Mary has been nominated for an "mtvU Good Woodie" for her commitment to FFAWN! Please support both FFAWN and Mary by voting below.
The "mtvU Woodie Awards" are sponsored by mtvU, MTV's college network. Nominated by students across the country, the artists forsake traditional benchmarks of Gold and Platinum in their quest for a 10-pound chunk of pure wood, symbolizing their connection to college students and new music fans everywhere.
Voting is now open, and runs through November 7th, 2008. The awards show will be held at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City on November 12th.
The "Good Woodie" is awarded to the artists whose commitment to a social cause has had the greatest social impact this year. Please support FFAWN by voting for Mary below. You can also vote as many times as you want by clicking here. Thank you!
Our World
Personal Growth
Sep
26
Voting is one of the most important ways in which we can join together to help improve the world around us. This election is an important one for our country and the outcome is in
your hands. This year, more than ever, the elections are going to affect how history gets written for the next generation - and you can be a part of this historic event as we move forward in helping to shape our personal world and influence events that will affect the entire globe.
We are all part of a larger community, and the decisions we make - and those we don't make - will affect our children and our future.
So please, regardless of which candidate or party you support, make sure you exercise your right to vote! We need to be responsible for seizing the opportunities we have, and voting is one of the most valuable rights guaranteed to American citizens.
If you're not yet registered to vote, it's not too late! The registration deadlines for Election Day 2008 are coming up soon, so be sure to register today and head to the polls on November 4th, Election Day. Click here to register through Rock the Vote - all you have to do is fill out an online form, and their staff will then prepare the registration form for you and send it to you to print and mail. It's that simple!
If Rock the Vote doesn't cut it for you, click here to access vote411.org, an online registration tool run by the League of Women Voters, along with information on absentee ballots and overseas voting information.
Your vote DOES matter, so please remember to vote on November 4th!
We are all part of a larger community, and the decisions we make - and those we don't make - will affect our children and our future.
So please, regardless of which candidate or party you support, make sure you exercise your right to vote! We need to be responsible for seizing the opportunities we have, and voting is one of the most valuable rights guaranteed to American citizens.
If you're not yet registered to vote, it's not too late! The registration deadlines for Election Day 2008 are coming up soon, so be sure to register today and head to the polls on November 4th, Election Day. Click here to register through Rock the Vote - all you have to do is fill out an online form, and their staff will then prepare the registration form for you and send it to you to print and mail. It's that simple!
If Rock the Vote doesn't cut it for you, click here to access vote411.org, an online registration tool run by the League of Women Voters, along with information on absentee ballots and overseas voting information.
Your vote DOES matter, so please remember to vote on November 4th!
Our World
Sep
19
Calling all Mary J. Blige fans!
As you may have noticed if you're already been to one of the shows on Mary's current tour, we have launched a new fundraising campaign - to make it easier and quicker for you to contribute, you can now donate via text message! Simply text "FFAWN" to 90999 to give $5*. After you text FFAWN to 90999, you should receive a message back immediately asking you to confirm your $5 donation, please reply with "YES" to this message. The $5 will be added to your next cell phone bill and that's it - simple!
Mary's tour has now ended, but the text campaign will continue until the end of this month. Please check out the "Your Support" page for more ways to help support FFAWN. Thank you so much for your help in making our goals a reality!
*A one-time charge of $5 will be added to your mobile phone bill. Standard messaging rates and additional fees may apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Proceeds benefit FFAWN. Service is available on most carriers. You can unsubscribe at any time by texting 'STOP' to 90999. For full terms and conditions, please click here to view the "Your Support" page on this website.
As you may have noticed if you're already been to one of the shows on Mary's current tour, we have launched a new fundraising campaign - to make it easier and quicker for you to contribute, you can now donate via text message! Simply text "FFAWN" to 90999 to give $5*. After you text FFAWN to 90999, you should receive a message back immediately asking you to confirm your $5 donation, please reply with "YES" to this message. The $5 will be added to your next cell phone bill and that's it - simple!
Mary's tour has now ended, but the text campaign will continue until the end of this month. Please check out the "Your Support" page for more ways to help support FFAWN. Thank you so much for your help in making our goals a reality!
*A one-time charge of $5 will be added to your mobile phone bill. Standard messaging rates and additional fees may apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Proceeds benefit FFAWN. Service is available on most carriers. You can unsubscribe at any time by texting 'STOP' to 90999. For full terms and conditions, please click here to view the "Your Support" page on this website.
Finance
Aug
29
According to various news media outlets, including the New York Times, studies have shown that the subprime mortgage crisis has affected women the most, particularly single parents and minority women.
Subprime mortgages are high-cost loans, at least three points above the prime rate, made to borrowers with low income or credit scores. The loans make up just 13% of existing home loans, but account for 55 percent of foreclosure starts. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, women and men have roughly the same credit scores; however, the Consumer Federation of America found that women were 32 percent more likely to receive subprime loans than men. Minority borrowers were also more likely to get subprime loans than their white counterparts.
The Consumers Union had conducted earlier research in this area and found that some of the disparity can be attributed to instability in women's credit status because of divorce or family medical emergency. Until recently, increased homeownership has been the top means for women to close the gender wealth gap. According to the New York Times, single women have been among the fastest-growing groups of homeowners in recent years. However, the disproportionate number of subprime loans going to women has made it far more difficult for women to build wealth by paying off their mortgages.
