#ben fractenberg

[davestone13-blog]

How to Stay Safe as Hazardous Wildfire Smoke Engulfs New York

Samantha Maldonado and Rachel Holliday Smith, The City This article was originally published on Jun 7 3:04pm EDT by THE CITY Smoke from Canadian wildfires settled over Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, June 7, 2023. | Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY Republished with Permission: The Roosevelt Island Daily News Smoke from wildfires in Canada brought another day of especially bad air quality in New York…

[andrewtheprophet]

What to know about the Sixth Seal: Revelation 6 https://andrewtheprophetcom.wordpress.com/2024/04/10/what-to-know-about-the-sixth-seal-revelation-6/

[markdigitalcr]

Winnie Greco, asesora de Asuntos Asiáticos del Ayuntamiento, habla con el alcalde Eric Adams en un evento comunitario en Flushing, el 31 de mayo de 2023. Crédito: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY   El FBI llevó a cabo ayer redadas en El Bronx en dos casas propiedad de Winnie Greco, directora de asuntos asiáticos del alcalde de…FBI allanó residencias de aliada del alcalde de Nueva York (VIDEO)

[sinycliving]

Bigger Pool of Funds Will Teach 6,000 New York City Kids to Swim

Bigger Pool of Funds Will Teach 6,000 New York City Kids to Swim Katie Honan, The City This article was originally published on Jul 11 5:00am EDT by THE CITY Swimmers frolic in the Hamilton Fish Pool in the Lower East Side last summer. | Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY Bigger Pool of Funds Will Teach 6,000 New York City Kids to Swim. A bigger pool of city money will help up to 6,000 more kids learn to…

[nathanmonjko]

As New York City Struggles to Solve Old Murders, Families Lose Trust in the Homicide ...

Taylonn Murphy lost two children to gun violence: One was killed, the other is doing time for a retaliation murder. | Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY.

[route22ny]

Meet the New Yorkers Who Say They’ve Given Up on the Subways

by Jose Martinez, March 1, 2021

Florin Petrisor swapped the No. 7 train for an electric scooter and never looked back.

Claire McLeveighn started walking to work and hasn’t been on the subway since last March.

Isaac Himmelman began the pandemic without a bike or a car but now he’s “the proud owner of both.”

They are among the millions of New Yorkers who once rode the subway daily, but who, one year into the pandemic, have found other ways to get around — while largely staying away from the transit system.

“It’s the freedom of riding the scooter wherever I want, at any time and it’s much more reliable,” said Petrisor, 40, a dog walker who commutes between Queens and Manhattan on an electric scooter he bought last March for $1,200. “This is how I look at it: I used to buy the unlimited MetroCard every month, but with this scooter, I have gotten my money’s worth and then some in 10 months.”

MTA data shows subway ridership stayed north of five million on weekdays throughout the first week of March 2020 as COVID-19 began to climb. As late as March 6 — five days after the first confirmed coronavirus case in the city emerged — there were 5.2 million daily trips.

But it marked a fleeting ridership peak that, within weeks, would crumble by more than 90% as the pandemic took hold and the subway system turned into what one commuter described last April as “an underground ghost town.”

While ridership has rebounded to nearly 1.8 million trips a day — or about 30% of what it was prior to the pandemic — the MTA is still trying to win back straphangers who have continued to stay away from the subway in large numbers.

The collapse in ridership has also forced the transit agency to repeatedly seek billions of dollars in emergency federal aid as officials call for more police amid a disturbing spate of crimes in a less-trafficked system.

Business leaders say the return of safe and efficient subways is crucial to the city’s economic recovery, and hailed the recent restoration of overnight service to all but two hours daily as a good sign.

Meanwhile, some transportation advocates say there’s a bigger opportunity to transform how New Yorkers get around: On Monday, Transportation Alternatives released a report calling for 25% of city car space to be dedicated to use by people by 2025.

‘Everything Changed’

Asked how the subway can regain riders, MTA officials pointed to cleaning and disinfecting efforts in the subway, along with mask-wearing requirements.

