In a study commissioned by the Department of Labor Dube states in “The Minimum We Can Do” that he reviewed data from the past two decades and found clear evidence that minimum wage raises have helped lift family incomes at the bottom: a 10 percent increase in the minimum wage reduces poverty by around 2%. I am glad that Obama stated in his State of the Union address that he would increase the Federal minimum wage for all workers from $7.25 to $10.10 via a bill from Democrats Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa and Rep. George Miller of California. This is great for all federal employed workers but what about all the state and city employed workers which continue to have low minimum wages? Dube explains that state and city minimum wages are essential in guaranteeing that geographic areas that have a high cost of living also have matching minimum wage standards. When my Mom (age 57) was my age (21) and moved to San Francisco she was paid secretarial and office intern jobs at $12 an hour in the Financial District, today the same kind of internships pay the same or less, are more competitive to get because they require higher levels of education, more professional experience and there are more people applying for them. It is almost impossible to get by and survive living on minimum wage, yet so many people are forced to do so. This is unjust and must change!

Dube, Arinjatit. “The Minimum We Can Do.” Opinionator The Minimum We Can Do Comments. The New York Times , 30 Nov. 2013. Web. 3 Feb. 2014.

<http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/30/the-minimum-we-can-do/?_php=true&_type=blogs&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20131202&_r=0>.

Berman, Dan. “State of the Union 2014: Obama to raise minimum wage for federal workers.” POLITICO. POLITICO, 28 Jan. 2014. Web. 1 Feb. 2014.

<http://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/obama-minimum-pay-federal-contracts-102712.html>.

“You grab a bit of connection wherever you can to survive. You have no idea how strong the pull to feel worthwhile is.” Says activist Linda Tirado in her essay “This is Why Poor People’s Bad Decisions Make Sense.” As humans we all share the same needs such as safety, love, care, support, shelter, food and purpose. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, given equal rights and opportunities to succeed. Instead, “Individuals are born into a society that neither treats people nor distributes opportunity equally.” Stated the Prevention Institute, which published a Trajectory of Health Disparities. Root factors of this issue include many forms of oppression and discrimination, which lead to poverty and homelessness. These communities are forced to live in unhealthy conditions because safe housing is not affordable. Minority neighborhoods are targeted with toxic waste, landfills, and polluted sites unsafely placed next to their homes. This is unethical because is creates major health risks including “contamination and greater exposure to viral or microbial agents in the air water, soil homes schools and parks.” (Prevention Institute). This is unethical. No people should be living next to dangerously polluted areas. This inspired me to investigate low-income neighborhoods in Redlands. Is this happening in our College town? And if so, what can I do to spread awareness to this issue? As a local student, and part of the larger Redlands community, I feel responsible to be an activist for social justice and change, to support my neighbors and not turn a blind eye to unethical disparity. “We don’t plan long term because if we do we’ll just get our hearts broken. It’s best not to hope. You can just take what you can get as you spot it.” (Tirado). All people deserve a safe environment to live, and no one should be forced to live in toxic and unhealthy conditions.