That’s better than the 500,000 job losses that had been expected, but the news is still not good. Since the beginning of the recession in December 2007, more than six million Americans have lost their jobs.


Unemployed or underemployed
Many of them, like Dianne Hauschild of Golden Valley, Minn., are now either unemployed or underemployed. Hauschild used to work in real estate finance, an industry that has been negatively affected by the bad economy. She was downsized and for the last year or so has gotten by with part-time jobs, but is looking for something she can put her heart and soul into full-time.

“Ever since I was a little girl, every aspect of my thought process has been in the creative world,” she says. “I love photography, theater, writing and film. I just know I have to do something creative.”


Networking
About six months ago, at the urging of a friend, Hauschild started attending regular networking meetings at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie to expand her horizons. Pastor Rod Anderson started up the group as a way to help the community in these tough economic times.

“I am so grateful I started attending this group, but because it was 85 to 90 percent technical—IT, engineers, finance—I felt the creative souls weren’t being heard,” says Hauschild. In December 2008, she asked if anyone would be interested in joining a creative networking group she was going to start up.


Referrals bring in more people
Five people attended the initial meeting in January 2009. Word has spread about the group so quickly, six months later more than 120 people have joined the group. Each week the average attendance is between 30 and 40 members. The last meeting alone brought in 12 new members, all through word of mouth referrals.

“Early on we met at a coffee shop, but we quickly outgrew the space,” explains Hauschild. “One of our attendees graciously arranged for us to use the meeting hall at St. George’s Episcopal Church on Minnetonka Boulevard in St. Louis Park at no charge.” The group now meets there every Friday at 11:00 a.m.

Hauschild begins each meeting by thanking people for coming, updating everyone about members’ correspondence received during the week—new opportunities or other valuable information—then having the attendees introduce themselves. After the meeting, there is always a long session of one-on-one networking everyone greatly benefits from.


Professional group
7DegreeCreative meets every Friday at 11:00 a.m. at St. George’s Episcopal Church at 5224 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park. Meetings are free, but donations are accepted and appreciated. Hauschild says the money collected is being put toward such things as registering the company’s name and logo with the state, establishing the group’s Web site: www.7degreecreativ.org, arranging for special speakers, coffee donations to the church, etc.

“I want this group to be more than just a networking group for unemployed creative people,” says Hauschild. “I want it to be a professional group and a resource that companies will turn to when they need to a writer, graphic artist, voice talent, etc., for a project.”