by Rachel M. Anderson

(Minneapolis) - According to the latest figures released by the U.S. Labor Department, the unemployment rate is at its highest level since 1983. In May 2009 alone, American employers slashed 345,000 jobs.

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 6 million Americans have lost their jobs.

Many of them, like Dianne Hauschild of Golden Valley, Minn., are now either unemployed or under employed. 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."

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.

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 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.

Here’s a glimpse at how a recent meeting got underway:

"Hi everybody. I’m Angela Krocker. My last position was with K. Hovnanian Homes. I was laid off from my marketing position with them in January."

"Good morning, my name is Allen Jackson. I used to be senior graphic designer at a company called Murals Your Way until I got laid off in February."

"Hi, I’m Shari Johnson. I was laid off from my job in residential remodeling in April. I loved my job but realize the industry is depressed right now and I’ll need to broaden my horizons. I need to get business cards made. Anyone have any ideas about what should be on them?"
After asking that question, several of the creative people in the group jumped in with advice: Project Manager and Creative Director were some of the recommendations. Those who had already gone to the trouble of having their own business cards suggested she have them printed up through either VistaPrint.com, which offers 250 free business cards available in 42 different designs or MarketSplash.com, which offers 100 cards with more specialized backgrounds for free.

When it was Renee Hammes’ turn to speak, the graphic designer shared information about a portfolio service she thought everyone in the group would want to know about. "eFolio Minnesota is a free resource available to all Minnesota residents," she said. "I applied for a job the other day and included a link to my portfolio. I figure if the prospective employer doesn’t take the time to open my PDFs and resume, at least they can click on my eFolio link and see work examples right away."

Just about everyone in the group wrote the URL down on their notepads. As the discussion continued, attendees shared the ups and downs in their job searches.

Everyone clapped when Sue Merritt told the group about a recent job interview she felt had gone well; and when Hauschild announced that one of the group’s early members, Michael Rybak, would no longer be coming because he had recently secured a job as the marketing director for a start-up L.E.D. lighting company.

7DegreeCreative meets every Friday at 11 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 towards such things as registering the company’s name and logo with the state, establishing the group’s Web site: http://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."

"Dianne is really onto something," says Joanne Hacker, a career counselor who used to work for the Minnesota Workforce Center. "In my 30 years of experience, I’ve never seen so much energy and synergy in a room of job seekers. This group is a resource that has been needed for a long time."

"I love coming here at the end of the week. It really pumps me up," says Allen Pascua who used to be an account executive for U.S. Bank.

For more information about 7DegreeCreative and its members, send an e-mail to info@7degreecreativ.org.

About Rachel M. Anderson:

Rachel M. Anderson is a freelance writer who lives in Minnetonka, Minn. She has written professionally for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Tampa Tribune newspapers.