Alley Annual Report – It Belongs To You!
From the Editorial Leadership Committee
2021 was a year of activity and evolution for the alley Editorial Leadership Committee. Highlights were –
- Welcoming new volunteers Tina Monje, Vivi Grieco, Laura Hulscher
- Continuing our in-depth, local pandemic coverage through the summer and into the transition back to in-person school
- Covering the Ward 6 and 9 CIty Council races and publishing voter education articles from The League of Women Voters
- Partnering with the Semilla Center for Healing and the Arts to distribute The Phoenix of Phillips literary magazine, Volume VII
- Moving to a more local printer to help with printing and delivery schedules
- Working to expand paid positions, including the first business manager and website improver – Ben Heath!
- Participating in community events as the post-vaccine world began to open up, including tables at the Phillips West Fall Festival and the American Swedish Institute Neighborhood Night. Look for us at upcoming neighborhood events!
- Collaborating with artist and new alley designer Jessie Merriam on developing the distinctive visual feel of the alley
ELC Hopes and plans for 2022 and beyond –
- Expanding cultural coverage of the Phillips community
- Forming school partnerships to feature youth and student voices
- Highlighting Phillips’ small businesses and the diverse people behind them
- Building our community volunteer base to help fulfill these hopes and plans!
Student Loan Program Changes Could Help Forgive Your Debt
By SHANNON DOYLE
Reprinted with permission from LSS Financial Counseling Sense and Centsibility Blog
If you are paying off student loans, you probably have noticed recent headlines about making student loan forgiveness possible for more borrowers. The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) is making (temporary) fixes, officially called a waiver, to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Here’s your guide to understanding the DOE’s changes and navigating the system so you can get your payments counted towards forgiveness.
If these changes affect you, it’s crucial that you take action as soon as possible. The waiver will end on October 31, 2022.
What is Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)?
College graduates working for government agencies and non-profits are typically paid much less than their counterparts in private industry, yet they need the same level of education. Congress passed legislation in 2007 creating the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to make public service more appealing to graduates. PSLF offers forgiveness on the remaining balance of qualifying federal student loans after 120 qualifying payments, while working for a qualifying employer.
What Changes is DOE Making to PSLF?
The Department of Education created this waiver — finally — after years of complaints and a dismal rate of loan forgiveness. PSLF has been riddled with poor communication about program processes, confusion over what payments qualify for forgiveness, poor servicing and administrative foot dragging.… Read the rest “Student Loan Program Changes Could Help Forgive Your Debt”