March 29 forum explores strategies to help prevent foreclosures in Macomb

Nearly 200 Leaders from Financial and Mortgage Institutions, Government, Education and Human Services Arenas scheduled to Attend

Since 2005, the number of foreclosure filings in Macomb County nearly tripled, going from 2,755 to 8,192. Due to these staggering figures, leaders from the education, financial and mortgage institutions, government and human service sectors will hold A Forum on Foreclosure to discuss strategies that will help prevent foreclosures in Macomb County, as well as help in the intervention process for those going through foreclosure.

“Home foreclosures have increased dramatically in Macomb County,” said William Crouchman, chair, Macomb County Board of Commissioners. “It’s important to realize how this disturbing trend affects the homeowner and the entire community. We must explore options that help people handle the consequences of foreclosure.”

Anne Lilla, housing coordinator, Macomb Michigan State University Extension added, “Community leaders want to know what to say to people who are in foreclosure. While our system is not perfect, information about options is available. This forum will describe possible ways that people can avoid foreclosure or manage it with the least amount of damage.”

Some of the objectives of this forum will be to:

• enhance education and financial literacy opportunities
  
• address what’s causing the high foreclosure rate and seek prevention solutions
  
• develop a unified approach among area service providers to assist Macomb County residents faced with foreclosure

“This forum supports United Way’s Agenda for Change, emphasizing opportunities to enhance financial stability, educational preparedness and basic needs, such as housing,” said Michael J. Brennan, president & CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan. “We must work together if we are going to make progress on critical issues, like decreasing the rate of foreclosures, in order for our region to thrive and excel.”

WHAT: A Forum on Foreclosure

WHEN: Thursday, March 29, 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.

WHERE: Macomb Community College Center Campus, University Center
44575 Garfield Rd., Clinton Township

Speakers: William Crouchman, chair, Macomb County Board of Commissioners; Ron Reed, CEO, Community Central Bank; Jerome T. Moffit, chief deputy treasurer, Macomb County; Anne Lilla, housing coordinator, Macomb Michigan State University Extension; and Greg Sterns, manager, Lighthouse Community Development.

Please contact Patricia Ellis at 313-226-9484, cell, 313-410-3417; or Megan Bracket at 313-226-9409, pager, 313-840-4321 if you plan to send a reporter or a photographer, or wish to set up an interview. For information on foreclosure assistance please call United Way’s 2-1-1 by dialing 2-1-1 or 800-552-1183.

Community partners presenting the forum include: City of Warren, Lighthouse Community Development, Macomb County Asset Building Coalition, Macomb Community College, Macomb County HOME Consortium (City of Roseville, City of Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development), Macomb County MSU Extension, Macomb CRA Association and United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

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Nonprofits learn to band together

Source: C & G Newspapers
By: April Lehmbeck
Published: March 1, 2007

SOUTHFIELD - In a tough economy, working solo helps no one, which is why Lawrence Technological University and others are hosting a forum to discuss collaboration among nonprofits. Best Practices from the Best- Managed Nonprofits: The Collaboration Imperative will be held from 8 to 11:30 a.m. March 12 at LTU's Buell Building, 21000 10 Mile Road in Southfield.

The school is working with DTE Energy Foundation, Crain's Detroit Business, the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Detroit Executive Service Corps.

"This is almost a collaborative thing in and of itself," said LTU Center for Nonprofit Management Director Jerry Lindman.

United Way of Southeastern Michigan CEO Michael Brennan and the National Community Development Institute's Frank Omowale Satterwhite will speak at the event.

Satterwhite also is the top consultant for the Good Neighbors Initiative by the Skillman Foundation.

In a tough economy, nonprofits are leaned on to do a lot more work for the community, but that's a tall order, according to Brennan.

"You have a growth in service at a time when you have a decline in revenue," he said. "How do we put more money on mission? How do we do more with less?"

That's why it's especially important for nonprofits to work together, Brennan said.
Besides the key speakers, there also will be round-table discussions of key issues in collaborative practices.

Every year, LTU hosts a halfday seminar like this one on different topics involving nonprofits.
"We do this by featuring nonprofit organizations who have demonstrated innovative program management and won awards from Crain's and DTE Energy for their activities," Lindman said. "The seminar also incorporates some community learning into it regarding these recognized management practices."

LTU's Center for Nonprofit Management also provides graduate work in nonprofit business areas, such as a nonprofit MBA.

Nonprofits that have earned recognition for their collaborative efforts will be highlighted. This year, they are the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit and the Detroit Eastside Community Collaborative.

"These organizations are operating at such a sophisticated level," Lindman said.
Rick Sterling, of the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, emphasized the importance of working together and said the relationship between his organization and the Detroit Institute of Art has been beneficial.

"Collaboration is essential for nonprofits," Sterling said.

That collaboration must be reciprocal and not one-sided, he said.

