ALICE (not the diner)
A few years ago, the United Way developed the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) dataset.
While the census and bureau of labor statistics are still important, this dataset highlights and showcases the underlying reason so many in the US, despite its apparent wealth, struggle financially.
This information, founded and maintained by the United Way, is a study of financial hardship at the national level in order to better understand economic disparity within and across states
For example, in 2018, about a quarter of the population in Minnesota was living in financial hardship, one crisis away from poverty. Perhaps you were (are) part of this hardship cohort, or know someone who is – how might your services assist them?
Here are a few ways to use this information:
- When building your next offering understand the financial constraints in your region
- Confirm you are paying a fair wage (not just the minimum stated by outdated state & federal laws) and not contributing to financial instability
How might you use this data?
Here is a link to one of their national reports, if you’d like to learn more,
Devon McGuinness
Creative Type: Thinker
Data is not a four-letter word. It can tell you a wonderful story if you ask it nicely. – Devon
I am:
A thinker who shines in finding gaps, exposing disconnects and transforming information into real-world solutions.
A leader who blends transparent process with the flexibility to mitigate risk and the adaptability to "work smarter not harder."
A traveler who seeks out new foods, experiences and cultures, continually in awe and joy to reaffirm how similar we all are even when our hot spice tolerances are different.