"It takes a couple of years, but then you can pretty much write your own ticket, " says Jay Wommack, president of Vertical Alliance Group, a placement service for blue-collar jobs.

FORBES: Magazine Article

The proposal includes a community relations commission, a blue-ribbon panel to represent community concerns, a diverse interfaith alliance and an anti-violence campaign.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The alliance members have a gentleman's agreement not to poach business in each others' blue-chip shares, but nobody expects that to last.

ECONOMIST: European stock exchanges