Earlier this month, we observed Labor Day. We often forget what that means, because we celebrate with a (well-deserved) day off. The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed to recognize the American worker’s contributions to our country’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.
At ECS, we are urgently focused on economic mobility, both in our programming and our advocacy efforts. We are open to all as a community resource and every day we provide emergency assistance to those who knock on our door. An important focus in our work is on supporting those who are in the workforce or getting ready to join it.
Through OST, we provide relief to families whose caregivers are working full days beyond school hours, are looking for work, or who face the daily challenge of caring for the needs of other family members.
Through our advocacy efforts, we are focused on achieving the dignity of a living wage and demonstrating to legislators that the benefits cliff (what happens when upward economic mobility is damaged by the sudden loss of existing subsidies) is real and that there are real solutions to the problem.
Through MindSet and other coaching at ECS, we provide participants with valuable knowledge and a helping hand in partnership and networking that will help them care for families, find work, or shift their skills to find employment in new fields with better pay in the short and long term.
Imagine these efforts focused on one person. One person could benefit from each of them, and all of them. Now imagine these efforts focused on a community. Now imagine the echo of ECS’ work through the families and communities of generations to come – because, in our land of opportunity, wealth builds upon wealth, prosperity upon prosperity. So if we are bound by our values to be focused on dignity, community, impact, and justice, let’s consider it a year-long Labor Day celebration as we walk in partnership with individuals and communities along the Bridge to Prosperity.
--Anne Rice-Burgess