“We are pleased that millions of New Yorkers are once again relying on public transportation on a daily basis,” said Sarah Feinberg, interim president of New York City Transit. “Our commitment to providing a safe and dependable way for customers to get where they need to go remains steadfast.”

But the MTA must contend with riders reluctant to return not only because of safety concerns, but who have moved on to other ways of getting around.

“It was my sole method of transportation before, but once the pandemic started, everything changed,” said Meghan Addison, 31, who used to get to work by subway from Brooklyn to Manhattan. “I just don’t foresee myself using transit unless it’s in the winter or for longer distances.”

Addison, who is now working remotely for her job at a tech company, travels almost entirely by bicycle and said that’s unlikely to change even after COVID-19 is under control.

“There are just so many things you can’t prepare for or predict in New York,” she said. “There is something really liberating about not having to rely on a subway.”

McLeveighn, who previously commuted on the No. 4 train from The Bronx to Lower Manhattan, now treks more than a mile from her home in Kingsbridge to an office in Morris Park on days when she isn’t working remotely.

“It’s a good [long] walk,” she said. “But after having been in a lockdown, it’s kind of enjoyable to walk to the office.”

‘People Aren’t Rushing Back’

Edgardo Rivera, 42, has relied on his yearly Citi Bike membership to commute from Bushwick to his job in DUMBO, Brooklyn, saying the 25-minute ride is “for my health” and tops what would be a 45-minute trip by subway.

“We’re a city of commuters and people aren’t rushing back,” he said. “There is a big mental hurdle and you’re talking to a native New Yorker who’s not afraid of the train system, like someone from out of town might be.”

The number of bicycle trips across East River bridges has gone up, according to city Department of Transportation data, along with usage of Citi Bike, the bike-sharing network.

More New Yorkers are buying automobiles, too, as THE CITY reported last summer. In four of the boroughs, the number of vehicle registrations increased by nearly 40 percent between August and October.

Beatrice Lors-Rousseau, 33, of Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, said she has not been on the subway since going on maternity leave in December 2019, choosing instead to travel by car.

“We’re thinking about our exposure to others,” said Lors-Rousseau, 33, whose parents live with her family.

Rivera said elected officials, the MTA and employers need to “be on the same page” about encouraging people to eventually return to the subway.

“They’ve got to do something about saving mass transit,” he said. “New York is a city that relies on mass transit whether there is a pandemic or not.”

***

Photo: A commuter rides an empty 6 train in Manhattan, July 1, 2020 (photo by Ben Fractenberg)

https://www.thecity.nyc/transportation/2021/3/1/22308401/new-yorkers-stop-riding-subways-pandemic

[feral-creep]

Photo by Ben Fractenberg

“The existential crisis of mass transit.”

https://twitter.com/fractenberg/status/1369643863527337984

[welcome2thebronx]

Schumer and AOC Get Feds to Pay for Funerals of COVID-19 Victims in NYC and Beyond

Schumer and AOC Get FEMA will cover all funeral expenses, which run an average of $7,000. People can file retroactively for reimbursements dating back to Jan. 20, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2020.

Reuven Blau, THE CITY This article was originally published on Feb 8 at 3:00pm EST by THE CITY Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are teaming to help families of COVID-19 victims. | Ron Adar/Schutterstock, Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY The federal government will help pay for the funeral and burial of COVID-19 victims whose families can’t afford the expenses,…

[hiphopraisedmetheblog]

Legal Weed Shops May Not Hit in 2022, New York. Here’s What We Know

Hundreds of people packed into Union Square for a rally advocating the legalization of recreational marijuana use, May 4, 2019. Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY Puff, puff… pause.New York legalized marijuana use this spring, and by year’s end cities and towns across the state must individually decide whether to allow cannabis dispensaries and “on-site consumption.”The city has opted in. But that doesn’t…

[loveomhh]

