This episode returns to the theme of income inequality.  As I have said before, our current economic system has a feedback loop that works to keep rich families rich, and poor families poor.  Wealthy families send their kids to the best schools, provide enrichment and support through tutoring, after school programs, sports and counseling.  These advantages last a lifetime. Further, with these competitive advantages, the earning power of family members remain above those in less fortunate families.  However, we have a subsystem of service to others and charitable giving that can make a difference in peoples lives.  Today, I am speaking with Greg Scherman who is a founder of Access Youth Academy.  This organization helps level the playing field by serving the underserved children in San Diego.  Their program uses the sport of squash as a hook to help reach these kids.  In addition to squash training and play, the program provides tutoring, academic counseling, college admission counseling, scholarship facilitation, and support through college and for two years after college completion.  Access Youth Academy makes a 12 year commitment to each of their students. Their results are phenomenal in that they have a 100% success rate in helping kids get into college. Most recently, they have opened their own facility which is open to the public, and boasts 8 singles courts, a doubles court in addition to their classroom facilities.  Visit their website at accessyouthacademy.org.  If you like the podcast, please subscribe.  If you want to visit our website, please go to youaredoingwhat.org.

How free and confident would you feel if you did not have access to reasonable health care?  In the US, most us don't ponder this question.  However, more than half of the world's population does not have access to essential health care according to the World Health Organization and the World Bank.  Today, we have Dr. Wendy Leonard, a founder of TIP Global Health.  This organization has developed processes and technologies to improve health care outcomes in Rwanda, Africa.  Their success is so striking that their work is now being adopted in Detroit, Michigan.  And, this is only the start.  Please listen as Dr. Leonard explains the fundamentals of making gains in health care outcomes in challenging environments.  If you want to learn more, you can visit tipglobalhealth.org.  Dr. Leonard is pleased to be contacted as well at Wendy@tipglobalhealth.org.

Many believe income inequality is the result of economic systems problems. Many economists have devoted themselves to shed light on some of the flawed incentives and loopholes built into our policies and laws.  Certainly, we can try to eliminate those policies and laws that amplify income inequality.  We could increase income tax rates, do away with reduced tax rates on capital gains taxes, increase estate taxes and take that money to invest in education, job training, health care, etc.  Are these worthy pursuits?  In any event, how do you get any real action  to combat the unlevel playing field we have here in America?  It requires the will of the people who have the power to push agendas.  Many of those in power, however, do not feel compelled make changes that reduce income inequality.  I believe that regardless of our economic system, income inequality persists because of values that many of us have developed over time.  In this episode, I speak to Dr. Robert Marino, a clinical psychologist and professor.  Dr. Marino's specialty is working with people who have become financially successful.  We discuss the problems created by income inequality, how income inequality is generated, why it persists, and most importantly, how to reduce it in an organic way.  It was a very interesting discussion, and the take-aways may be useful to each of us.