Kyle Daley2013-05-24T03:27:40-04:00Kyle Daleyhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/index.php?author=kyle-daleyCopyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Kyle DaleyGood old fashioned elbow grease.Recent College Graduates Can Find Silver Lining in Service Programstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.8068822011-01-11T13:30:48-05:002011-05-25T18:25:24-04:00Kyle Daleyhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/kyle-daley/
In a stark contrast from where these Millennials were six months ago, graduating from some of the nation's top universities, they are now some of the newest victims of the recession. No less different from the class before them, they entered a grim world where the promise of a better opportunities guaranteed by a degree were hard to find.
Today, of more than 2 million recent college graduates under the age of 25, over 700,000 have been hired to a position that doesn't require anything more than a high school diploma. What is worst, is that these new entrants to the workforce will on average have to payback more than $20,000 in loans -- loans that come due this month.
As the six-month grace period on their financial aid ends, graduates will be forced to make difficult choices. They will have to choose between paying their rent or Sallie Mae, feed themselves or dish out to Nelnet. This has pushed more than a third of Millennials to seek financial assistance from their families.
President Obama has made great strides to reform the student loan industry and to make college more affordable. When he signed the student loan reform bill in 2009, he more than tripled the college tax credit for working families and simplified the federal student aid application, easing the process to apply for financial support. Mr. Obama's signature also doubled the total funding for Pell Grants and increased the award size to match the rising cost of higher education.
Unfortunately, these new measures will not affect recent graduates who have already taken out loans to pay for school. Still lost in legislative limbo, members of this misplaced generation are still burdened to make hefty payments and will not feel the benefits of the president's reforms.
Unlike other generations caught in the economic downturn however, recent graduates have the ability to be more adventurous to tackle new opportunities until the economy rebounds.
The silver lining in their budding careers could be in service programs. Organizations like Teach for America, AmeriCorps, and the Peace Corps can utilize recent graduates in service projects around the country and the globe. These programs provide members with living allowance, student loan forbearance, and health care. It will give recent graduates the opportunity for civic engagement while providing real world experiences to help strengthen their job prospects after a tour of service.
The professional development that will be gained from service from these programs will be invaluable to the participants. It will foster entrepreneurship, leadership abilities, and communication skills that will be carried into their next job. These organizations also offer graduate school and employer partnerships that once finished with their commitment will open the door to opportunities they would otherwise have difficulty gaining in a depressed market.
These programs are assets to the communities where they have a presence. Allowing graduates serve as community organizers working with businesses, public organizations, government offices and educational institutions will put new leaders to work and stir development in distressed neighborhoods. A win-win situation for everyone involved.
The president and Congress have already showed signs of supporting these types of policies before. Recently the Congress expanded the Income Based Repayment (IBR) program, allowing those who choose lower-paying careers in public service, to cap payments on their student loans to 10 percent of their income.
Whether or not the new Congress has the fortitude to expand these programs during these difficult times, still remains unclear. If they are creative, they have the can expand these programs without massive spending increases. If they don't, Millennials can expect to continue to ask, "Would you like whip with that?" for a while longer.]]>Michael Bennet for the U.S. Senatetag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.7743392010-10-28T15:40:10-04:002011-12-18T00:28:27-05:00Kyle Daleyhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/kyle-daley/
Today, America's high school graduation rate is ranked 20th among industrialized nations. The United States experiences a dropout rate of nearly 25 percent. But it doesn't end there. For a nation that once prided itself on having the best math and science programs in the world, America now ranks 25th in math and 24th in science. All of this has led us to fall behind in higher education, where we once had the highest college graduation rates in the world, today we are no longer one of the top ten countries to graduate college students.
Among the doom and gloom, there is a bright spot. Senator Michael Bennet has the knowledge and knowhow to rebuild our crumbling school system. Unlike other members of Congress, Bennet's tenure as the former Superintendent of Denver Public Schools provides him with a unique understanding of the public education system.
Bennet knows that the key to the success is re-imagining education altogether. His vision is to develop schools into community centers, where parents, teachers, and students can come and work shoulder to shoulder for the betterment of our children's education. Bennet understands that educating a student doesn't end when the last bell rings, but is a full time job that involves everyone in the community.
He also recognizes that recruiting top-rate talent is the first step in the right direction. After working with principals across the Denver School District, Bennet knows that leadership is key to this goal. It is why he has introduced the Lead Act, a bill intended to attract the best principals to the places they are need the most.
The Lead Act will train principals to create partnerships within the community, such as with non-profits, colleges and universities, and other government agencies. These relationships will be crucial, as turning around high-need schools will require the diverse support from fundraising to studying the effectiveness of school programs.
Bennet's has already had success in with similar efforts. While Superintendent, he worked with unions and changed teacher compensation so it would reward those educators who improved their students' performance. And he made teachers accountable by developing a new process to assess student progression throughout their career, and not just by auditing a single class, but by looking at the entire school year.
