Hear from our Chief Equity and Impact Officer, Robert E. Gunn, Jr.
- We submitted six (YES SIX!) proposals to Louisville Metro Government for American Rescue (ARP) resources to invest in early care and education. Almost $4 million total would go to ensuring our community’s children enter kindergarten ready to thrive. Why is this so important? Read more about our work in kindergarten readiness HERE.
- The Ready for K Alliance is an integral part of improving outcomes for our community’s youngest children and setting them up for success in life. Learn more HERE.
- In our leadership role with the Ready for K Alliance we serve as a connector between the dozens of community partners and the specific “Action Networks” to support alignment and collaboration while working on strategic initiatives to improve kindergarten readiness. We foster partners’ overall collaboration through relationships, communications, and meetings that support trust, inclusion, equity, accountability, and celebration.
- Our second Professional Development training geared towards community partners and child care providers to create a more unified approach of sharing resources and messaging as well as supporting coordination and alignment of kindergarten readiness practices is Thursday, February 2. Register HERE.
- Over the last two weeks, our Ages & Stages (ASQ) team has connected a mom of four to mental health supports, connected two families to an organization that provide beds for children, connected a grandparent to First Steps for a speech evaluation for her grandson, connected an unhoused mom to JCPS services to support her 1st grader and preschooler as well as Kids Cafés for evening meals, and helped a mom understand the transition process between First Steps and JCPS.
- Additionally, an ASQ mom contacted us for support after her family lost everything in a house fire. We were able to provide information on organizations that can connect her with resources for food, clothing, financial assistance, housing coordination, and furniture.
- On Monday, January 23, in partnership with HANDs, Healthy Start and Family and Children’s Place, Metro United Way will host our next community conversation for community members to learn about home visitation.
- This month we onboarded four new Community Impact Cabinet members. Did you know that our investment decisions are volunteer-led by community leaders in the Greater Louisville region? Volunteers make decisions based on need; alignment to MUW’s priorities in education, economic mobility, and basic needs; solutions to root case issues; innovative results, and stewardship of dollars.
- Join us in Indianapolis for Live United Day at the Statehouse on January 24 and in Frankfort for Live United Day at the Capitol on February 15. Register HERE for Indiana and the registration link for Kentucky is coming soon!
- Our Board of Directors just approved our 2023 Public Policy Agenda. Take a look at what we will continue to advocate for HERE.
- Onboarding new community-based organizations to the MUW Youth Success Network – up to 97 partners and growing.
- Connecting youth success partners to IT and internet improvement support.
- We are working with the Louisville Metro Office of Safe & Healthy Neighborhoods (OSHN) YES! Team to develop a plan and budget for up to $1.48M in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds.
- Collaborating with the Coalition Supporting Young Adults and the Louisville Metro OHSN YES! Team to support a Neighborhood Youth Board framework and pilot in the California Neighborhood.
- Transitioning to in-person tutoring with partners and students through our Bridgeway Tutoring Initiative.
- We are supporting many of our youth success partners with outcome measurement processes using the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Program Assessment framework and the SEL Measurement tool.
- Working on the Youth Success RFP framework with volunteers from all seven of our counties. More details to come!
- Our ‘Generation Work” is a partnership among youth-serving partners and employers to promote and create inviting workplaces for young adults of color. Several local employers participated in a guided panel discussion on December 16 with young adults regarding how we might capitalize on their strengths as well as address barriers to full participation in the workforce taking place. More details to come on next steps.
- For the new American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Healthcare Workforce Innovation Coalition initiative, we will be leading the coordination of financial coaching support for individuals participating in workforce training, connecting fundraising support to entrepreneurs from marginalized communities, and coordinating consultation for employers to promote inviting workplaces for the diverse populations. Read more about this $40 million investment in our community HERE.
- Don’t forget – Take This! A Photovoice exhibition addressing economic security and the prospects of guaranteed income on display at The Social Practice Lab by appointment until 1/31/23. Located at 1229 S Shelby St. Louisville, KY 40203. Contact Michael Kopp to arrange a viewing: michael.kopp@thesocialpracticelab.org More about our guaranteed income program, YaLift! HERE.
- This month we onboarded four new Community Impact Cabinet members. Did you know that our investment decisions are volunteer-led by community leaders in the Greater Louisville region? Volunteers make decisions based on need; alignment to MUW’s priorities in education, economic mobility, and basic needs; solutions to root case issues; innovative results, and stewardship of dollars.
- Join us in Indianapolis for Live United Day at the Statehouse on January 24 and in Frankfort for Live United Day at the Capitol on February 15. Register HERE for Indiana and the registration link for Kentucky is coming soon!
- Our Board of Directors just approved our 2023 Public Policy Agenda. Take a look at what we will continue to advocate for HERE.
- Finalizing investment framework options for our Farmers Feeding Families program in Shelby County for our volunteer committee to consider with remaining resources.
- Applications for our upcoming Build-A-Bed in Southern Indiana on Saturday, February 18 have been distributed with the deadline of Friday, January 20. Family support kit supplies have been ordered (sheets, bed in a bag, pillow, personal care items, and more).
- In December we led 12 corporate volunteer projects that put 1,110 healthy snacks, personal care items, and more into our community!
- This month we onboarded four new Community Impact Cabinet members. Did you know that our investment decisions are volunteer-led by community leaders in the Greater Louisville region? Volunteers make decisions based on need; alignment to MUW’s priorities in education, economic mobility, and basic needs; solutions to root case issues; innovative results, and stewardship of dollars.
- Join us in Indianapolis for Live United Day at the Statehouse on January 24 and in Frankfort for Live United Day at the Capitol on February 15. Register HERE for Indiana and the registration link for Kentucky is coming soon!
- Our Board of Directors just approved our 2023 Public Policy Agenda. Take a look at what we will continue to advocate for HERE.
- Thank you to all that attended our Anti-Human Trafficking learning session on December 14. You can watch the recording HERE. Save the data for an in person convening on March 2. More details to come!
- Our Racial Wealth Gap Simulation continues to be a powerful community engagement and learning tool. This past month we facilitated simulations with TekSystems, Baird, Leadership Louisville, and HJI Supply Chain Solutions. Sessions are scheduled in January for the Division of Family Resource and Youth Service Centers in Grand Rivers, Kentucky, and for staff of the JCPS Family Resource and Youth Service Center (FRYSC). We are also in discussions with Best Buy Co. Inc/Best Buy Health.
- Strategic planning for Black L.O.V.E. Philanthropic Partnership continues with Torch Enterprises, Resilia, various cohort funders, and grantees. Our inaugural cohort of grantees will be offered the opportunity to continue partnership with Resilia for capacity building support. Convenings with funders is planned for Q1 2023.
- In line with United Way Worldwide membership requirements, diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings have been scheduled for the MUW Board in January and more all-staff training will follow.