August 8, 2011
by DWGibson
Comments Off on Roni Chambers
Just talked with some firemen in the city of Camden, New Jersey. This place has the second highest crime rate in the country yet the police and fire departments were just slashed in half. This city presents an intense environment … Continue reading
August 4, 2011
by DWGibson
Comments Off on Update from PA
Post-wheel coming off the car, the city of Pittsburgh has been amazing–and not at all what I expected. I’ve always carried some stereotypical image of an industrial, polluted metropolis. And, indeed, some of the lifers shared stories of black skies … Continue reading
August 2, 2011
by DWGibson
Comments Off on Tammy Moss
I suppose I’ve failed to mention that this cross-country trip is being made in a 1999 Jeep with 140,000 miles and NO AC. The mode of transport didn’t seem important until, well, a wheel fell off just outside of West … Continue reading
July 26, 2011
by DWGibson
Comments Off on Randy Badman
A few weeks ago we met Randy Badman in DeWitt, Nebraska. Randy was born and raised in DeWitt, a town of approximately 550. This is where the vise grip wrench was patented in 1924 and manufactured for decades until the … Continue reading
July 25, 2011
by DWGibson
Comments Off on Indianapolis
I was a bit nervous heading into our time in Indianapolis, mainly because I knew we could only be here over the weekend. It’s a lot harder to contact folks by email and phone over the weekend but in the … Continue reading
July 18, 2011
by DWGibson
Comments Off on Doug Messenger
Heading to St. Louis tomorrow. For now, check out a small piece of my conversation with Doug Messenger in West Des Moines, Iowa. He’s a tremendous guy. A draftsman who has been laid off three times in three years. He’s … Continue reading
July 14, 2011
by DWGibson
Comments Off on More Pix
Hitting the halfway point of the journey. Kansas City has reminded me that this is, in fact, the middle of summer: excellent BBQ and unbearable temperatures. I’ve put lots of new pictures up. Take a look at some of the … Continue reading
July 14, 2011
by DWGibson
Comments Off on Overwhelmed in KC
I’m wrapping up in Kansas City, which isn’t easy to say because I certainly feel like I could spend weeks here, interviewing folks who have lost a job in the last several years. We put out a few calls to … Continue reading
July 11, 2011
by DWGibson
Comments Off on Sue Whetten
We’ve set up base camp in Kansas City. Heading out to the local workforce office in a few minutes. Apparently the Folger’s coffee brewing plant downtown is set to close soon and a bunch of folks have already been laid … Continue reading