💵 IMSPARK: Prosperity’s Current: Wages Rising in the Pacific💵

 💵 Imagine... Prosperity’s Current: Wages Rising in the Pacific💵

💡 Imagined Endstate: 

A future where fair wages flow throughout the Pacific, ensuring that every worker can ride the wave of economic stability and growth.

🔗 Link: 

Economic Policy Institute Wages Report

📚 Source: 

Economic Policy Institute. (2023). The impact of the Raise the Wage Act of 2023. https://www.epi.org/publication/rtwa-2023-impact-fact-sheet/

💥 What’s the Big Deal: 

The Raise the Wage Act of 2023 is a monumental stride towards economic justice💸, and its ripples are felt strongly in the Pacific communities. By proposing to increase the federal minimum wage to $17 by 2028, the act promises to uplift 27,858,000 workers across the U.S., many of whom are part of the Pacific🌊 . This wage hike is more than a number; it’s a lifeline for families struggling to stay afloat amidst the rising tides of living costs Bowl🍲. 

It’s about dignity, enabling workers to afford basic necessities without the constant fear of financial undertow⚖️. For Pacific communities, where the cost of living often outpaces earnings, this act could mean the difference between subsistence and prosperity🏠. It’s a commitment to valuing work and workers alike, ensuring that the Pacific’s contribution to the nation’s economy is recognized and rewarded. This is not just about surviving; it’s about thriving, fostering a wave of prosperity🌱 that carries each worker towards a brighter, more secure future.

#FairWages, #PacificProsperity, #EconomicJustice, #LivingWage, #RaiseTheWage, #FinancialStability, #CommunityGrowth

🎖️IMSPARK: Veterans Receiving Their Due🎖️

🎖️Imagine... Veterans Receiving Their Due🎖️

💡 Imagined Endstate: 

A future where all Pacific veterans, regardless of service length or disability rating, receive full military retirement pay and VA benefits, honoring their sacrifices.

🔗 Link: 

Pacific Veterans’ Benefits Expansion

📚 Source: 

Kheel, R. (2024, March 6). Bill Allowing Disabled Veterans to Collect Full Benefits Gets New Push from Supporters on Capitol Hill. Military.com. Retrieved from Military.com

💥 What’s the Big Deal: 

The Major Richard Star Act is a significant piece of legislation for veterans across the United States🇺🇸, including those in Pacific communities. Currently, veterans with less than 20 years of service and a disability rating under 50% face a reduction in their retirement pay by an amount equal to their disability pay. This bill promises to eliminate such offsets⚖️, ensuring that veterans with combat-related disabilities can collect their full retirement and disability benefits. 

The impact of this act on Pacific veterans could be profound, as many of them face unique challenges due to their geographical isolation and limited access to healthcare facilities🏥. By providing full benefits, the act would not only offer financial relief but also a sense of justice and recognition for their service. It’s a step towards rectifying a long-standing issue affecting approximately 50,000 retirees, with an average offset of about $1,900 per month as of 2022💳. This act represents a collective acknowledgment of the debt owed to those who have put their lives on the line and a commitment to ensuring they are not forgotten in their time of need.

#MajorRichardStarAct, #VeteransBenefits, #FullValorForVets, #PacificVeterans, #MilitaryRetirement,#DisabilityRights, #HonorOurVeterans,#UBI,#livingwage,#VeteranCare,#IMSPARK,

💵 IMSPARK: Adequate Standard of Living 💵

  💵  Imagine... an adequate standard of living 💵

💡 Imagined Endstate: 

A Pacific where we can earn enough income to cover the costs of necessities such as housing, food, health care, child care, and transportation in different parts of the region, and where we can enjoy a decent quality of life without struggling to make ends meet.

🔗Link:

Ref Here

📚Source: 

Gould, E., Mokhiber, Z., & deCourcy, K. (2020). What constitutes a living wage?: A guide to using EPI’s Family Budget Calculator. Economic Policy Institute.

💥 What’s the Big Deal:  

The tool known as the Family Budget Calculator is designed to determine the amount of income a family requires to achieve a reasonable and satisfactory quality of life in different parts of the country. 🏠 It estimates the costs of housing, food, health care, child care, and transportation for ten family types in all counties and metro areas in the United States. 🍽️ The calculator provides a more accurate and complete measure of economic security than the federal poverty line or the Supplemental Poverty Measure.📏It can be used by policymakers, advocates, and employers to set meaningful living wage standards for their communities and to design policies and programs that help families meet their needs.🎗️ The calculator also reveals the wide variation in living costs across the Pacific region and the challenges many families face in affording a decent life.

#FamilyBudget, #LivingWage, #Cost, #EPI,#IMSPARK,

📝 IMSPARK: Equitable Teacher Compensation in the United States 📝

 📝 Imagine Equitable Teacher Compensation in the United States 📝

💡 Imagined Endstate:

Imagine a future where teacher salaries in the United States are not only competitive but also reflect the value society places on education. In this vision, educators are well-compensated and highly motivated, attracting top talent to the teaching profession.

📚 Source:

Allegretto, S. (2023, September 29). Teacher pay penalty still looms large: Trends in teacher wages and compensation through 2022.

🔗 Link: 

Read thefull research report here

💥 What's the Big Deal:

This report exposes alarming trends in US teacher pay. 💰 From 1979 to 2022, teacher salaries stagnated, eroding their purchasing power, especially in 2022 due to high inflation. 📈 Real salaries remained flat for decades, nullifying nominal increases. 📅 To enhance living standards, pay must outpace inflation. Additionally, the wage gap with other graduates widened to 38.7% by 2022, hindering talent attraction. State-wise, In states like Colorado, teachers earn 37.4% less than their peers. Despite better benefits, a 17.0% total compensation gap persists. 👥 Community support and advocacy is needed to ensure quality education and retain top teaching talent. 

 

#livingwage,#Educators,#EconomicMobility,#payequity,#IMSPARK,