Good Reads: From overlooked US cities, to viral philanthropy, to the power of satire

This week's round-up of Good Reads includes overlooked US cities with the most job openings, philanthropy on the Internet, entrepreneurial efforts in Haiti, satirizing world leaders, and an Arab cartoon hero that empowers women.

By Cricket Fuller,?Staff writer / September 20, 2013

Pittsburgh ranks high for job opportunities for recent college graduates.

Keith Srakocic/AP

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Where Millennials should look for work

Much ink has been spilled on the burgeoning ranks of debt-saddled job-seeking Millennials. So where are the best places for recent grads to seek work? Richard Florida has compiled an online list for The Atlantic.

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Logically, the nation?s largest metro areas (like New York and Los Angeles) have the most job openings in high-growth fields that require postsecondary education. But the number of job openings doesn?t necessarily equal job prospects, so Mr. Florida compared these figures with national averages.

High-tech regions like Silicon Valley shot to the top of the list. Known innovation hubs like Boston; Washington, D.C.; and Seattle were joined by Austin, Texas; and Raleigh, N.C. More notable is that Hartford, Conn.; Detroit; and Baltimore all made the Top 10. ?Rust Belt metros? like Pittsburgh and Cleveland also fare well.

Florida says these metros ?have a lot to offer highly educated recent grads: affordable housing, a low cost of living, authentic neighborhoods, and revitalizing cores? as well as jobs. Though largely written-off by educated 20-somethings, they ?deserve a closer look.?

How the Internet flexes its heart

The Internet has (unsurprisingly) given a boost to philanthropy. Worth looking at, however, is the way in which causes go viral. Matt Petronzio of Mashable.com has distilled some of that analysis by highlighting an infographic from eBay Deals and eBay Giving Works that lists ?16 ways the Internet has proved it has a heart.?

In each example, a cause gained buzz through social media sites like Facebook, Reddit, and Tumblr and then linked to campaigns on crowdfunding sites like Indiegogo, Fundly, and GoFundMe. Mr. Petronzio mentioned a few standouts: the video of bullied bus monitor Karen Huff Klein posted on Reddit that inspired donations in excess of $500,000; the ?Humans of New York? collaboration with Tumblr that raised more than $300,000 for hurricane Sandy relief; and numerous campaigns to help victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. Also included on the infographic are initiatives for cancer patients, a homeless man, and a World War II veteran, as well as those affected by the 2013 tornado that struck Moore, Okla., and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Source: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2013/0920/Good-Reads-From-overlooked-US-cities-to-viral-philanthropy-to-the-power-of-satire

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