Support for Oversight in a Given Funded Area

Hi,

I am an educator using Transformative Learning methods which are especially useful cross culturally. I am also 58 years old and an ovarian cancer survivor so I am a nontraditional employment seeker. I have been on a three month stimulus job that is ending as it is for a nonprofit who refuses to fund me longer. I was desperate for income and as other businesses are not hiring here where some say the unemployment rate is close to 15%, I accepted in spite of the short term. I have learned a lot and provided many good services for "community readiness" that have already helped this organization. My interests are social justice and green industries.

Having been involved in the green movement quite awhile I am aware of what happens, generally, in the construction trades and now it seems all trades, including teaching. 

I have been told from a progressive supervisor's aide, in writing, that thus far in Monterey County, where I live that stimulus jobs have gone for raises for existing employees. Thus no new jobs are being created.

This hardly sounds like the intention of the stimulus funding, to take funds on for existing employees. How can I become more aware of what is going on locally and nationally to keep stimulus funding honest? 

I hope to be on the call today and look forward to how we can create all levels of green jobs that are dignified and respected as careers, not just stimulus ripoffs for states and counties in trouble.

Thank you, Nancy Peden, MA
Monterey, CA