FYI I thought I would share: How can we STOP THIS ON THROOP(former Vanguard building) How did this happen again? Now it will be luxury homes?????? Isn’t it landmarked????? Who authorizes switching the restricted Deed? Copy link for full story: https://thecity.nyc/2019/10/nonprofit-flips-bed-stuy-landmark-to-upscale-developer.h     This property at 601-619 Throop Ave. in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, once owned by a nonprofit group, is on tap for an overhaul. Photo: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY instead now primed to become a magnet for wealthier newcomers changing the face of the Brooklyn neighborhood. What are your thoughts? #bedstuy #bedfordstuyvesant #upforgrabs #payattention #underseized #yourthoughts #community #brooklyn #landmark #developers @brownstonersbedstuyhousetour (at Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4KevpJlc1R/?igshid=lkfbunp9okz7

[davestone13-blog]

Adams Says ‘Agitators That Came From Outside Our City’ Planted Molotov Cocktail at Protest Against Jordan Neely’s Killing

Gwynne Hogan and Katie Honan, The City This article was originally published on May 8, 10:22 pm EDT by THE CITY Police slammed a man who was taking part in a Jordan Neely vigil to the ground on Houston Street and then arrested him, May 8, 2023. | Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY Police officials said they found a Molotov cocktail at the scene of demonstrations Monday night in Lower Manhattan at a…

[andrewtheprophet]

What to know about the Sixth Seal: Revelation 6

Haze settles over Midtown, July 27, 2023.  (Credit: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY) What To Know About NYC’s Biggest Earthquake In 140 Years In New York’s aging buildings, problems may have been present long before the ground started shaking. The CityPosted Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 9:41 am ET By Rachel Holliday Smith and John Homenuk, The City April 5, 2024, 12:04 p.m. The skyline swayed a bit, but…

[2700fstreet]

THEATER / 2018-2019

Long Way Down

OCT 24 – NOV 4

Adapted by Martine Kei Green-Rogers Directed by Timothy Douglas Based on the novel by Jason Reynolds

So, What’s Going On?

Sixty seconds. Seven floors. One elevator. Fifteen-year-old Will’s brother has just been shot, and Will is ready to follow “The Rules”: 1) “No Crying.” 2) “No Snitching.” 3) “Get Revenge.” But on the ride down, with his brother’s gun in his pocket, his plan is interrupted by a few visitors.

Told entirely in free-form poetry, Long Way Down captures the potent minute Will contemplates retaliation. As mysterious guests appear at each floor, Will starts to realize there might be other factors he must take into account. It is a journey that may affect Will’s decision of what to do once the elevator reaches its final destination.

Who’s Who

William “Will” Holloman — a fifteen-year-old boy

Long Way Down is a one-person show, but it features the presence of other characters whose stories and words are shared by Will. Here’s a guide: Will’s Mom — in mourning for the loss her son Buck — an older friend Dani — Will’s childhood friend Uncle Mark — the brother of Will’s dad Mikey Holloman — the father Will never knew Frick — a young man from the neighborhood Shawn — Will’s older brother

More about the Play

Long Way Down is a play adapted from the free-verse novel by Jason Reynolds. It takes place in an unnamed neighborhood of an unnamed city where many members are confronting loss.

The book and play are about a boy facing extraordinary circumstances, Reynolds says. In an interview with the Kennedy Center, he described the character’s dilemma this way: “Will has to make a really difficult decision because he comes from a community…where there are codes; there are rules and ecosystems that must be followed. And so he has to figure out and to choose whether or not he’s going to follow the rules [of his community], and one of those rules is, unfortunately, to avenge his brother’s death.”

The play follows Will’s experience as he struggles with this choice. Will he follow those rules that have been handed down to him? Or make new ones for himself? Reynolds emphasizes such codes of behavior exist in every community—well-off or under-resourced, from cities to suburbs to small towns.

So how does Will’s decision-making play out in Long Way Down? The book and the play intentionally leave Will’s final decision unstated and does not herd the audience toward any one conclusion about what he should or shouldn’t do. Instead, it challenges us to sort through and connect the perspectives, the feelings, and circumstances to present an open-ended question for us to weigh: After all his experiences on the long way down, what choice will this teenage boy make?

