Welcome!

Community is what supports us when there is no one else. If it were not for the brave people who serve others, resources and services that support the unsupported would cease to exist. These are the resources that make us stronger. Ultimately, empowering your society is a positive economic strategy!

• Resources and opportunity are the brick and mortar of what drives a productive society. Why is it so important to do what promotes a productive society? It is a competitive economy. Change is constant and people to need to hit the ground running with the essentials to thrive.
• You will find this site mostly serves as a resource of awareness and publication of the issues we face. Let’s ask ourselves the tough questions. How do we as a nation expect mothers to work without the necessary support? What are we doing about the unutilized talent in the work force that is cut off by a lack of transportation? This site aims to bring light to systemic issues that we face. In a competitive economy, it is essential to support the workforce in a way that promotes productivity and output.

In order for a country to compete in a global economy, it must prioritize the following:

1. A trained and educated workforce.
2. Transportation that maximizes the distribution of talent.
3. A growing population.
4. Most importantly, societal mechanisms that are conducive to all of the above.

Want to see your city or town on our site?

– Let us know at mgt4300forthecommunity@wp.com

People everyday rely on babysitters and trains to work the jobs that keep everything going. The problem is, the demand far outstrips the supply. As a people we can pool our resources toward expanding systems that empower the national economy.

Somewhere a tradesman cannot make it to work to build the very infrastructure we all rely on. On a national scale this is a massive deficit in the distribution and application of skill in the workforce.

Read About Local Communities.