"Too often, nonprofits collaborate because they think it's a nice thing to do," Sterling said. "For us, it really was 'where do we need to grow and is there an organization who has what we need and would gain value in what we have?'"

Since the Youth Theatre needed a venue and the DIA could use fundraising efforts, both organizations profited from the partnership.

The annual event for nonprofits attracts between 200 and 250 people and seems to be well received.

"We always do an evaluation afterwards," Lindman said. "That's very important to us. We get very good feedback."

When participants include questions in their feedback, the organizers try to follow up to assist.
"We really do try to make this a community learning experience," Lindman said.

Admission to the event costs $35. Register or get more information at the Association of Fundraising Professionals, (248) 478-6076 or www.afpdetroit.org.

You can reach April Lehmbeck at alehmbeck@candgnews.com or (586) 498-1043.

Copyright, 2007, Southfield Sun (MI), All Rights Reserved.

Fighting Foreclosure: Leaders pool together to form a united front

Source: C & G Newspapers
Published: March 21, 2007
By: Heidi Roman

Leaders from local communities, financial, mortgage and human service institutions are joining together in a forum to discuss strategies to deal with the rising number of foreclosures in Macomb County. A Forum on Foreclosure will be held March 29 at Macomb Community College center campus.

The number of home foreclosures in Macomb County has nearly tripled since 2005, according to county officials, which is why many different organizations have put out the call for action.

"We all know there's a problem," said I.J. Campbell, administrator of community development with the city of Roseville, one of the communities participating. "We would like, out of this conference, to become a group of people working to solve the problem, to put things in place, so homeowners will have a place to go."

This particular forum is not intended for homeowners going through foreclosure, but rather the professionals who deal with homeowners. Mortgage and financial institutions, elected officials, school districts and even ministers are invited to attend.

"We really want to work with these folks because they're all doing wonderful work, but we need an opportunity to pool our resources together on where we are and how we can improve," said Patricia Ellis, a spokesperson for the United Way, one of the forum's sponsors. "I don't doubt that out of this work there will be other opportunities coming."

The point is to offer strategies for both prevention and intervention to homeowners by enhancing education and financial literacy opportunities. Anne Lilla, the housing coordinator for Michigan State University Extension who is one of the speakers slated for the event, said that while layoffs and economic troubles are causing much of the problem, better education about home buying could help.

"Many of the cases (of foreclosure) are because people have gotten bad loans, and as a community, we need to do some things differently so that those loans aren't possible, and also educate people so they don't get these bad loans," Lilla said. She points to adjustable rate mortgages as a prime example.

"(Lenders) put people in an adjustable rate mortgage, and it's fine for a year," she said. "But then, when the rate goes up, there's absolutely no way for them to pay it." She said better education on both sides could prevent homeowners from getting into a loan they can't afford and running the risk of foreclosure.

The forum also hopes to develop a unified approach to the problem of foreclosure, address the causes and give residents a place to go when they need help. Ultimately, those involved hope to help others become financially stable, so there isn't a need for future forums like this.

The forum will be from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Macomb Community College's University Center, located at 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township. To reserve a spot, call (586) 463-3720 or e-mailforum@uwsem.org.

For those homeowners who are already facing foreclosure or housing troubles, Michigan State University Extension also offers evening classes to discuss the do's and don'ts of foreclosure. The next class will be held March 27 at the VerKuilen Building in Clinton Township, located at 21885 Dunham Road, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Later classes will be held in Roseville and Shelby Township. Call MSU Extension at (586) 469-6430 for more information.

Those interested in learning more about foreclosure or financial literacy in general can also call United Way's hotline at (800) 552-1183, 24 hours a day.

You can reach Heidi Roman at hroman@candgnews.com

Copyright, 2007, Mount Clemens-Clinton-Harrison Journal (MI), All Rights Reserved.

Mentors are leaders who teach teens to lead

When I was young – oh how I wished – that I had a mentor who would have helped me to gain direction in my life, to increase my self-confidence, and to develop my leadership skills. After all, my dad wasn’t around much in the early years and my mother suffered from mental illness. The mental illness sometimes hindered her ability to effectively take care of us kids.

I was fortunate to have passed through childhood, having pretty much made the right decisions. I will say that one of my sisters wasn’t so fortunate.

There are presently more than 4,000 kids and teens in Michigan who need mentors. There is a special need for men to serve as mentors, and an extra special need for men of color to do so.

Because of the need that I had as a child, I decided that I would be a mentor. I found out about Art of Leadership Foundation through United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s online volunteer matching system, Volunteer Solutions.

Art of Leadership coaches children from 6th grade through 12th grade on developing qualities of leadership, such as having integrity, taking responsibility and giving back to others. In essence, ALF inspires vision and leadership in young people, giving them the skills to succeed in their lives and to be leaders in the community.