Check this out:

Interview with Jason Reynolds. Build. Oct. 25, 2017. Reynolds discusses his career and writing process—a great watch for anyone interested in the literary arts and what it takes to become a writer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58hF22Yz9gs

Meet Jason Reynolds

Caption: Author Jason Reynolds Photo by Ben Fractenberg

Jason Reynolds was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Oxon Hill, Maryland. He wasn’t into reading or writing as a boy, but that changed when he discovered his love for the lyrics and flow of Hip Hop. “It was through rap music and the discovery of rap lyrics that I found my path and my way into the world of poetry,” he said in the Kennedy Center interview. “And that poetry evolved over the course of ten, fifteen years into a way for me to tell my own stories.”

Like Will Holloman in Long Way Down, Reynolds says he and his friends faced a similar decision. “When I was 19, a friend of mine was murdered,” Reynolds said in a recent interview with The Guardian. “That night my friends and I went to his mom’s house and we were all planning to figure out who did this to him so we could exact revenge. So we could murder the man who murdered our friend. And I just remember the pain – the pain of the lost friend but also the pain of meeting a part of myself that I didn’t know existed. A part of myself that could lose control to the point where I could commit a murder. That’s a very human thing.” The mother of the dead friend talked Reynolds and his friends out of retaliating, saying no other mother should ever have to feel like she did at that moment.

Reynolds is now an award-winning, internationally-celebrated author of young adult books. Titles include When I Was the Greatest, Ghost, The Boy in the Black Suit, and As Brave as You. He has also written the Marvel Comics novel Miles Morales: Spider-Man and co-authored All American Boys with Brendan Kiely.

Check this out:

“How poetry can help kids turn a fear of literature into love.” Jason Reynolds on PBS News Hour. Dec. 15, 2017. Reynolds on finding genuine joy in reading lit that speaks to you and your experience. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsQNaSLziGI

A Kennedy Center interview with Jason Reynolds on Long Way Down. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuXNsJvNaFs

Style and Form in Long Way Down

Author Jason Reynolds explains that Long Way Down was originally written in prose, but he eventually shifted the novel to free verse. Free verse is a poetic form, but one without rigid rhymes, rhythm, or structure; it may play with words up and down and across the page. It is effective for streamlining language and condensing emotion in powerful ways. In Long Way Down, he used free verse to create a sense of urgency, discomfort, and disorientation. Reynolds felt his “60-second story” would be more believable if written in poetry than in prose. “When experiencing trauma, the brain is not working in complete sentences,” he says. “I wanted to put the brain on the page.”

Here’s an example from the book, using both the freedom of free verse and shape poetry to signal a key moment.

AT THE ELEVATOR

Back already sore. Uncomfortable. Gun strapped like a brick rubbing my skin raw with each step.

See like time stood still as I reached out and pushed the button.

White light surrounded the black arrow.

DOWN

DOWN

DOWN DOWN DOWN

DOWN DOWN

DOWN

Make sure you see the section “Get Your Write On�� below for ideas about writing your own free verse.

What to Look and Listen for

Long Way Down is a one-person show, told in Will’s words and actions. With this in mind, check out:

the way the set and lighting create the elevator and help the audience know where and when the action takes place.

ways the production uses sound, smoke, and projections to create tension.

ways music helps create the setting and gives clues about situations and characters.

how the actor interacts with projections and other onstage elements to tell the story.

listen for interesting uses of language, like the metaphors of the elevator and teeth, like the symbolism of smoke, and like anagrams (see below). What clues do they offer about Will’s character or the action of the play?

ways the actor indicates his character’s thoughts and feelings about the other characters using his voice and body language.

Think About This...

The Rules: 1) No Crying. 2) No Snitching. 3) Get Revenge. Why are these rules important to Will?

Keep an eye on the setting, the presence of smoke, and the costumes. Watch for any hidden meanings and visual/verbal metaphors.

Will says, “[The Rules] weren’t meant to be broken. They were meant for the broken to follow.” What does he mean? What are ways he and the others follow but also break the rules?

Describe your sense of what Will was like before his brother was shot. Describe his behavior on the elevator as he meets the others. Describe him when the elevator reaches the lobby. How does what he experiences seem to affect him?

