PHILANTHROPY | In an article titled Reinvigorating a Humanistic Philanthropy, George McCully, president of the Catalogue for Philanthropy, explores the history and evolution of the concept of philanthropy, the fact that “people still don’t know what it means,” and the need to “expunge from our vocabulary the useless, negative, and factually incorrect word ‘nonprofit.’” (Tactical Philanthropy, 8/29) It’s a great read.
Related: Tamara shares similar views. In 2008, she wrote about the need to reframe the “nonprofit” sector, which has led WRAG to lean in favor of the term “social profit.” (WG Daily, 6/19/08) And this year, she asked What is Philanthropy? (WG Daily, 6/27/11)
POVERTY | A new analysis from the Urban Institute finds that the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program isn’t fulfilling its function during the prolonged recession, but the reason is unclear. (Urban, 8/29)
WORKFORCE | A recent Gallup poll finds that unlike the rest of the country, D.C. thinks the economy is getting better. A New York Times economics reporter says anomalous poll results have to do with recession proof jobs in the region, but they misrepresent reality. (NYTimes, 8/28):
Washington has one of the nation’s highest poverty rates, with 18.4 percent of residents living below the poverty line, a rate exceeded by only three states in 2009, the most recent year for which data are available.
Washington also has the highest income inequality in the country, according to the Census Bureau. For decades there has been a sharp divide between the haves and the have-nots in Washington.
POLITICS | D.C. Mayor Gray to name new chief of staff and deputy chief of staff. (WaPo, 8/30)
Last night was the final installment of Crystal City’s summer outdoor film festival. It just happened to be my favorite movie – 2001: A Space Odyssey. As always, it left me feeling excited about the mysteries of space. Then I read today that astronauts might be abandoning the space station. Between that and the grounding of the space shuttle fleet, I have one thing to say:
You’re all going in the wrong direction. Space exploration means moving away from Earth!
Also note that the last (Russian) resupply mission crashed and burned and the ole Space Shuttle looks even better. Also note (WaPo Health and Science 8/30) that NASA just did a preliminary test of a humanoid robot in the Space Station, called “R2″, not “Hal”.