SOCIOLOGY - Organizations and Social Change Essay

SOCIOLOGY - Organizations and Social Change - Essay Example Indeed this has proved to be the toughest and challenging activity, for most of America’s activists in politics and also the various community builders who are spread across the country. It is this climate that is currently prevailing within the US, with the various community developing organizations present across the country lobbying for getting the funds approved from the government, so that they can go ahead with their community job training initiatives. IAF, COPS and Metro Alliance are the main organizations that have been formed for community developing activities, that has focused its attention and influence in community development activities, in the areas around San Antonio as well as Texas. â€Å"Invest in us! Invest in us! chanted the six-hundred community residents across San Antonio as leaders of the IAF organizations COPS and Metro Alliance lobbied the mayor and city councilors for the funds to support their job training initiative, Project QUEST†. (www.go odreads.com) Indeed this is the situation of the congregation based community organizations, which are spread across the US. These organizations have to lobby for getting the necessary funds approval from the concerned mayors, if they have to go ahead with the job training initiatives for the small and poor communities across America. ... â€Å"The Texas IAF network asked gubernatorial candidate Ann Richards to support Project QUEST which was agreed upon and she won the election with strong support among low-income Mexican American and African Americans.† (www.goodreads.com) Organizations like the IAF and many others have a very high influence on the political leaders and they get the funds for the various community development and job training initiatives undertaken by them through this political clout. As the COPS organization across the US grew, they could easily get credit to the tune of several millions of dollars in public money, for undertaking various developmental activities which were needed for the communities. But all these types of the different developmental activities of the communities improved, but it was seen that the wages of the individuals residing within these communities did not show any increase. In recent years IAF have become a very powerful organization, with a lot of political influe nce that is inherent in them due to the huge influence on the population, which is residing in these communities. Hence such social organizations like the IAF, COPS and Metro Alliance have resulted in bringing about the much needed social changes and also helped in the upliftment of the poor and needy people, which has automatically resulted in the development of such communities that are scattered around America. Since such communities start developing, the whole economy of the US starts to progress and the power and the influence of these communities start to increase simultaneously â€Å"Publicity for Project Quest outreach went out through training opportunities at IAF, COPS and Metro Alliance church networks through church services and

John Galliano for Dior Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

John Galliano for Dior Crisis - Essay Example In ten years Maison Dior had become one of the most powerful design houses in the industry with Seventh Ave depending on Dior to lead them in a mutually beneficial relationship. In 1957 the company was grossing 17 Million dollars per year, which increased to 22 million by 1958. Yves Saint Laurant, Dior’s handpicked Head Assistant became the head of Dior, but soon left after only six collections when he was called to join the French Army. He had taken up the reigns of the Dior house when he was only twenty-one years old (Blaszczyk 93). Although the design vision of the company has had to change through the transitions of designers over the years, the company pioneered a concept that secured its position in the fashion industry. According to Blaszczyk â€Å"Maison Dior’s achievement in the history of the fashion industry lies in the creation of a format for producing profits while continuing to operate the maison as a viable business for licensing† (105). What the House of Dior did was to create the first example of the power of branding and the idea of licensing was the foundation of how the profits for branding were established. Therefore, one of the most important aspects of the nature of the business is in the perceptions that the public holds for the name of Dior. This is why the crisis that occurred with John Galliano had to be handled with care and surgical precision. The House of Dior Christian Dior is currently owned by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, which is owned by Bernard Arnaul. Sidney Toledano, Dior Couture’s chief executive, and the board of directors were responsible for the decision to fire Galliano during the crisis (Saltmarsh). The demographics for Dior are wide and varied, depending on what branch of the company is being discussed. However, the core of the demographics are affluent with an upper class income, varying from those who buy from the runway and are represented by the elite to those with upper middle c lass incomes that can afford higher designer level prices. The House of Dior includes Miss Dior, which is geared towards the younger woman, J’dore, which is currently the perfume that is represented by Charlize Theron, and Diorskin Forever, their skincare line represented by Natalie Portman. Dior lines include accessories, jewelry, watches, baby wear, men’s wear, and of course, women’s wear (Dior). Dior represents glamour, wealth, and couture. The house has always strived to serve the elite of the world. Christian Dior, in defiance of a restriction on fabric during World War II, created pieces in his collection that uses as much as 20 yards of fabric (Blaszczyk 93). While this suggests a sense of social defiance during a time when people were needed to band together, it also represents a belief in the luxury of life and that to live in a restricted form is to limit the possibilities. Dior’s first releases also revolutionized the look of woman. He embraced the large breasts, small waist, and long silhouette with skirts that ended at mid-calf that now still have power in women’s wear creations. His company was run with smart business moves in mind, licensing the products in order to create lines that could extend the brand. Dior is a company to be admired for the products that they produce, the luxurious lifestyle that is the cornerstone