During the last wave of job growth, the U.S. created more jobs requiring a college degree than those that didn't. Bennet is keenly aware that the key to our success in remaining a leader in the 21st Century will be built on a college-educated workforce. It is why he strives to make schools, "incubators for innovation." Bennet sponsorship of the Secondary School Innovation Fund Act, will award grants to schools that develop innovative strategies to prepare students for the 21st Century market. A key part of this plan is to provide schools with the most advanced technology to assist with teaching and learning.
The groundbreaking plan will integrate technology into the classroom and allow teachers to share effective practices and lessons plans, as well as enable students to connect and learn together.
Lastly -- Bennet believes that students who succeed in school should never be denied the opportunity to attend college based on solely on their financial situation. It is why he has voted in favor of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act; a bill targeted to expand Pell Grants, invest in community colleges and universities, and enacts new regulations to make student loans more accessible and affordable.
When Senator Michael Bennet took on the job of leading Denver's public schools five years ago, he was widely viewed as an outsider to education. But through hard work and dedication he quickly became renowned for his ability to turnaround some of Denver's worst performing schools. When he was picked to replace Ken Salazar in the U.S. Senate in January 2009, he was seen as a dark horse choice to fill the seat. Today however, Bennet is one of America's leading voices on education reform.
Colorado and America would greatly benefit from having Michael Bennet continuing to serve in the Senate. His strong voice on education reform comes at the time when our nation's schools and children need it most. As a centrist, he has the rare ability to work with both parties in the interest for the common good. This adeptness will make him a future power broker, something Colorado and her students will greatly benefit from. ]]>Marriage Equality: One Step Forwardtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.6710512010-08-04T17:22:29-04:002011-12-18T00:28:20-05:00Kyle Daleyhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/kyle-daley/
The case brought together a legal dream team, former Republican Solicitor General Ted Olson and Democrat David Boies, prominently known as the attorneys who opposed one another before the landmark Supreme Court case of Bush v. Gore that decided the outcome of the 2000 presidential election. Olson and Boies are representing the plaintiffs.
Defenders of Proposition 8, the Protect Marriage group and former Justice Department official Charles Cooper, have already planned an immediately appeal of the ruling.
The decision comes off the heels of a recent defeat for gay rights supporters in Hawaii where Governor Linda Lingle vetoed a civil unions bill that would have granted same-sex couples the same protections as heterosexual couples.
While the complexities of the political and religious factors in this decision are immense, the decision should be celebrated as a move towards a more equal America. The Equal Protection Clause of 14th Amendment states that "no state shall ... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." After reading this it is hard to fathom why any legal argument could be applied to the act of denying equal rights to same-sex couples.
The recent actions by Governor Lingle has shown that Republicans and conservatives will not cede ground in providing equality to all citizens. Many of these conservatives argue that the court should respect the outcome of the election and the peoples' right to vote on social issues. But it would be ill advised for opponents of marriage equality to adopt the same arguments which were levied in support of Jim Crow Laws, interracial marriage, and a host of other discriminating statues. This should have never been a liberal or conservative issue, it is an issue on basic human liberty. At the core, denying the right for someone to decide whom he or she wants to marry is wholly un-American.
We live in a unique country, where we believe we were granted certain "unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Proposition 8 violated these cornerstone beliefs, and created a system where heterosexual couples were treated and regarded as superior to same-sex couples.
Even in the past few years, public support for gay marriage has been growing. A recent New York Times poll shows 42% of Americans are in favor of gay marriage, in contrast to 28% who believe same-sex couples should be denied full legal rights.
I fully understand the religious argument many have put forward. While I applaud and fully support the right for same-sex couples to marry, I do feel there is some middle ground on the issue. Instead of granting marriage licenses, states could issue civil unions to all couples, same-sex and heterosexual. Those who wish afterwards to proceed with a marriage ceremony can have such ritual with their clergy. This would take the government's role out of the religious institution portion of marriage and would allow those who wish to protect its "sanctity" to have that right. Thus the government would only recognize civil unions for all, while those with religious founding can still fully practice their beliefs. However, I do not feel this is a realistic option at this point in the debate. As Judge Walker stated in his decision:
"The availability of domestic partnership does not provide gays and lesbians with a status equivalent to marriage because the cultural meaning of marriage and its associated benefits are intentionally withheld from same-sex couples in domestic partnerships."
As we still begin to dive into the decision by Judge Walker, it is now a race to the Supreme Court. Whether or not it will be the one argued before the Court is still up in the air. Earlier this year, U.S. District Court judge ruled against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), stating it is an affront and a constitutional infringement on a states' right to define marriage. We will have to wait and see which case the Court agrees to hear.
