Opinion | Jaylene Moseley: Build a Stronger, Healthier Community

For some, it’s hard to believe that a city known for parades, shopping and boutique hotels is home to so many people struggling to survive. But the fact remains that Pasadena has pockets of harsh poverty that often go unnoticed.

In 2013, the poverty rate in Pasadena was 16.3% – higher than the national average – according to the national census. This makes sense because as our tourism, food and retail industries have grown, the result has been a large low-wage workforce, with 32% of workers earning less than $15 an hour. In addition, rising rent prices and lack of low-income housing means that these same workers struggle to afford to live in Pasadena. Hence, our city’s non-profit sector has expanded exponentially to meet low-income Pasadenans’ demand for social services.

I have worked in the non-profit sector for 30 years, helping to create and develop opportunities for low-income residents in Northwest Pasadena. These troubling statistics show me that Pasadena needs not wait to raise the minimum wage to $15/hour. Opponents argue that raising the minimum wage will kill jobs and shutter local businesses. Yet the research shows that a higher minimum wage will actually strengthen the local economy, with a minimal effect on job loss. Setting aside the data, I ask opponents an ethical question: Should private businesses in our city base profits on keeping some community members in poverty? Should non-profits balance their budgets by forcing the most disadvantaged people to wonder where their next meal will come from? These are difficult dilemmas to face, but are fundamental questions we must ask ourselves as Pasadena considers a higher minimum wage.

However, I don’t think this soul searching is limited solely to the private sector – I believe that those of us in the nonprofit community must also raise our wages. While our missions differ, all of us are trying to build a stronger, healthier community. I strongly believe that our organizations, like for-profit businesses, should not achieve financial security by denying our employees a proper living wage.

While many non-profit organizations struggle to find the funding to meet the needs of their constituents, I believe it is unethical to fill budget gaps by cutting the wages of dedicated staff members. The National Center for Charitable Statistics found that giving to non-profits increased 7.1 percent last year, totaling $258.51 billion. There are clearly other avenues for stable organizational funding that do not require keeping nonprofit employees impoverished.

The sustainable and positive impact nonprofits make in our community requires intensive relationship building and community awareness. Increasing wages for staff members not only ensures the retention of a strong team, but also allows nonprofits to make a long-term investment in the community, through the expertise their employees provide. In the past, the nonprofit sector has successfully adjusted and planned for the increases in state minimum wages by balancing their books and diversifying funding sources through strong relationships with donors and foundations. Therefore, I stand firmly in support of raising the minimum wage to $15, even for nonprofits.

Jaylene Moseley has focused her professional and philanthropic energies in Northwest Pasadena and Altadena for more than 30 years. As Flintridge Center President, she convenes community stakeholders and facilitates partnerships and collaborative action to improve the quality of life for the area’s children, youth and families. From 1986 through 2007, she served as Managing Director of Flintridge Foundation, leading various local collaborative efforts and marshalling cross-sector resources to address issues of community concern.