Freelancing a Proactive Move in this Tough Economy

Welcome back!

As the media continues to profile people across the country affected by layoffs, the housing slump and overall financial strain, there is something you can do to feel other than helpless.

If you’ve got a business skill that is in demand in this market, think about offering your services as a freelancer.  Graphic designers, blog/website administrators, virtual assistants, accountants, event planners, meeting coordinators, marketing consultants, public relations specialists and editors are just a few examples of some of people that companies are looking for.

Recessions are a time for companies to be conservative with their hiring plans.  Many will choose to get work done through outsourcing so that they can conserve on the kinds costs associated with hiring full time people.

With freelancers there are no benefits to pay, no additional offices to set up–employers just pay for the hours you work or the projects you complete based on your agreed upon payment terms.

Even if you are working right now, it’s good insurance to freelance on the side, providing you’ve got the energy and interest to earn extra money in this way.

So many people have jobs that are too far away from home or too costly to maintain.  They want to work close to home or at home.  One solution is freelancing and this can be a temporary thing or a way to transition to a full time business (especially if you are currently working).

If you’re interested in getting starting with your freelance career I recommend you visit Shelancers.

Shelancers is a professional association for female freelancers offering job postings and membership services and resources.

Why “New Urban Mom”

I thought some clarification was needed about this site.  It’s called “New Urban Mom” because that’s the perspective I share.  I live in a “new urban” community (one that subscribes to new urbanism principles) and I happen to be a mom.

But this is not a site just for moms, it’s for everyone and anyone who is interested in new urbanism.

That said, I do want to ensure that I reach women and here’s why.  For too long the new urbanism mantra, campaign, movement, whatever you want to call it, has been couched in language that few understand except planners, graduate students or super engaged environmental or education advocates.

“Mixed use”, “high density” communities is not the kind of language we use in our everyday conversations but it is the language that has been used for 20 years to describe new urbanism neighborhoods.  Not very enticing.

Yet the new urbanism lifestyle is beautiful, green and extremely livable! These are the messages we want to share with the people who will be making the decisions to make new urban communities viable.

Women or moms make the “majority” of decisions in households when it comes to housing. For that reason alone I made a conscious decision to promote new urbanism in communities where women gather.

If we’re going to renew our large potentially rich urban centers and save our suburbs from becoming future wastelands we need to engage more women and men in casual conversations about the benefits of new urbanism and its role in building a new economy, lifestyle and livelihood for communities.

We need to encourage our civic leaders to make decisions that will make our communities and neighborhoods, green, walkable places that support local businesses, public transit and create welcoming spaces for residents to socialize and to get to “know one another.”

Finally a treat for you.  Here’s an interview featuring someone I consider a true visionary when it comes to re-imagining our cities in truly practical ways. I’m speaking of course of Richard Florida. I’ve written about him before in this blog, and I’m sure I’ll be mentioning him again and again. If you’re looking for some fresh ideas not just on how to apply new urbanism principles but on how to pull ourselves out of this recession and into a new economy, you’ll enjoy.  Click here to listen to this NPR interview.

Religion and the Urban Renaissance

The urban renaissance began in the early 80′s with the rise of new urbanism.  We’ve been “reinventing” our cities for over 20 years.  But it wasn’t until the Green Movement took hold that other key segments of the community, like the church, decided to fly the new urbanism flag. .

New urbanism has for so many years been an obsession of planners, builders and a few enlightented folk, that the language used to promote this movement never quite resonated with the key target audience – the average citizen, including those people who may share the perspective I bring to this blog – “moms.”

I’ve often wondered where religion fit in this “movement” and today I read one of the most positive responses to new urbanism that I’ve come across to date.  That response was from (gasp!) a Baptist church minister.

Here’s an excerpt from the article:

“For some 20 years, America’s cities have seen a reverse migration from the suburbs to increasingly vibrant downtowns, where the new urban dwellers are finding an array of lofts and condominiums, restaurants and clubs, lively street festivals and vibrant art and music. The urban neighborhoods are attracting artists, musicians and others of what sociologist Richard Florida calls the “creative class,” as well as professionals, students and retirees—all seeking the energy and spontaneity often missing in the suburbs……To connect with the new urbanites, churches in their midst reflect a potent blend of artistic integrity, authentic community and groundedness—a sense of place that might surprise suburban dwellers—while also navigating the tricky terrain of increased diversity and toleration.

“The creative class moves around a lot, and so they’re attracted by the idea of being rooted,” said Chris Backert, co-pastor of Imago Dei, a new church gathering people from Richmond’s Fan and Museum districts. “That’s why you find them in older, renovated urban neighborhoods, because they find there a sense of rootedness.”

The full article can be read here.

The First Ladies of Sustainability

Sustainability is part of the foundational thinking behind new urbanism.  Building communities, businesses, products, and processes to last requires that a number of environmental and social considerations be made before action is taken. In this post I’m going to introduce you to some of the ‘First Ladies” of sustainability that I bumped into “online” who are making big decisions like this for sustainable industries.

