The site even sports a wiki where registered site users can add their own web pages filled with tips, discussion and advice. And of course, it encourages people to join Working America, the AFL's association for working families.
Videos and lists of local resources round out the site - which is built on the Drupal open source content management system rather than the AFL's proprietary content management system, LaborWeb. This comes as a bit of a surprise to labor boosters of Drupal like all of us here at Prometheus Labor Communications - since the AFL seemed to have chosen to go its own way with building its network of local, regional and international sites. But for whatever the reason, they built Unemployment Lifeline on Drupal, and I think that's a good move in the long run.
Nice use of online technology and very timely politically. The only downside is that it doesn't seem to be catching on very fast - if the amount of forum posts and wiki content are any judge. Perhaps they'll want to get a few how-to videos together to lower the bar for entry for using the site. Check out Unemployment Lifeline yourselves and let me know what you think.
