Theme:– Operation J.U.M.P. For Jobs, Justice & Unsung Dreams

It’s been the talk of the town for a few days. NJ Governor Chris Christie held a press conference to explain the situation. He says he was blindsided by reports of traffic problems in Fort Lee back in September. He took action by playing Donald Trump. Now his aide is unemployed for crazy reasons.

This might cause some elected officials to think politics and others economics. In the recent Jobs Report many long-term unemployed have become so sick and tired they’ve given up looking. They feel neglected since their situation is not self-inflicted. Wonder if Chris Christie was unaware of this problem as well?

Now that this hits closer to home, maybe other elected officials and community leaders will see the need for a full-court press on jobs, justice and unsung dreams. For starters, a response to long-term joblessness needs to consider the fear people have about job prospects or not receiving their benefits.

They need to know they’re not forgotten. One stat says there’re about 4 million long-term unemployed while the Economic Policy Institute says there’re about 5 million who’ve fallen off the charts. So a response must engage most to reinvent themselves with purpose and passion around a paycheck.

In NYC many a tourist will visit the Rockefeller Tree during the holiday. That tree sits a block away from Sixth Avenue, also known as “Avenue of the Americas.” The latter name symbolizes a place where many ideas, nations and opportunities for commerce exist. It pays homage to the coming together of dreams.

Well, maybe a response to the long-term jobless situation needs to take an “Avenue of Americas” kind of approach. Operation J.U.M.P. sees this as a way for exploring new avenues of employment and entrepreneurship in a “blue, white, green or pink collar workforce” fueled by our tech-social revolution.

There’s no chance Christie’s aide will get her previous job back. Also, there’s little chance that many of the long-term jobless will be back at their last job either. So, Operation J.U.M.P. is focused on rallying those affected to look forward so that looking back and giving up doesn’t become a final option.

Footnote: Operation J.U.M.P. says unemployment is to the economy as stalled cars are to a bridge traffic-jam.