But first, what does sustainable living look like (my daughter often asks this question)?  Let’s look at the construction of a community as an example.

If an environmentally conscious builder wants to create a community of say 10,000 homes, sustainable design would dictate that she ought to ensure that there will also be located close by, schools and places to work so that this development doesn’t result in the dumping of approximately 10,000 additional commuters to existing, over burdened thorough-ways.

Lets also put in place sidewalks and bike-lanes that will support many of these 10,000 residents in their decision to walk or ride to the store, work or school.

Instead of retail outlets purchasing thousands of plastic bags that will only clog up our landfills, let’s encourage (require!) local retailers to use reusable bags.

Essentially the sustainable lifestyle and work environment is all about good design–design that takes into consideration aesthetics and budgets, but also the healthy needs and behaviors of “people.”

To give you an even better idea of what the sustainable business community is like I’ve got a link for you from the people at SustainableIndustries.com.  They recently ran a feature profiling the “First Ladies” of the sustainable industry.

I think you’ll find these women to be enterprising, and successful corporate leaders and entrepreneurs. This will also give you insight into the kind of work being done in what is now becoming the hot and growing “green” industry.

First Ladies of Sustainability

When Online Communities Get Real

I blog on this site about the power of community to affect change in our natural environments, our families, our businesses, our schools–all those places and things that are part of healthy urban living.  There is, however, another aspect to community–the sort of parallel universe created by the Internet…and blogs like this one.

Whether virtual or real, both types of community have power that is real. Today I felt the power of the “online” community “offline.”

Those of you that have read this blog for a while know that I’ve blogged about the power of “online communities” before (huge props to the mom bloggers out there!).

Today I had the pleasure of getting real with a wide cross section of more than 500 bloggers and podcasters at Podcamp Toronto 2009. For those of you who tend to limit your recreational or business interaction to online forums, I encourage you to mix it up and “get real” every once in a while. I came home charged and full of  inspiration–the kind you can really only get from live, face-to-face conversations with people who share your passion on topics and life interests.

Since I showed up 1-hour early (old habits and all that) I had the opportunity to meet some really interesting and wise social media pros many of whom I hope to connect with on other projects down the road (hi Leona Hobbs). I also met a politician, PR reps, fellow mom bloggers, fashion bloggers, internet marketers, photographers, retired professionals, college students and even some folks who weren’t quire sure what they were doing at Podcamp.  Those in that camp seemed to feel that the time had come to find out what alien life force had hijacked their friends, neighbours and even local reporters, who have of late taken up the habit of peppering their communications with words like twittering, Digg and SEO.

Podcamps aren’t all that new and are held in numerous cities across North America.  This year I finally realized I couldn’t miss it.  You better believe I’ll be back next year.  Here’s the link to Podcamp Toronto to give you an idea of the topics covered.  Next time there’s a Podcamp in your city or region, think about attending.

PBS Series Examines how Green Living Drives Economies

This morning I viewed one of the episodes of PBS’ acclaimed series e2. Narrated by Brad Pitt the program is a must see for those interested in learning more about livable, sustainable cities.  Here’s PBS’ description of the series:

e² is an ongoing PBS series about the economies of being environmentally conscious. Shot in high definition with cinematic lenses, e² chronicles global efforts to solve pressing ecological challenges. From energy consumption to design efficiency, policy to industry, the series documents the innovators whose work is reducing humans’ impact on the environment. Interviews with experts, policymakers and pioneers across a variety of disciplines offer a firsthand account of the complex environmental challenges that we face, as well as the possibility that pragmatic solutions are within reach.

As a treat for you, I’ve downloaded to this post some wonderful pictures from the series, courtesy of PBS.org. Click on each picture to see larger views.

Urban Agriculture

Listen to this podcast from CBC Radio as host Jane Hawtin talks to Rhonda Teitel-Payne a representative with the urban agricultural group Stop Community Food Centre (if the page is updated look for the Thursday, February 5 Metro Morning Podcast – “Local Food Forum”).

This organization focuses on helping urban residents to grow and eat local foods like herbs and vegetables.  It’s currently winter where this group is located (Toronto), but they are still able to grow in their greenhouse, a large assortment of fresh vegetables and herbs, including kale, different kinds of onions, salad greens, and legumes.

According to Rhonda, there is a growing concern that many North Americans are gradually losing food skills – specifically the kinds of skills that come from growing your own food. Urban agricultural initiatives like Stop Community Food Centre give urban residents an opportunity to grow their own food and connect back to a skill that really brings a lot of enjoyment and satisfaction to many people.

Stop Community Food Centre’s mission has developed over 30 years and it is basically to make sure people in urban communities have access to healthy food.

Some key benefits of urban agricultural groups: People are able to come together to share their skills and experience around a mutually beneficial and satisfying initiative.  Participating in a community garden is a wonderful way to build engagement in a neighborhood.

Participants can talk about their childhood experiences with food, or their experiences growing food in another country or their own lack of knowledge of the food growing process.

It’s a win/win situation – buying local food that helps the environment and builds stronger communities.

