Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc

The year is 2011.  Approximately four years has passed since the U.S. economy collapsed.  The burst of a speculative housing bubble, weak and fraudulent underwriting practices, rising energy costs, (un)natural disasters, and so forth have led to a recession that has severely impacted the growth and development of private and public sector firms alike.  Their combined force has resulted in catastrophic financial and labor market losses which, by expert accounts, are thought to be the worst since the Great Depression. 

Today’s pronouncement is that the recession is over.  The suggestion is that the national economy is more robust.  Yet, great volatility in the financial markets persists.  Hiring has not significantly increased.  Chronic unemployment is at an all-time high.  The pace of job growth in this post-recession economy has been grim.  Firms are doing more with fewer workers that are receiving the same or lower pay since the recession struck.  The present and the future economy still appears bleak to many Americans.  This is especially the case for those living in urban and suburban communities in regions such as the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area.  

Our Night with Dr. Randal D. Pinkett is your opportunity to explore different paths toward building greater resilience to financial crises, job or career loss, and long-term unemployment.  How do you start over or reinvent yourself in a post-recession environment?  What is the price of waiting to be hired?  When is the right time to “move up” or become more mobile in a firm, and what is the most effective way(s) to achieve this goal given the current state of economic affairs?  In addition to the ones that you bring, these are but a few questions that Dr. Pinkett will assist us in answering during this special evening at the Enterprise Center in West Philadelphia.