From The Upshot – does this picture show domestic emerging markets in orange?
Over the past few days, I’ve been thinking a lot about domestic emerging markets—areas of the country that have potential future opportunity but only a small amount of current prosperity. Though Detroit is the primary example used in many discussions on this topic, The Upshot highlighted some of the other lesser known domestic emerging markets when it studied the hardest places in the U.S. to live based on a selection of criteria including unemployment and obesity rates along with median income, education level, disability rate, and average lifespan. They include: Eastern Kentucky along with parts of Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Arkansas, and West Virginia.
When I consider how we could make an almost immediate and sustainable impact in these areas, my mind immediately turns to job creation. People in these areas need to have ways to earn income to get themselves out of their difficult financial situations. Venture for America is an interesting experiment placing young entrepreneurs with startups in areas such as New Orleans and Detroit. The Department of Commerce is also spending a lot of time studying these areas and potential ways to remedy their long struggles with a lack of opportunity.
But what about the middle ground? Startups and government can’t do this alone. These challenges are too complicated, extensive, and pressing. I’d like to see mid-size and large companies also jump in and make investments in these areas. And maybe that’s where some of my future work lies—jumpstarting structured businesses with resources, talent, and tested know-how to set up shop in geographic areas that have potential and need our attention.
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
View all posts by Christa Avampato
I'd love to know what you think of this post! Please leave a reply and I'll get back to you in a jiffy! ~ CRA Cancel reply
Christa Avampato 