• Cole Hill, Tulsa Oklahoma: Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a busy city located in the northeastern part of the state. It is known for its history in the oil industry, and now it has evolved into a distinct and culturally rich city. With a population of over 400,000 people, it offers a mix of urban features and natural beauty, including parks, museums, and a successful arts scene. The city’s downtown area possesses impressive architecture, lively entertainment districts, and an expanding culinary scene. Tulsa provides a welcoming environment for residents and visitors alike, offering a mix of southern charm and modern features. When it comes to public transportation, Tulsa offers several options for getting around the city. The primary mode of public transit is provided by Tulsa Transit, the city’s public bus system. Tulsa Transit operates a network of routes that cover much of the city and its surrounding areas, making it convenient for residents and visitors to travel to various destinations. Tulsa Transit buses run on a regular schedule throughout the day, with more frequent service during peak hours. The buses are equipped with features such as wheelchair ramps, bike racks, and real-time tracking systems to help passengers plan their journeys more efficiently. Fares are affordable, with options for single rides, day passes, and monthly passes available for purchase. In addition to traditional bus services, Tulsa also offers a limited light rail service known as the Tulsa Streetcar. The streetcar system currently consists of two lines that connect key areas within downtown Tulsa, including the Brady Arts District, Blue Dome District, and the Tulsa Arts District. Streetcars provide a convenient way to explore the city’s core, with stops located near popular attractions, restaurants, and shopping destinations. With its comprehensive public transit system and various transportation options, getting around Tulsa appears to be efficient.
• Colby Horne, Shreveport Louisiana: Shreveport is the third largest city in the state of Louisiana, the parish seat of Caddo Parish, and home to over 180,000 residents. The greater Shreveport/Bossier City metropolitan area is home to more than twice that, at 393,000 residents per the 2020 census. Despite the region’s population, there is not much offered as far as public transportation. In fact, the only form of public transportation is the local bus line, SporTran. SporTran’s roots can be traced back to 1870 when a distant parent company was operating as mule-drawn buggy services. Today, the bus line consists of a fleet of 90 modern buses and has 31 routes that service the City of Shreveport as well as routes that cross into Bossier City. As of 2021 all bus routes that operate within the city limits of Shreveport-Bossier are free and out of city limit routes have a reduced cost. With the elimination of in-city bus fare, the bus line has seen an over 350% increase in ridership. While SporTran does provide a service to the community and is an invaluable resource for those who need it, the city/local municipalities could do more in the form of public transportation. Progress could be made in the form of enhanced sidewalk construction or designated bicycle lanes. The majority of the streets in the area are rather completely lacking a sidewalk or underserved by a cracked sidewalk, or one that is overgrown with vegetation. As such, pedestrians walk in the roads and impede traffic. By installing the sidewalks, it would allow for safer travel for pedestrians and motorists alike. Sidewalk and bicycle lane installation could encourage companies like Lime Micromobility to enter the market and provide e-scooters that could serve as a possible government subsidized public transportation partnership. These scooters are prominent in larger cities such as Dallas and New Orleans and could allow for fast and efficient transportation between downtown shops and businesses or one of the areas many casinos. The Shreveport/Bossier City area largely consists of long reasonably straight streets that stretch many miles and contain the majority of the area’s businesses. A trolley system would greatly improve the commute time and quality of many of the area’s citizens. In Bossier City, trolleys could be installed on Airline Drive, Benton Road, and Barksdale Boulevard. These three roads stretch the majority of Bossier City. In Shreveport, the same could be done on Youree Drive and on North Market Street, which would provide a direct route to the SporTran bus station where passengers could connect to their designated buses.
• Jennifer Hamilton, Alexandria Louisiana: Alexandria, LA is supported by a childcare assistance program called CCAP. CCAP supports families accessing high-quality childcare by providing financial assistance to low-income families while they are working or attending school. Another program is called Rapides Early Childhood Network “Waived Tuition”. The mission of this program is to develop new strategies to increase access to and improve the quality of publicly funded early childhood care and education from birth through age four. While both programs are available for financial assistance, both programs have a household max income to be approved. Rapids Early Childhood Network has higher income eligibility, meaning more families can be approved, whereas CCAP with a more limited income eligibility, meaning families must earn less. For example, RECN income eligibility for a 2-person household is $3,939.00. For CCAP, the income eligibility for a 2-person household is $2,927.00. For both programs, a high percentage of the time, there is a long waitlist, or families get approved and then must wait for funding from the state. These programs are helpful, but more can be done. More funding should be available from the state, so families are not waiting for funds AFTER approval. There also should be no waitlist to be approved. The only waitlist should be being accepted into the daycares because of the maximum number of enrolled children. What are families supposed to do who cannot afford childcare, but must work and wait for approval? Another thing that can be done is to improve income eligibility. These calculations should be made AFTER taxes are deducted from income. For example, CCAP has a max of $2,927 for a 2-person household. That is before and after taxes, there is maybe $600 deducted from that income brought home. This should be considered for every financial assistance program.
• Austin Coon, Tulsa Oklahoma: Tulsa uses a mobile app called GoPass to facilitate and make planning bus rides easier and more convenient. Using this, users can check and plan routes, pay for tickets, and even get tickets that last for multiple days, even up to a month. For those without the app, bus fares can also be purchased at QuickTrip, on the bus, or at the Denver Ave. station. The bus fares are also quite affordable, being only $3.75 for a one day pass and $45 for a 31 day pass. Children ride free, military and reduced get half charges, and veterans get free fare. Super seniors (75+) also ride free, after getting a Super Senior ID card at Denver Avenue Station. Tulsa also offers a Micro transit for some zones with less busses and specific locations. These rides bridge the gap between the nearest bus drop off and the intended location, so you don’t have to walk a few miles to get to the destination. Think of them like uber within specific zones. The fares are less than buses, about half. Tulsa also offers paratransit for disabled residents. These are like Micro transit, going directly to the house of residents, picking them up, and then bringing them to their location. This can be a scheduled trip, making a reservation, or by having a subscription where the resident makes the same trip at least once a week. Missing these subscriptions may lead to cancellation of the subscription or suspension from the subscription, but it can be resubscribed to after the suspension is over. The Bus Rapid Transit is a permanent and frequent service in the most frequently travelled areas of Tulsa, which makes it far easier to traverse those locations. The buses operate 7 days a week in these locations, arriving at the stations every 20-30 minutes with a timer that shows when the next bus will arrive. This makes it very easy to traverse these locations even with less planning and more chaos, which is why they work so well in the high traffic areas.
• Rachel Dodson, Lafayette Louisiana: The financial security of families, the capacity of parents to work, and the healthy development of children all depend on access to inexpensive childcare. However, only one in six children who qualify for childcare assistance receive it because of a lack of funds. Because of this, many low-income families find it difficult to pay for childcare, and many are compelled to enroll their kids in less desirable or stable programs that offer less chances for both parents and kids. Research indicates that working parents and their kids can benefit greatly from childcare. The likelihood of childcare disruptions, which can result in absences or other schedule disruptions at work, is lower for parents who have access to reasonably priced, trustworthy childcare. Additionally, children gain from their parents’ ability to pursue higher education and enter the workforce because parental employment enhances the financial situation of families as well as the social and emotional development of the kids. Enrolling in a top-notch daycare center provides children with consistent, caring surroundings that enhance their education and overall welfare, which is another obvious advantage. The development and well-being of very young children are positively impacted by high-quality childcare services, according to research. Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) offers financial support to low-income families to help defray the expense of child care, freeing up the parents to attend work or school and giving young children the early exposure to learning that is essential for their development. Higher employment rates and higher job retention are two benefits of improved employment outcomes for parents receiving childcare help. Qualifications for CCAP are as follows- the child needing care is a US citizen or an eligible alien residing in the state of Louisiana. Parents or legal guardians meet one of the following requirements- works at least 20 hours a week or attends an accredited school or a training program as a full-time student, attends an accredited school or training program at least 20 hours a week, attends a combination of work and school, actively seeking work, participates in a transitional living program, receives disability income, or is experiencing homelessness.
• Norman Davis, Covington Louisiana: Economics is the driving factor of pretty much everything. How many resources do I have to give in exchange for other resources? The entities with the most resources hold the most power, and the imbalance means many millions of poverty-stricken people are around the world. The essential argument here is that the overall return from a nation is more significant when its mouths are fed, its hearts and minds healthy, and its workers well distributed through low-cost mass transportation methods. Research suggests the US has caused concern about its population’s health. In addition, the US is very competitive in the global economy. Care for the citizen starts at birth. Mothers bear the child and see that it is nurtured and raised to independence. There is a tremendous amount of time and care in that time frame that an upcoming productive citizen relies on to acquire all the awareness possible to prepare to embark on what a tax-funded government entity can call the productive lifespan, which ultimately equates to how much that citizen produces.