Use Your Words and Art

Inspiring young people to write, as well as read, is part of Jason Reynolds’s life mission. He urges everyone to express their lives in words and art, whatever form that takes—prose, poetry, song lyrics, comics, anything at all. “The greatest gift [young writers] have is the voice that feels most natural,” he says. Not sure how to start? Watch for striking images and listen for powerful phrases from your own life and experience, then write them down. Here are some other ideas to help you practice capturing your own life in words:

Anagrams are word puzzles. They involve rearranging letters of a word or phrase to create a new word or words, with all the letters being used once. Anagrams appear in the play, such as in one instance when Will rearranges the letters for "ocean" to create "canoe." Will's anagrams offer clues about his thoughts and the action in the play.

Here are a few words for you and your friends to anagram:

listen drawer past rules friend discern verse assume

(Answers: listen: enlist, silent, tinsel; drawer: reward, redraw, warder, warred; past: spat, taps, pats; rules: lures; friend: finder; discern: rescind, cinders; verse: serve, sever, veers; assume: amuses)

What other words can you think of that are anagrams? Also, think about how the different words of an anagram may be related in interesting ways. For example, Will makes the connection between “ocean” and its anagram “canoe.”

Free verse can be a graceful way to capture experience in tight, meaning-packed language. It often emphasizes the senses to connect quickly and intensely with readers. Consider the following phrases and similes from the book (page numbers in parentheses):

a headlock

that felt like a hug (p. 45)

the pistol under my pillow

like a lost tooth (p. 60)

the stench of

death and sweat

trapped in the

cotton like

fish grease (p. 65)

A jagged mouth,

sharp and sharklike (p. 79)

the cigarette dangling,

bouncing with each word

like a fishing pole

with fish on bait,

with hook through head (p. 132)

Sadness

split his face

like cold breeze

on chapped lip

after attempting

to smile (p. 165)

Use sensory detail along with your memory and imagination to write two or more moments like these. There is no right or wrong, good or bad; there is just what you feel and know. If it helps, think about what stories are important to you—about aspects of your life, the people you know, and the community and world around you. Imagine how to describe snapshots of those things and ideas, then write! And if you’re of a mind, share your moments at #lwdfreeverse.

Jason Reynolds says we are all “haunted by something.” He means there are experiences in our lives that we can’t seem to leave behind—a death, a lost love, a memory of perfect happiness. These moments trigger deep feelings—sometimes of comfort, sometimes of heartache. Write a story or narrative about what haunts you or someone you have known. You might even borrow from Long Way Down and envision an encounter or conversation with others who can share other perspectives on whatever or whomever is doing the haunting. Inject sensory detail to help your writing come alive and consider sharing it at #lwdhaunting.

Claiming Personal Power

In the play, Will feels overwhelmed by forces beyond his control. He isn’t sure what to do and doesn’t have anyone he can turn to get a real read on what he’s facing. Chances are, we have all felt like that at one time or another and wish there were some place to go or someone we could speak with to help us take perspective.

One strategy for battling a sense of isolation is to get involved with others who are banding together to celebrate shared interests, fun, and purpose. Such groups or organizations can be as social as a book club, as athletic as a parkour crew, or as political as you want to be. Here are ideas and resources to help link you up when you want to add your personal power to the company of others.

The Brown Bookshelf. This website promotes awareness of the myriad black voices writing for young readers. thebrownbookshelf.com

Dosomething.org. A clearinghouse for teen activism—from disability rights to water conservation to positivity campaigns—can link you to the causes closest to your heart and conscience. https://www.dosomething.org/campaigns

“The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Parkour.” Brett and Kate McKay. The Art of Manliness. July 19, 2013. An introduction to the freestyle urban sport with tips on how to find a group. https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/beginners-guide-to-parkour/

These kids started a book club for minority boys. It’s the most popular club in school. Perry Stein. Washington Post, January 21, 2018. Reading and discussing books as a group is powerful stuff. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/these-kids-started-a-book-club-for-minority-boys-its-the-most-popular-one-in-school/2018/01/21/c15620e2-fc6d-11e7-ad8c-ecbb62019393_story.html

We Need Diverse Books. A grassroots organization of children’s book lovers that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people. https://diversebooks.org

Youth Activism Project. This organization promotes and supports youth-led campaigns in the United States and globally. http://youthactivismproject.org/what-we-do/

