Share your story: Working hard and barely getting by
At some point time in their lifetimes, more than 50 percent of Americans will spend a year in poverty or near poverty, according to new research by Washington University in St. Louis professor Mark Rank. In other words, poverty is mainstream, experienced by a majority of Americans. And counter to the stereotype of the poor, most of them have worked extensively.
This evening, Al Jazeera America's flagship program "America Tonight" launches a new series, "The Other America," exploring the stories of people in America who try to play by the rules, work hard and raise their families, but still have trouble making ends meet.
We begin this evening with Stacey Calvin, a mother of three who spends four hours a day getting to and from her job in a day care center because she can’t afford to live anywhere closer. After paying rent, bills and her travel card each month, Calvin is left with around $20. Watch her story tonight at 9 p.m. EST.
Can you relate? Here at Al Jazeera America, we’re opening this up to you. We want you to share your stories with us. Do you work hard, but struggle to meet basic needs, often turning to loans from family or friends, credit cards or other help? Tell us your story, with details about your wages, expenses and struggles.
Submit your response in the field below or tweet your answer to @AmericaTonight with the hashtag #TheOtherAmerica. Or, if you want to submit video, audio or photos in addition to words, you can email files or links to ajamotheramerica@gmail.com with 'The Other America' in the subject line. (If you need help, follow these guides on uploading to YouTube, Vimeo, and SoundCloud.)
We'll be sharing your stories, and what we're learning from them, on air and online as the series continues.
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