Who We Are – Christine Troiano

Hi! My name is Christine Troiano and I am a contributor to Rai$e it! I am a senior at the University of Maryland, studying communications. Post grad I plan to venture to the West Coast in pursuit of a job in branding/marketing.

I have worked in retail as well as a a marketing and social media intern for a non profit organization. My internship was unpaid, but as a sales associate I never questioned to issue of minimum wage. The benefits of raising the minimum wage far outweigh any sort of negative implication it would cause. As Caroline said, raising minimum wage by even just $2.85, over 3 million Americans would not have to rely on food stamps. When the minimum wage was raised to $7.25 a number of states saw their unemployment rates decrease. It is proven that $7.25 is not an income someone can comfortably live on. By raising the minimum wage, the American community and economy will improve drastically.

Who We Are – Caroline Crowder

Hello! I’m Caroline Crowder and also a contributor to Rai$e it! I am also a Junior at Maryland studying communications and minoring in business. Ideally after college, I hope to work in event planning or marketing.

I’ve worked as a sales associate as well as an apartment CA, and always seemed to accept minimum wage as it was. It wasn’t until last semester that I took a class about the economy and realized all of the benefits of raising minimum wage. As Joey said, many people would be able to lead less stressful lives and be able to afford basic necessities. In addition, I’ve learned that there are even larger benefits that would affect the general public. According to a study by the Center for American Progress, raising minimum wage to just $10.10 would help over 3 million Americans get off food stamps. I’ve also learned that raising minimum wage would also be beneficial to businesses because many successful businesses already pay their workers beyond minimum wage to attract skilled workers. I want livable wages for all because I believe that those who work hard should get what they deserve and also believe that raising minimum wage would have a positive impact on businesses and our economy.

Who We Are – Joey Ciampa

Hey Guys! My name is Joey Ciampa, I’m one of five contributors to Rai$e it! I’m a Junior at the University of Maryland, College Park currently studying communications.

Gratuitous Selfie

I’ve been working various jobs since I was legally allowed to; 16 in Connecticut where I’m from. Coming from a fairly privileged household, I had never stressed about money. Working 20+ hours a week was enough to sustain my selfish need for cash. Along the way, I had encountered coworkers who didn’t have it as easy as me. Working multiple part time jobs, working 60+ hours a week, barely earning enough to eat dinner that night. These coworkers were not afforded the luxurious safety net I was so fortunate to receive from my parents. Connecting with these kind and generous people, I knew no one should have to live such a stressful life, scouring for available hours just to keep a roof over their heads. This is why I fight for livable wages for all!