Week of January 9, 2023
Hear from our Chief Equity and Impact Officer, Robert E. Gunn, Jr.
- On Thursday, February 2 there will be a training designed for anyone who works with or serves families of young children and will be focused on sharing resources and tools that can help families navigate the health requirements for kindergarten, how to connect families with resources to meet those requirements, and activities from the Countdown to Kindergarten calendar to support families preparing for kindergarten. Register HERE.
- Metro United Way has been a supporter of Align Southern Indiana since its inception in 2017. A priority area of focus is early care and education, specifically kindergarten readiness and to gain participation from all public schools in Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Scott, and Washington counties in Indiana. While 100% participation is not yet achieved, participation continues to grow each year.
- On Monday, January 23 in partnership with HANDs, Healthy Start and Family and Children’s Place, Metro United Way will host a community conversation for community members to learn about home visitation, the difference between HANDs, Healthy Start and Family and Children’s Place, and the services each of these agencies provides. More details to come.
- A mom of child recently diagnosed with autism has been traveling a great distance for services. Our ASQ team provided her information on local services as well as peer to peer support groups.
- Our Youth Success RFP will open Monday, January 23 – Friday, February 10! More details to come.
- 100% of tutors from Bellarmine University expressed they are satisfied with our Bridgeway Tutoring program and are having a good experience. This program builds meaningful relationships between youth and tutors and curates learning opportunities, bridging gaps in education.
- We continue to advocate for kids and families. A Kentucky program is set to invest $15 million to help employers offer employees money for child care. The main goal of the program is to get more people back to work. Read more HERE.
- Join us in Indianapolis for Live United Day at the Statehouse on Tuesday, January 24 and in Frankfort for Live United Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, February 15. Register HERE for Indiana and HERE for Kentucky.
- Download our new public policy agendas for Kentucky HERE and Indiana HERE.
- Look for a schedule of trainings and engagement opportunities from our shared data platform, United Community team later in January!
- 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.
- We are pleased to have been a part of the Generation Work panel that included a wonderful dialogue between young adults of color and a group of employers committed to creating workplaces that are inviting for this segment of our emerging workforce. If you represent an employer interested in advancing equity by creating inviting workplaces for people of color and would like to participate in shared learning opportunities, please contact john.nevitt@metrounitedway.org
- Join us in Indianapolis for Live United Day at the Statehouse on Tuesday, January 24 and in Frankfort for Live United Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, February 15. Register HERE for Indiana and HERE for Kentucky.
- Download our new public policy agendas for Kentucky HERE and Indiana HERE.
- Look for a schedule of trainings and engagement opportunities from our shared data platform, United Community team later in January!
- 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 the end of January. Located at 1229 S Shelby St. Louisville, KY 40203. Contact Michael Kopp to arrange a viewing: michael.kopp@thesocialpracticelab.org
- We’re all set for our upcoming Build-A-Bed in Southern Indiana on Saturday, February 18. Family support kit supplies have been ordered (sheets, bed in a bag, pillow, personal care items, and more).
- Continuing planning around a Shelby County Community Needs Assessment, including contract review, in partnership with the Shelby County Community Foundation.
- Our team once again was on hand to help provide meals to families through Boxes of Love.
- Thank you to the 4,278 volunteers that lent their time and talent to improve our community in 2022! Here’s a recap:
- 4,278 Volunteers – working to improve lives and our communities
- 7,299 Volunteer Hours – given in service, exemplifying what it means to LIVE UNITED
- 41 Companies – participated in strategic volunteer experiences
- 9,790 Impact Kits – assembled and distributed to meet basic needs
- Join us in Indianapolis for Live United Day at the Statehouse on Tuesday, January 24 and in Frankfort for Live United Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, February 15. Register HERE for Indiana and HERE for Kentucky.
- Download our new public policy agendas for Kentucky HERE and Indiana HERE.
- Look for a schedule of trainings and engagement opportunities from our shared data platform, United Community team later in January!
- Our Racial Wealth Gap Simulation (RWG) continues to be a powerful learning and engagement tool. Sessions are scheduled in January for the Division of Family Resource and Youth Service Centers and for the JCPS Region 2 FRYSCs. More details to come of a free and open to the public RWG simulation during Black History Month in February.
- Strategic planning continues with Torch Enterprises, Resilia, various cohort funders, and Black L.O.V.E. Philanthropic Partnership grantees.
- In alignment with United Way Worldwide membership requirements, our next equity training session has been scheduled for our Board of Directors on Wednesday, January 25. The title of this training is The Lens of Racial Equity.
- Take a look at our updated volunteer cabinets HERE and Board of Directors HERE.