And…Action! Teens Calling the Shots

One of the things I love about our “new urban” town is the effort that community organizers put into engaging and focusing on the needs of all residents, from toddlers to seniors.

Last year I published a post about the dangers of creating age specific or segregated communities, like those 55+ communities scattered across the nation especially in Florida.  That discussion was part of a review I did of Andrew Blechman’s novel Leisureville (to listen to a discussion I had with Andrew on this topic you can listen to the New Urban Podcast).

While sometimes it can be a pain sharing a theater with giggly teenagers or maneuvering through a group of awkward teens at the mall….our “positive” interaction with them does “them” a world of good.  They learn from us and we learn from them.  That’s a good system for preparing good citizens for the future.

Of course it helps when some thought goes into engaging our teens in meaningful ways and that’s what our town has done.  We actually have a teens’ council and this weekend the teens’ council is sponsoring a 24-hour film challenge.

The challenge works like this: Interested teens including my 16 year old son, were invited to gather at our local art gallery on Friday evening to receive some resources and guidelines before setting off to create a short film in 24-hours.  Cameras had to be provided by the teens themselves (well their parents).

Since last night parents, including ourselves, have been driving groups of teens from one destination point to another (based on their scene plan).

At the 24 hr point (9 p.m. tonight) they have to hand in their finished film on VHS tape or DVD.  The really exciting thing is the winner will be announced at a ceremony the kids will be attending in our town hall tomorrow evening.  So there’ll be no long wait to find out who won (a definite sign that kids put this together).

Here we have a youth driven initiative, supported by parents (as chauffeurs and gofers) and the community as a whole to ignite and inspire our youth to do something creative and constructive.  Our local art gallery, town hall and other facilities were all made available for the teens to use for networking, getting information and for ultimately celebrating this great artistic, community based initiative.

I’ll keep you posted on the winner…

The Environment and the Power of Cities

In prior posts on this blog I’ve referred to some of the world’s experts on new  urbanism–experts who have each asserted that there are vital links between a city’s success or failure and the well-being of local and regional economies.

In this tough global economy, if we’re to create new jobs, protect our natural resources and provide thriving communities for our children and our small businesses, we need to invest in our cities.

The new urbanism mantra is thankfully becoming part of our main stream conversation.  The media, citizens groups, corporate types and politicians are all acknowledging the impact and benefit of curbing urban sprawl (with higher density housing). More regions are willingly directing support for infrastructure development in support of  healthier, attractive new urban communities and city centers where people can work, create and live.

When our cities our strengthened so our are futures – whether we reside in the city, suburbs or our rural communities.

The former popular and controversial mayor of London (U.K.), Ken Livingstone, said this recently to the Toronto Star (January 25, 2009):

The biggest 40 cities in the world have huge purchasing power and huge information exchange; together we can do more to stop climate change than all the major governments in the world.  Now’s an ideal time to build new green industries around alternative energy sources.

Half the world’s population lives in cities.  Cities produce 75 percent of carbon emissions.  The upside to that is that it’s easier to make changes in cities.  Twenty to 30 percent of emissions in cities come from cars and buses.

So if you are able to work from home in your own business or through a telecommuting arrangement with your employer – good for you as you’re contributing to the health of our communities.

If you chose to move your family to one of the hundreds of green-friendly new urbanism communities that have been newly built or redeveloped across the U.S., Canada and elsewhere over the last two decades – good for you as you’re not only helping to contribute to a healthier environment but you’re helping to influence a generation through your lifestyle and involvement in the community.

If you stepped outside of your rural area or remote suburb to visit a museum, or grab a bite to eat in an establishment in your nearby urban city – good for you as you’re helping to support one of the prime engines of our economy.

Your city is just that – it is yours, whether you live in it or 100 miles away.  When our cities thrive we all do.

A Nation Coming of Age – The Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama

Around the country and around the world communities are buzzing with the kind of excitement that we don’t often get before a presidential inauguration.

Sure, in most instances the installation of a new president brings about some anticipation about what the new administration will do to affect your situation, but this time it’s different.

First of all, the world economic situation is so bad right now that in all honesty I don’t think anyone seriously believes that the man about to be inaugurated in a few hours will change it anytime soon.

I think instead it’s this man’s campaign mantra and the “man” himself that has us holding our breath with…hope.

Here is a man that was elected by people of all colors and even all political beliefs because of his competence and what he represented.  Sure he represents “change” from the current administration, but I think more importantly he embodies the feeling, emotions, mindset and convictions of a nation that has come of age.

Who would have thought that the U.S. with its still-fresh scars of racial inequality and violence “could” not only elect but come together as a “community” of Americans to support and embrace the installation of  a black man as its 44th president.  It is hard believe that this is all taking place within the same century that saw blacks being denied the right to vote because of the color of their skin.

I’m overjoyed at this development not just for myself and the opportunity I have to witness this in my lifetime, but more so for our children.  Our young people feel energized (I see it and I could cry).  They feel hopeful and positive about our country’s leadership and about what they can do to change and protect our world and that is the best outcome of all.

Mr. Obama has come at the right time for us as a nation and as people who share and embrace a history and the future.

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