Get Your Write On

Writing requires uninterrupted solo time when you can invite your imagination and creativity to come out and play. Reading writing that fires up your imagination is part of the process, too. Many writers also get a boost from connecting and sharing ideas, frustrations, and laughter with other creative types. Here are a handful of online resources to link you up with others working to get their write on:

“6 Great Websites for Teen Writers.” Iva-Marie Palmer. Brightly. https://www.readbrightly.com/6-great-websites-teen-writers/

“25 Amazing Books by African-American Writers You Need to Read.” Mentalfloss.com. Book list of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and memoir—the best from past and present. http://mentalfloss.com/article/532058/books-by-african-american-writers-you-need-to-read

“The DC Youth Poetry Slam Team.” Split This Rock. Fostering a national network of socially engaged poets. http://www.splitthisrock.org/programs/youth-programs/the-dc-youth-poetry-slam-team/

“30 Black Comic Book Writers You Should Know,” by Troy L. Wiggins. Bookriot.com, Oct. 10, 2016. https://bookriot.com/2016/08/10/30-black-comic-book-writers-you-should-know/

The Harlem Writers Guild. The oldest organization of African American writers. http://www.theharlemwritersguild.org/events.html

NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program. The super-charged write, write, write movement that inspires people to write entire novels—in 30 days. https://ywp.nanowrimo.org

“Poems for a Purpose.” Power Poetry. https://www.powerpoetry.org

Poetry Slam Inc. Psi promotes the creation and performance of poetry that engages all ages and communities. https://poetryslam.com

Dealing with Trauma

Something bad or scary happens, but we survive and hope our lives return to normal. Sometimes that’s easier wished for than done, though. Intense, negative experiences can leave us with trauma. Trauma is the emotional and psychological aftermath of a painful or terrifying experience. Entire communities that experience high levels of violence can also suffer collective trauma, even people who are not direct victims. When we suffer trauma, we may be haunted by flashbacks of what happened and feel fear that the world around us is out of control. Trauma also can affect our ability to think, sleep, learn, or relate to others in healthy ways.

If we have gone through a traumatic experience, we may need help to feel safe and hopeful again. The first step is to connect with people who help us feel protected and secure. Counselors at school, in community centers, or in places of worship can be good resources for helping us get the help we need and start rebuilding a sense of control in our lives, families, and communities. We may also be able to access resources and help online, and many support programs are free for children and teens. If you think you or people around you are dealing with traumatic stress, help is out there. Healing and flourishing again isn’t easy, but it’s very possible.

“Bulletins for Teens: Crime, Teens, and Trauma.” The National Center for Victims of Crime. A clearinghouse of information for anyone feeling scared or hopeless. http://victimsofcrime.org/help-for-crime-victims/get-help-bulletins-for-crime-victims/bulletins-for-teens/crime-teens-and-trauma

“Trauma.” Sutter Health, Palo Alto Medical Foundation. An informative site on the symptoms and effects of trauma. http://www.pamf.org/teen/life/trauma/

Teen Action Toolkit: Building a Youth-led Response to Teen Victimization. The National Center for Victims of Crime. For young people feeling the urge to organize. http://victimsofcrime.org/docs/Youth%20Initiative/Teen%20TOOLKIT.pdf?sfvrsn=0

“7 Self-Care Strategies to Help Manage Trauma, According to Experts.” Bustle. https://www.bustle.com/p/7-self-care-strategies-to-help-manage-trauma-according-to-experts-10087377

EXPLORE MORE

Go even deeper with the Long Way Down Extras.

Okay, you’re ready for Long Way Down.

-

Writer: Sean McCollum

Content Editor: Lisa Resnick

Logistics Coordination: Katherine Huseman

Producer and Program Manager: Tiffany A. Bryant

-

Part of the Kennedy Center's Human Journey www.kennedy-center.org/humanjourney The Human Journey is a collaboration between The Kennedy Center, National Geographic Society, and the National Gallery of Art, which invites audiences to investigate the powerful experiences of migration, exploration, identity, and resilience through the lenses of the performing arts, science, and visual art.

Bank of America is the Presenting Sponsor of Performances for Young Audiences.

