July 2024
Metro United Way Impact Tracker
This impact tracker is updated on a monthly basis to share highlights of the work that we do every day to help make our community better for everyone!
There’s nothing more important than making sure our community’s children have what they need to thrive. LEARN MORE
- Several of our partners were recently involved in a community event emphasizing the importance of enrolling children in preschool. Backside Learning Center hosted the informational session and community event and Play Cousins Collective provided interactive games to entertain children, Fund for the Arts led arts activities, and the JCPS Office for Multilingual Learners sent a representative to answer questions from caregivers. This was the first in a series of community events focusing on early childhood development and kindergarten readiness for multilingual families in our community. This series is supported by our Ready for K Alliance in collaboration with La Casita Center and Americana World Community Center.
- MUW in partnership with Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C) and research staff at the Child Care Services Association (CCSA) we completed the 2023-2024 Louisville Early Learning Workforce study. Key points from the report include:
- 30% of early learning teaching staff and 30% of family child care providers have a total family income of less than $30,000
- 11% of teachers and 13% of assistant teachers, working full-time, said they must work another job to make ends meet
- 47% of teachers left their center in the past year
- 22% of teachers said they “probably will not” or “definitely will not” be in the field in three years
- From WDRB: Study shows high turnover, not enough pay for Louisville early childhood teachers
- Our Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) team attended a Baby Prom hosted by the Louisville Free Public Library, speaking with more than 100 families about our early childhood work. They also provided pediatric partners kindergarten readiness materials to distribute to families during wellness visits.
- Earlier this month, young people from TECH-nique, a Youth Success Network partner, presented their engaging and interactive workshop entitled “Artificial Intelligence: What do WE need to know?” at Metro United Way to a group of community partners and staff members.
- Additionally, young people from Book Works, another Youth Success Network partner, presented an update regarding their project.
- In addition to the natural playground that we supported and that was completed last month at La Casita Center, there is another planned at Chickasaw Park. Learn more: https://www.wdrb.com/news/chickasaw-park-unveils-new-nature-play-area-in-louisville/article_028c213a-3d5b-11ef-80d2-bff1ffb21e93.html
When we have strong households, we are creating pathways out of poverty to prosperity, which is a win for us all. LEARN MORE
- Our workforce financial coaching initiative is continuing to demonstrate results with the following impacts realized by program participants:
- 23 individuals have increased their income by a median of $7,932
- 73 have increased their savings by $641
- 53 have raised their credit score by 23 points
- 63 have decreased debt by $2,000.
- We are delighted that the founders of the national Siemer Institute, Barbara and Al Siemer, have accepted an invitation to visit Louisville as we look to expand the number of families and children we serve. Last year, we exceeded community network averages by reaching:
- 377 families with 778 children
- 76% of families reached a level of income stability
- 82% reached a level of housing stability
- 98% reached a level of educational stability.
- We continue to develop resources in partnership with Kentuckiana Works and youth-serving organizations Goodwill Industries of Kentucky and YouthBuild to bridge meaningful conversations with employers who aim to diversify their workforces by attracting, retaining, and promoting young adults of color. More details soon!
- Earlier this year as part of our Southern Indiana Housing Initiative, we launched a Housing Safety program in partnership with New Directions Housing Corp. To date, this effort has served four households in Clark and Floyd County, addressing roof, air conditioning, and a few minor miscellaneous repairs. Two additional homes are currently receiving repairs that include a wheelchair ramp and handrails, replacement doors and grab bars. These repairs allow current homeowners to remain safely in their homes.
- The Homeownership component of our Housing Initiative has produced a total of four new homeowners and eight additional families receiving financing preapproval. This work is facing some challenges related to the availability of affordable homes. We are exploring opportunities with local landlords and builders.
- We hosted a United Community Social Needs Think Tank on July 11 and have a Lunch and Learn planned for July 26 in Southern Indiana. To register and learn about United Community events, please visit: https://metrounitedway.org/united-community-events/
We envision the Greater Louisville region as a place where zip code doesn’t determine destiny and everyone has the opportunity to live up to their full potential. LEARN MORE
- Welcome to our team, Elliott Kelly! He will serve as our new Senior Manager, Equitable Community and will lead our Young Men United and United Neighborhoods programs among other things, advancing equity across our seven-county region.
- We are in the early phases of expanding our United Neighborhoods program to Southern Indiana. More details to come!
- Our Black L.O.V.E. (Live, Own, Vote, Excel) Philanthropic Partnership cohort is preparing for an educational session on July 26th entitled “Board Governance & Fundraising 101.”