Profile in Survival: Tracey Johnston

The last in Jordan Green's Yes! Weekly Profiles in Survival tells Tracey Johnston's story. Here is how it ends:


A minimum wage increased to $2,263 would barely put a dent in Johnston's expenses. Contemplating the surplus, she recites the various tricks for stretching a dollar to cover food and clothing costs, such as buying cases of cans of corn and a large bottle of shampoo.


That doesn't mean she doesn't want a citywide raise; she can practically taste it.


"People will probably be a lot happier and less worrisome, more relaxed," she says.


"They will feel there would be more stability. When people feel they can make more money and they don't worry about how they're going to feed their family and clothe themselves, I think they can think about family leisure and a vacation, going out of state to visit loved ones or treating their family to eat out once in awhile or go to a movie. They'll be less angry at the world."


And to modify the Bible verse: To whom much is given more can be expected.


"I believe when people are happy, they feel they have an abundance," Johnston says. "They share what they have, and they give, whether that be charity or sponsoring a camp trip, or if you feel good about your paycheck you might pay for your buddy's lunch."


Read the entire profile here.