Roy A. Miller, a homeownership counselor working at a nonprofit community-based organization, described his typical client as "single, female, with two children, in her first house." Another foreclosure counselor said that of 2,100 families counseled in the 2007 fiscal year, two-thirds of these families had a female head of household, and about 90 percent had subprime mortgages.
One troubling suggestion for the reason behind these statistics comes from Allen J. Fishbein, director of credit and housing policy for the Consumer Federation of America. He posits that even at high income levels, women are perceived to be less confident in negotiations and less likely to shop around, and are therefore offered higher rates. In fact, a 2006 survey by Prudential Financial found that two-thirds of women graded themselves at C or lower in their knowledge of financial services or products.
So what can we do to educate ourselves as women and to prevent ourselves from getting into these situations? Here are a few articles to get you started, with tips from prominent experts and institutions on how women can protect themselves in difficult times. For more tips and general resources on financial education, you can also check out our post on "Real Financial Education Resources for Real Women"; however, we encourage you to search within your own local community and online to find the resources and programs that fit your personal needs.
Related articles:
"What Women Should Know About the Subprime Mortgage Crisis - Predatory Lending" by Linda Lowen of About.com
-A straightforward introduction to the subprime mortgage crisis, with plenty of external links for additional information and a good start to learn more about the topic.
"Female Investors More Wary in Shaky Economy" by Jennifer Robison, Contributing Editor at Gallup.com
-A uniquely optimistic analysis of female investors, no pun intended. The article also includes some interesting data from the Gallup polls.
"Ways to Protect Yourself in a Shaky Economy" by Vicki Mabrey and Kinga Janik
-ABC News' "tips for financial security during turbulent times," with input from Suze Orman, finance guru and author of nine best-selling books (including her most recent, "Women and Money") and Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Investments.
"Personal Finance Tips for Women" by Akeya Dickson of The Washington Post
-Suze Orman weighs in with some more personal finance tips and suggestions on how to overcome a lack of financial know-how and confidence.
Subprime mortgages are high-cost loans, at least three points above the prime rate, made to borrowers with low income or credit scores. The loans make up just 13% of existing home loans, but account for 55 percent of foreclosure starts. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, women and men have roughly the same credit scores; however, the Consumer Federation of America found that women were 32 percent more likely to receive subprime loans than men. Minority borrowers were also more likely to get subprime loans than their white counterparts.
The Consumers Union had conducted earlier research in this area and found that some of the disparity can be attributed to instability in women's credit status because of divorce or family medical emergency. Until recently, increased homeownership has been the top means for women to close the gender wealth gap. According to the New York Times, single women have been among the fastest-growing groups of homeowners in recent years. However, the disproportionate number of subprime loans going to women has made it far more difficult for women to build wealth by paying off their mortgages.
Roy A. Miller, a homeownership counselor working at a nonprofit community-based organization, described his typical client as "single, female, with two children, in her first house." Another foreclosure counselor said that of 2,100 families counseled in the 2007 fiscal year, two-thirds of these families had a female head of household, and about 90 percent had subprime mortgages.
One troubling suggestion for the reason behind these statistics comes from Allen J. Fishbein, director of credit and housing policy for the Consumer Federation of America. He posits that even at high income levels, women are perceived to be less confident in negotiations and less likely to shop around, and are therefore offered higher rates. In fact, a 2006 survey by Prudential Financial found that two-thirds of women graded themselves at C or lower in their knowledge of financial services or products.
So what can we do to educate ourselves as women and to prevent ourselves from getting into these situations? Here are a few articles to get you started, with tips from prominent experts and institutions on how women can protect themselves in difficult times. For more tips and general resources on financial education, you can also check out our post on "Real Financial Education Resources for Real Women"; however, we encourage you to search within your own local community and online to find the resources and programs that fit your personal needs.
Related articles:
"What Women Should Know About the Subprime Mortgage Crisis - Predatory Lending" by Linda Lowen of About.com
-A straightforward introduction to the subprime mortgage crisis, with plenty of external links for additional information and a good start to learn more about the topic.
"Female Investors More Wary in Shaky Economy" by Jennifer Robison, Contributing Editor at Gallup.com
-A uniquely optimistic analysis of female investors, no pun intended. The article also includes some interesting data from the Gallup polls.
"Ways to Protect Yourself in a Shaky Economy" by Vicki Mabrey and Kinga Janik
-ABC News' "tips for financial security during turbulent times," with input from Suze Orman, finance guru and author of nine best-selling books (including her most recent, "Women and Money") and Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Investments.
"Personal Finance Tips for Women" by Akeya Dickson of The Washington Post
-Suze Orman weighs in with some more personal finance tips and suggestions on how to overcome a lack of financial know-how and confidence.
Family
Aug
15
Maybe you have children in the home that will be heading to school soon. Or maybe you have a newborn and you want to make sure he or she is prepared for the school world in a few years. Check out ReadyWeb (a collection of resources on school readiness sponsored by the ECAP Collaborative, College of Education, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). Take a look at their Virtual Library page (complete with children's artwork!). It includes a ton of great articles with tips on getting your child prepared to handle their new environment at school.
Our World
Latest Topics
- Practical Ways to Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
- Negotiation tips for women seeking better pay and increased work/life balance
- Special Advice for Election Day! A message from the NAACP and Alicia Keys...
- Should you get a flu shot this year?
- Are you registered to VOTE? Click here for a message from Mary.
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