America’s workforce is in a crisis: 15 million people are unemployed and almost double that are underemployed or have given up on their search. Until more people get back at work, life in America will not be the same.

But for many of us, finding work doesn’t depend on how good we are at what we do; others out there are just as competent.

Far too many are realizing that, while we may be brilliant in our chosen career and excellent at what we do, finding work no longer solely depends on our expertise as a worker.

Getting hired today boils down to how good we are as job seekers.

As a job seeker, can you go it alone? Of course, but there’s real merit to the old adage about strength in numbers. As anyone who has ever played on a sports team, belonged to a sorority or joined a diet or book club will tell you, nothing can replace the power of community.

That’s why we’re launching MY AMERICA WORKS – a nationwide network of empowered and inspired local job clubs that meet each week across our great nation to equip job seekers in every corner of America to get back to work.

The challenges facing our nation’s unemployed and underemployed are unprecedented and intimidating. These times call for non-conventional thinking and comprehensive strategies that consider and pursue all options from traditional employment to freelancing and contract work to entrepreneurship.

To say our recent recession has been a game changer for the job seeker is an understatement. No longer can you just rely on online job boards, Sunday want ads or casual networking to get back to work.

With more than six unemployed people for every job opening–not to mention stiff competition from those with jobs–the odds are stacked against anyone looking for work today.

So, where do we go from here?

MY AMERICA WORKS

A national network of local job clubs

Surrounding yourself with determined people in your community—led by a trained job club leader—can not only restore your confidence and momentum, but also provide each member with just the boost needed to successfully navigate today’s job market.

Participating in this rigorous, 10-week job club—complemented by a robust online platform—empowers members to go from helpless to hopeful to hired.

MY AMERICA WORKS job clubs are not meet-and-gripe groups but a demanding, disciplined program where each member is accountable not only for his and her own success but for that of the collective group as well.

It’s a proven “buddy system” for job search success, based on the enormously successful pilot programs launched in 2009 across the country.

MY AMERICA WORKS inspires and equips a nation back to work one job seeker at a time and shines the spotlight on what’s working now – across the country. It’s all about positive energy and proactive steps that lead each club to promising results.

That’s something we’re all ready to celebrate, so join us today.