Wherever one falls on the issue, we can agree is that this is a landmark decision for the country.]]>A Presidential Purpose on The Viewtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.6626472010-07-28T15:38:12-04:002011-12-18T00:28:10-05:00Kyle Daleyhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/kyle-daley/The View is not necessarily a place where one would think to find the Commander-in-Chief chatting it up with a tag team of ladies. But that is exactly where President Obama will be found Thursday morning, a presidential first in daytime television history. The President of course is pitch hitting to his demographics, college educated women, the show's and the President's base.
It shouldn't be surprising that we find the President here, after all it is an election year and one that has been a tough for this Administration. His poll numbers are falling back to earth. According to Real Clear Politics, the President's job approval rating has fallen to 45%, while more people now, 49%, disapprove of his handling of the position. Whatever happens on Thursday, it is going to be difficult for the President to reverse the growing trend of discontentment for two reasons.
First -- the President will have to answer for the struggling economy and government spending. Enter Elisabeth Hasselbeck. As the conservative arm of the bench, Ms. Hasselbeck will jump on government spending, while at the same time ignoring or attempting to justify the eight-year spending spree of the Bush Administration. While she may not understand the need for Keynesian economics during these recessionary times, her message will resonate with dinner-table families.
It is simple to many of them, "you don't spend more than you have." This type of message will hit home to mothers struggling to get by and raise their families. The President will be hard pressed in such a limited format to explain the need for government spending, expanding on the financial overhaul bill, and more importantly commanding the call to let the Bush Tax cuts expire on the top wage earners.
This portion of the show has to be his strongest sell. His success this year hinges on the economy.
Second -- the President will need to expand upon the growing list of recent slipups that are plaguing his Administration; Shirley Sherrod, BP, Stanley McChrystal, and Wikileaks. Ms. Sherrod, who appeared on The View last week will be one of the first topics discussed. The President will have to don his professor cap to explain the tragic situation, call upon a need not to rush to judgment without all the facts, and refer to as a learning lesson in this new age of instant media and politics for the nation. He will state that more people like Sherrod need to be in government and his White House.
The Wikileaks controversy which has caused the most recent fervor will also call for the President to explain the need for the continued fighting in Afghanistan, a war with mixed public support. It is an opportunity to explain to the concerned, the need to continue the war in order to make the country more secure.
Whether or not the President can make inroads on these issues with educated women will be known Thursday afternoon. Will he be able to do it? You just may have to tune-in to see for yourself.
]]>Unemployed 19 Monthstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.6469662010-07-21T07:30:26-04:002011-05-25T17:05:23-04:00Kyle Daleyhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/kyle-daley/
I never imagined that I would find myself at the end of a pier with my last hope of finding work floating off to the horizon. After graduating from one of the nation's top public universities, UCLA, with a degree in political science, I pictured myself beginning a successful career. I hadn't expected that I would land the most interesting or highest paying position. Still, no one goes to college these days with the hope that he or she will end up watching daytime TV on a regular basis.
I spent my time at UCLA preparing for the outside world. I had internships in congressional offices, political action committees, non-profits and even as a personal intern to a successful venture capitalist. These weren't the run-of-the-mill office internships; I worked in marketing, press relations, research and analysis. Additionally, the mayor and city council of my hometown appointed me to serve on two citywide governing bodies, the planning commission and the open government commission. I used to think that given my experience, finding work after graduation would be easy.
At this point, however, looking for a job is my job. I recently counted the number of job applications I have sent out over the past year -- it amounts to several hundred. I have tried to find part-time work at local stores or restaurants, only to be turned away. Apparently, having a college degree implies that I might bail out quickly when a better opportunity comes along. In the meantime, I have kept myself afloat working various odd jobs when friends and family need an extra hand.
It seems that often, my age and experience are doomed to fail me. I once drove more than 400 miles for an interview, only to meet with a manager who complained for more than an hour about why he doesn't like hiring recent college grads. It wasn't until he finished his tirade that the official interview began. And trust me, that wasn't my only ill-fated foray into the world of interviews. I was once invited to interview at a boutique financial services firm. After I spoke with four different individuals regarding the position, I was asked to sit down with the managing director. As it turned out, the firm only invited me to come in hopes of gaining an introduction to the venture capitalist that I had interned with over the past three years. When I did not provide the introduction they sought, I was told I would not be offered a position.
It takes a great deal of effort to remain optimistic after receiving a litany of emails from employers stating that their hiring needs have changed, positions have been canceled or filled, or the company has decided to hire someone with years more experience for an entry-level position. It is now clear to me that it might take more than a few months to find work, a luxury I cannot afford.
At this point, the best thing I can do is persevere. I have realized that getting frustrated will not get me anywhere but that continuing to press forward will. These are difficult times and I am not the only one in this situation. I will always have that far off dream where my bottle washes ashore on Richard Branson's private beach...still, I feel I have a better chance of finding a job the old fashion way.]]>
