Virginia-based E-waste Tech Systems is a socially responsible business in every sense of the word.

Not only does the Black-owned tech firm help dispose electronic waste -- which are discarded electrical or electronic devices -- in a secure, environmentally friendly way, it also hires its staff from impoverished communities with...

Sunday marks Mother's Day. All over the country, we will honor and celebrate our moms, take them to nice restaurants and shower them with gifts. But let's make sure to especially thank them for their economic sacrifices. On average it can cost around $176,890-$353,410 to raise a child...

As the end of the school year looms, many youth and young adults (and probably most parents) are pondering the question, "What will I do (with my child) this summer?" Popular options include vacationing and spending time with friends. But youth and young adults should also use the summer to...

Economic recovery is evading our most struggling populations with African-American and latino unemployment still nearly twice the national average. But as we celebrate Earth Day, now is a fitting time to highlight how the emerging green sector can bridge our communities to economic opportunity.

Green jobs, which are jobs...

A recent report suggest that two-thirds of Hispanic households and 62 percent of African-American households do not earn enough to cover basic needs and saving requirements.

These findings underscore the urgency in advancing policy that addresses structural barriers to economic opportunity and fairness. They also highlight the importance...

The average American is one financial emergency away from financial disaster, according to a report released early this year. Nearly half of Americans lack the savings to cover basic expenses -- rent, car expenses, food -- in the case of a financial hardship. Without these savings in place,...

Did you know that consumer spending equates to 70 percent of our country's economic activity? Often times this statistic is accompanied by inferences about consumerism and buying power as positive for the growth and stability of our economy.

What we hear less frequently is about how this...

The path to a career in the early 21st century is anything but a straight line. The very idea that you will just have one career is becoming increasingly antiquated. We have to be creative in our plans for economic sustainability. This means building upon success and, even...

In a September 2009 opinion column I co-wrote with author Barbara Ehrenreich, we highlighted the stories of several individuals who were hard hit by the recession. One of them was Willett Thomas, a nonprofit specialist based in Washington, D.C. Though she owned a home and a rental property...

I have a job -- now what? That is a question we should always keep in mind.

With unemployment still stuck at unacceptably high rates, many working in retail or service feel lucky to have a job at all. But jobs can only take you so far in...

The Black Freedom struggle of the 1950s and 1960s, popularly referred to as the Civil Rights Movement, tore down Jim Crow segregation in law and in many cases in practice. With these victories, African American organizations and activists focused on advancing economic opportunity to end inequality based on generations of...

Most people assume that racism is as old as humanity itself. Yet racism as we understand it today is a relatively modern ideology that first took shape in the 17th and 18th century as a moral justification for European conquest, particularly the enslavement of African people, which had...

If unemployment rates fall to pre-recession levels, will our economy be as healthy as it was in 2006? Not necessarily, the research shows. Even as rising housing prices and falling unemployment rates show signs of an economic recovery, it's important to note that the recession has permanently shifted our job...

Though Congress staved off potentially disastrous tax hikes in a last-minute fiscal cliff deal, most Americans will still end up paying more in federal taxes this year. This is due to Congress's failure to prevent the expiration of a Social Security payroll tax reduction.

Households making between $40,000...

If you've made financial savings a New Year's resolution, you're not alone. A recently released report by nonprofit organization Corporation for Enterprise Development finds that nearly 45 percent of Americans lack enough savings to cover three months' worth of living expenses -- meaning half of America...

A lack of transparency and disclosure around bank fees has created prohibitive barriers that keep many people from fully taking advantage of banks.

As Wharton management professor Keith Weigelt points out, "Many people do not like banks because they are tired of being charged fees...

How much should you earn to be considered middle class? To be considered rich? Pinning down clear numbers is more complicated than you might think. During his presidential campaign, Mitt Romney stirred controversy when he grouped households earning $250,000 with the middle class. Rich and poor...

One of the most overlooked aspects of Martin Luther King's legacy is his work around economic justice and poverty. Though the landmark rally in 1963 during which King delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech is now widely known as "The March on Washington," the complete...

It's easy to forget that multigenerational households were once the rule, not the exception. The 1950s nuclear family was only possible because a thriving middle class and social safety net fostered newfound economic mobility. But the middle class has shrunk considerably in the last few decades, besieged by...

As we prepare for the holidays, it's time to turn our attention to the simple things in life. The holidays give us a moment to strengthen our bonds with family and show our thanks for all the blessings we normally take for granted. In the face of continued