Hear from our Chief Equity and Impact Officer, Robert E. Gunn, Jr.
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- Mayor Greenberg announced $4.6 million American Rescue Plan (ARP) investments to support early care and education initiatives in Louisville. Metro United Way will receive $1.6 million for three projects: to expand developmental screening, to build 12 natural playscapes, and to prepare educators and families for kindergarten. Lots of press coverage about this as well. Check them out!
- Our Director of Early Care and Education, Ashley Brandt, has been invited to serve as a member of the Mayor’s Early Learning Advisory Group (ELAG) that will inform next steps around the city’s goals to increase access to affordable high-quality early learning.
- Our early care and education team is also working with early childhood organizations in Bullitt, Oldham, and Shelby counties.
- Our Ready for K’s Family and Caregiver Engagement Action Network will host the final training in its series of professional development training sessions on Thursday, July 27 at 10:00 am. This training series is designed for anyone who works with or serves families of young. This last session will focus on logistical, social, and emotional supports for parents and caregivers as they prepare to transition their children into kindergarten. If you are interested in attending this session, please register here.
- Our Ages & Stages (ASQ) team is working to expand our reach. Over the last several weeks, our team has met with several Indiana organizations which support young children. Partnerships are being explored with Bright By Text, Know the Signs Act Early, Help Me Grow Indiana and Indiana Start. These new partnerships will help support a statewide grant proposal currently under development.
- We have 28 new referrals from the healthcare provider outreach and established a streamlined feedback loop between our ASQ team and our pediatric partners.
- Our team serving youth aged 6 – 24 is planning our training and personal development sessions for next year (August – May). If you have gifts or talents that would be useful to youth workers, we’d love to have you lead a workshop. Contact antonio.readus@metrounitedway.org for more information.
- Metro United Way has been promoting family stability for families at risk of homelessness for nine years running through our partnership with the Siemer Institute. Early impact from the first quarter of this year shows that our partners who operate in Jefferson, Floyd, and Bullitt Counties have served 235 families representing 474 total children of whom 360 are school-aged with the following impact: 73% have reached a level of income stability, and 75% have reached a level of housing stability.
- Read more about our YaLift! pilot that was introduced in Louisville because of the impact from previous guaranteed income programs elsewhere that demonstrated many positive benefits including reduced income volatility, increased mental and physical well-being, and increased participation in the workforce. We were recently highlighted here:
- For the new American Rescue Plan (ARP) 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 partnering with community members, like the Coalition for the Homeless, to advocate for additional eviction prevention resources in the 2024 Metro Louisville budget.
- Chief Policy Officer, Mandy Marler, introduced Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg at the annual meeting of the Metropolitan Housing Coalition on Tuesday, June 6. We are always thankful to stand by our housing partners in the fight for affordable and accessible housing.
- Our 4th Annual Greatest Give Back was recently held in partnership with The Ali Center. 450 volunteers provided 2,200 snack kits and 2,200 backpacks filled with school supplies to 4,400 people in our community! The supplies were distributed by 25 nonprofits from MUW’s seven-county service area. Check out all of the media coverage from this fabulous day honoring Muhammad Ali’s legacy of giving back!
- Dr. Pamela Jolly, whose research and partnership helped informed our work with the Black L.O.V.E., (BLPP) has agreed to speak at our July Tocqueville Tuesday’s Luncheon, as well as engage during a convening of BLPP members the following day. More details to come!
- Our next virtual Beyond Buzzwords speaker series event on diversity, equity, and inclusion is Tuesday, October 10 featuring Louisville’s own Emily Bingham who will talk about MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME: THE ASTOUNDING LIFE AND RECKONING OF AN ICONIC AMERICAN SONG.
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Virtual Event
Register HERE
- We are currently recruiting members to our Community Impact Cabinet from Shelby, Oldham, and Bullitt Counties who are passionate about their community and the work of MUW. Please reach out to robert.gunn@metrounitedway.org if you or someone you know may be interested in this volunteer opportunity.