with me on a great variety of topics: business, remodeling, community, weight loss, neighborhoods, social action, health and fitness, causes, gardening, social media, religion, transportation…on and on, the list is endless!
I try to learn new things every day and I bet most of you Patch readers do, too. Whether you go to school to learn or you’re challenged with new ideas at your job, or just within the social circle of your friends and family, we are constantly flooded with new information and new knowledge to absorb.
My volunteer work leads me into all sorts of learning opportunities. This week I was privileged to attend a lecture by Dr. Stephen Fuller, a renowned expert from George Mason University in economics. Dr. Fuller presented an excellent slide show, filled with graphics, charts and scales. There is a lot of information available to paint a picture of the economy, but Dr. Fuller’s presentation was geared specifically to the Prince William region, so I found it much more relevant to me than wading through Forbes magazine.
Fuller began by explaining to the Prince William Financial Institute that this recession has been like no other recession in the history of the stock market. He demonstrated that even if we have pulled out of the recession, nothing will return to the previous dizzying heights of the market before the swan dive. It is important that we understand many jobs that we lost will never return, some due to improved manufacturing methods, some to foreign countries and some are simply becoming obsolete to newer technology.
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There is some serious concern in our area regarding the cutback in federal positions. Estimates vary widely, but even the rosiest picture raises concerns, not just for the federal workers, but all the jobs and services that ripple out from a federally driven economy. The economic forecast that Fuller espoused was “cautiously optimistic” and is in part based on a concept that is gaining traction every place I turn: microenterprise.
The real ability to survive and thrive is an independent economy. When we say, “Buy local,” it’s not only a great idea for the environment, it’s a great idea for our local economy. Visit the Winter Farmer’s Market to help put this theory into practice.
At last night’s Neighborhood Leaders Group meeting, our new Neighborhood Coordinator, Evan Jones, told us about a microenterprise involving trash cans. Neighborhood teens created a business by acquiring customers willing to pay them a very small fee to take the cans to the curb and return them in the evening after the trash had been picked up. You may think, “Who would pay for that?” but I can tell you, if you’re elderly, disabled, or a busy working parent whose HOA will fine them for not returning the cans in a timely manner, you’d be glad to pay 50 cents each week!
If you’d like to learn more about microenterprise and stimulating the local economy attend the Neighborhood Conference on February 25. That’s an investment in your community, a lesson in economics and the opportunity to learn about microenterprise all in one day!