Additional support for Long Way Down is provided by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; the Kimsey Endowment; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; and the U.S. Department of Education.

Funding for Access and Accommodation Programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David M. Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

Kennedy Center education and related artistic programming is made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts.

© 2018 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

[andrewdburton]

What to do when you lose your job

This morning, Ben Fractenberg from Lifehacker published a great piece on how to handle sudden unemployment. What should you do when you lose your job?

Fractenberg highlights the advice of psychologist Melanie Greenberg, author of The Stress-Proof Brain, who recommends focusing on two primary goals:

Looking for a new job, and

Taking care of yourself.

Although it may seem surprising, the latter goal should actually be a higher priority.

In my own personal philosophy, the number-one most important admonition is: “Self-care comes first.” Greenberg agrees. She says that when you suddenly lose your job, it’s important to take care of your physical and mental well-being. Exercise. Eat right. Meditate. Maintain relationships. Volunteer. Create a routine.

Meanwhile, as you pursue a new job, set small, concrete goals. When you lose your job without warning, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. You don’t know what to do or where to start.

To cope with the anxiety, focus on one thing at a time. Set a single goal for each day. Maybe today you’ll draft your résumé, for instance. Maybe tomorrow you’ll apply for one job. And next Friday, perhaps you’ll go for an informational interview at the new office down the street. Whatever the case, instead of letting the Big Picture make you feel out of control, narrow your attention to a some detail or task that you can control — if only for today.

If you’re able to do more than one thing each day, great. But make your goal to accomplish one thing.

Finally, re-evaluate your finances. When you lose your job, your spending priorities will probably have to change — even if you have a sizable emergency fund.

You’ll probably want to prioritize quick wins. Quickly cut the expenses that can be easily trimmed, even if doing so is going to cause some short-term pain. Cancel cable and other recurring expenses for things you don’t absolutely need. Adjust your lifestyle, perhaps shopping at Wal-Mart instead of Whole Foods. Eat out less often. Try not to drive as much.

At the same time, resist the urge to tap into your retirement account. I’ve heard from far too many people who have panicked and cashed out their retirement savings instead of finding other ways to cope with a crisis. They usually end up regretting it.

While Fractenberg’s article is great, I’d add one last piece of advice: If you’ve lost your job, now’s the perfect time to think about your overall goals in life. What is your purpose? No, seriously. What do you want to get out of life? What sort of legacy do you want to leave? While it sucks to be out of work, one upside is you have a chance to change direction that many other people don’t get.

If you’re in this situation, I’d urge you to spend a few hours creating a personal mission statement. It’s not difficult, and doing so can help you make some course corrections so that you’re pursuing work that’s more meaningful to you in the long run. (If you need a place to start, I’ve collected twelve powerful exercises to help you find purpose and passion.)

The post What to do when you lose your job appeared first on Get Rich Slowly.

from Finance http://www.getrichslowly.org/2017/12/14/when-you-lose-your-job/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

[foursproutwealth-blog]

What to do when you lose your job

New Post has been published on http://foursprout.com/wealth/what-to-do-when-you-lose-your-job/

What to do when you lose your job

This morning, Ben Fractenberg from Lifehacker published a great piece on how to handle sudden unemployment. What should you do when you lose your job?

Fractenberg highlights the advice of psychologist Melanie Greenberg, author of The Stress-Proof Brain, who recommends focusing on two primary goals:

Looking for a new job, and

Taking care of yourself.

Although it may seem surprising, the latter goal should actually be a higher priority.

In my own personal philosophy, the number-one most important admonition is: “Self-care comes first.” Greenberg agrees. She says that when you suddenly lose your job, it’s important to take care of your physical and mental well-being. Exercise. Eat right. Meditate. Maintain relationships. Volunteer. Create a routine.

Meanwhile, as you pursue a new job, set small, concrete goals. When you lose your job without warning, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. You don’t know what to do or where to start.

To cope with the anxiety, focus on one thing at a time. Set a single goal for each day. Maybe today you’ll draft your résumé, for instance. Maybe tomorrow you’ll apply for one job. And next Friday, perhaps you’ll go for an informational interview at the new office down the street. Whatever the case, instead of letting the Big Picture make you feel out of control, narrow your attention to a some detail or task that you can control — if only for today.

