Oprah Has One

A mentor. A caring adult. Someone who influences your life, makes it rich, shapes your values, helps you to pursue your dreams. Mine is my mom. Maybe cliche, maybe easy, but true. I am who I am today because of the love and nurturing that my mom has given me (and still does).

Oprah's caring adult was one of her grade school teachers. And look where that took her!

Imagine if the State of Michigan generated 10,000 mentors to be caring adults in our children's lives. Where could that take us as a community? Dan Mulhern, Michigan's First Gentleman, has some thoughts on that.

Who was your mentor? How did that person affect you?

Want to mentor? Call 2-1-1 or go to www.uwsem.org

Asset Building

We've written on the importance of economic security and the value of Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) in our community before.

This week, members of United Way for Southeastern Michigan and over 1,000 practitioners, researchers and policy advocates have convened in Phoenix, AZ for the 2006 Assets Learning Conference hosted by the CFED. The sessions are packed with the latest research and findings from the field. To learn more, please visit the conference website here.

The morning began with The Assets Alliance, which provided a foundation for understanding what assets are and the essential role they have in improving lives and communities. For example, assets are generally thought of in three important categories: physical (homes, land, automobiles), financial (cash savings, retirement funds, investments) and human (education, work skills, psychological well being).

What do we mean when we say someone has achieved self-sufficiency and economic security?

For me, the conversation that struck the most resonant chord centered on the most basic yet essential question: What assets do people, families and communities need to achieve their aspirations?

Our needs are fundamentally about our ability to make choices -- decisions to enhance, develop and improve our quality of life.

Our first task is probably to widen our thinking. Though we must focus our efforts to make long term progress, we should encourage out-of-the-box solution building. The IDA program, for example, is a critical strategy to asset building, but alone it simply cannot answer all of the needs facing Southeastern Michigan.

How can we increase the choice sets available to achieve our goals? Are there unique cultural, historical, and institutional barriers we should be aware of in our efforts? What is United Way's role? Business? Practitioners? Policy makers? How can we better collaborate to build from our strengths as a region?

What do you think? What assets -- physical, financial, or human; personal, family or community -- would enhance the choices available for all to enjoy a better quality of life in Metro-Detroit? Share with us by emailing impact.strategy@uwsem.org

Detroit's Growth -- Model D Readers Speak Out

Last week, United Way and Model D teamed up to ask readers to share their views on city living and how Detroit can become a better and more inviting place to live, work and play.

Over 800 people responded in just one week!

Very impressive -- when given the chance, just as we learned during the Community Action Survey, metro-detroiters rise to the challenge. Here's a sample of some of the comments we received to the question, "What should Detroit Do to Continue to Improve?"

“Build community, collaborate, be positive about the city and its future.”

“Continuously work to clean the city and ensure safety is a priority by any means necessary, otherwise the city’s negative perception nationally will be an ongoing struggle.”

“Don’t treat everything like it’s a race issue.”

“Focus on safety, transit, and public services.”

“I believe the leadership, both in the suburbs and in Detroit need to start working together to redo the basic infrastructure of educational, welfare, and educational system.”

“Its image and safety – everything else is in place.”

“Keep offering an authentic and compelling experience for visitors – illustrate the unique qualities of the city and draw people in with rich cultural and social events.”

“Mass Transit!”

“Think different, take risks and lead!”

Such thoughtful comments. You may agree or disagree and we welcome your continued feedback. To learn more, look for a brief report in the next issue of Model D this Tuesday or feel free to sign up for them by sending an email with your thoughts to impact.strategy@uwsem.org with the subject line "Model D Survey"

It Affects Everything

"Whole Foods Markets, when I sat down with them, said, 'What is the education achievement level in the 3-mile radius around where you want us to locate?' We said , 'What? You don't want to know tax incentives?' They said they need a certain education level to get the kind of shoppers that come to their stores. It affects everything." So said the Mayor of Detroit recently.

Education...it affects everything. But don't just take a politician's word for it. Economists such as Art Rolnick from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis will tell you (and they have studies to back them up) that companies locate and invest in communities with a high-quality workforce, which includes workers with formal education as well as experienced workers receiving on the job training.

If you believe that education is key to a strong economy and vibrant community, then what do we as a community do about it? Do we invest our resources in early childhood development? Do we replicate Kalamazoo's Promise? Do we continue to foster good schools?

Education...it affects everything. What do you believe?

Partnerships: Model D & United Way Team Up

Interested in Detroit? Do you know what Model D is?

Click here to share your voice about Detroit?

ModelD and United Way have partnered to learn about the ideas, values and trends of the people who follow Detroit's continued revitalization. The main author covering that story is this stunning weekly online magazine bringing fresh perspective on how to learn and explore an authentic Detroit experience.

This first survey is about where you live, why and what it all means to you with respect to Detroit. Want to take it and tell us what you think?

Please, click here.