If you’re able to do more than one thing each day, great. But make your goal to accomplish one thing.

Finally, re-evaluate your finances. When you lose your job, your spending priorities will probably have to change — even if you have a sizable emergency fund.

You’ll probably want to prioritize quick wins. Quickly cut the expenses that can be easily trimmed, even if doing so is going to cause some short-term pain. Cancel cable and other recurring expenses for things you don’t absolutely need. Adjust your lifestyle, perhaps shopping at Wal-Mart instead of Whole Foods. Eat out less often. Try not to drive as much.

At the same time, resist the urge to tap into your retirement account. I’ve heard from far too many people who have panicked and cashed out their retirement savings instead of finding other ways to cope with a crisis. They usually end up regretting it.

While Fractenberg’s article is great, I’d add one last piece of advice: If you’ve lost your job, now’s the perfect time to think about your overall goals in life. What is your purpose? No, seriously. What do you want to get out of life? What sort of legacy do you want to leave? While it sucks to be out of work, one upside is you have a chance to change direction that many other people don’t get.

If you’re in this situation, I’d urge you to spend a few hours creating a personal mission statement. It’s not difficult, and doing so can help you make some course corrections so that you’re pursuing work that’s more meaningful to you in the long run. (If you need a place to start, I’ve collected twelve powerful exercises to help you find purpose and passion.)

The post What to do when you lose your job appeared first on Get Rich Slowly.

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What to do when you lose your job

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What to do when you lose your job

This morning, Ben Fractenberg from Lifehacker published a great piece on how to handle sudden unemployment. What should you do when you lose your job?

Fractenberg highlights the advice of psychologist Melanie Greenberg, author of The Stress-Proof Brain, who recommends focusing on two primary goals:

Looking for a new job, and

Taking care of yourself.

Although it may seem surprising, the latter goal should actually be a higher priority.

In my own personal philosophy, the number-one most important admonition is: “Self-care comes first.” Greenberg agrees. She says that when you suddenly lose your job, it’s important to take care of your physical and mental well-being. Exercise. Eat right. Meditate. Maintain relationships. Volunteer. Create a routine.

Meanwhile, as you pursue a new job, set small, concrete goals. When you lose your job without warning, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. You don’t know what to do or where to start.

To cope with the anxiety, focus on one thing at a time. Set a single goal for each day. Maybe today you’ll draft your résumé, for instance. Maybe tomorrow you’ll apply for one job. And next Friday, perhaps you’ll go for an informational interview at the new office down the street. Whatever the case, instead of letting the Big Picture make you feel out of control, narrow your attention to a some detail or task that you can control — if only for today.

If you’re able to do more than one thing each day, great. But make your goal to accomplish one thing.

Finally, re-evaluate your finances. When you lose your job, your spending priorities will probably have to change — even if you have a sizable emergency fund.

You’ll probably want to prioritize quick wins. Quickly cut the expenses that can be easily trimmed, even if doing so is going to cause some short-term pain. Cancel cable and other recurring expenses for things you don’t absolutely need. Adjust your lifestyle, perhaps shopping at Wal-Mart instead of Whole Foods. Eat out less often. Try not to drive as much.

At the same time, resist the urge to tap into your retirement account. I’ve heard from far too many people who have panicked and cashed out their retirement savings instead of finding other ways to cope with a crisis. They usually end up regretting it.

While Fractenberg’s article is great, I’d add one last piece of advice: If you’ve lost your job, now’s the perfect time to think about your overall goals in life. What is your purpose? No, seriously. What do you want to get out of life? What sort of legacy do you want to leave? While it sucks to be out of work, one upside is you have a chance to change direction that many other people don’t get.

If you’re in this situation, I’d urge you to spend a few hours creating a personal mission statement. It’s not difficult, and doing so can help you make some course corrections so that you’re pursuing work that’s more meaningful to you in the long run. (If you need a place to start, I’ve collected twelve powerful exercises to help you find purpose and passion.)

The post What to do when you lose your job appeared first on Get Rich Slowly.