I began in January coaching six Detroit high school students who have, for the most part, been with the program since they were in 6th grade. These are not at-risk kids. They are instead kids who are motivated to succeed. But they need our help.

Art of Leadership’s Jazmine McBride and myself recently met with our team of teens who are in the middle of putting together a talent show. At this meeting, the teens took responsibility for securing the location of where the talent show will take place and for finding the show’s performers.

Jeff Baytarian and Jazmine McBride coaching teens during a

Saturday morning session through Art of Leadership Foundation.

After our individual team meetings, all of the teams of students got together to practice their impromptu public speaking skills. I facilitated this session with about 30 teens. I have seen many of them move from not knowing what to say before a group, to becoming confident in their speaking skills.

Jeff Baytarian instructs one of the teams on impromptu speaking.

After the public speaking session, Jazmine facilitated a session adapted from an exercise shown on Oprah. This session helped the teens to open up. Everyone responded to the phrase, “If you really knew me, then you would know that ______.” Many of the students let down their guard during the exercise.

We had a great meeting. I certainly got as much out of it as did the teens. I will end with the “ask.” Please consider being a mentor.

Jeff Baytarian
Campaign Manager
Resource Development

March 2007 Community M@tters

Community M@tters™ is an online update of what matters in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. This newsletter highlights United Way for Southeastern Michigan's Agenda for Change work in the areas of educational preparedness, financial stability and basic needs -- along with upcoming events, volunteer spotlights and Kurt's Corner, UWSEM demographer Kurt Metzger's look at key regional trends.

In the March 2007 issue:

• Educational Preparedness: Imagination Library
• Financial Stability: Foreclosure forum
• Basic Needs: Alternative Spring Break
• Upcoming Events: Detroit Pistons ‘go to work’ for the community
• Volunteer Spotlight: Days of Caring in schools
• Kurt's Corner: New Report Highlights Education and Earnings Gaps

Black Mirrors: If We Met in a Former Life, Maybe He Was Straight Then

Love is never as easy as it appears...

Anna David contributes a humorous yet poignant New York Times article, concerning the most awkward of Black Mirrors: Counterfeit Love.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO ARTICLE

Make your statement

I have to say, I'm a little hesitant to bring this up, but I'm just so excited about it and I think it's incredibly relevant to what we've been discussing.

Recent posts have focused on diversity and its state in our community today. It's been on my mind these past couple weeks as I've been reflecting on our staff's recent diversity training. And again this morning as I watched Good Morning America, which hosted the first of several town hall meetings with 2008 presidential candidates.

I'm not much of a political geek, though I have a double major in Poli Sci and live vicariously through West Wing reruns, but I am anxious beyond belief about the upcoming elections. It's not even a Democrat v. Republican v. Green v. Libertarian thing for me. I'm not even at the point where I know who sides where on what, and I'm definitely not sure who I will vote for. What I do know is that never before have we had such diverse choices for a future president.

In about a year and a half, we could elect the first African American president. Or the first Mormon. Or the first woman. Or the first Latino. We could elect a celebrated mayor who led a city and by extension, a country, through the most difficult time it has seen in decades. It's up to us.

We have the power to make a statement to the world about the value of diversity in our country, and all we have to do is check a box. Not many people in this world get that opportunity.

So, I'm using this medium to urge everyone to get educated and make your statement. Check out wikipedia, tune in to Good Morning America, and get informed. And if you're not registered to vote, United Way's got you covered. Check here for information on how to get started.

More teens take the time to volunteer than ever before

Source: The Detroit News
Published: March 23, 2007
By: Christine Ferretti


For Kawthar Ali, community service is as critical as college classes or her part-time job working with children.

A veteran of numerous volunteer efforts, the University of Michigan-Dearborn senior spent her spring break this month repairing Louisiana homes destroyed by Hurricane Rita. She was one of 300 students who gave up traditional revelry for old-fashioned philanthropy.

"Volunteering isn't something I make time to do. I feel like I need to do it," said Ali, 22, of Dearborn Heights. "I always ask myself, 'How can I help other people?'"

Ali has plenty of company for her giving spirit. Moved by tragedies such as the 2001 terror attacks and the Gulf Coast hurricanes, youths in Michigan and nationwide are picking up hammers, helping the elderly and feeding the hungry in record rates, according to at least two recent national studies.

Volunteerism among American teens has doubled to 28 percent since 1989, the highest rate since statistics were tracked by the Corporation for National and Community Service in Washington, D.C.

The numbers are even better in Michigan. College students ranked 12th nationwide in giving back, with 37 percent volunteering an average of 32 hours per year in 2006, according to a first-ever survey by the U.S. Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The spirit is extending from Plymouth-Canton and Birmingham public schools to Taylor and Warren Woods Tower School, where participation in a program that sends buses of volunteers throughout Metro Detroit has more than doubled to 155 students this year.


Motivations vary by youth
Students' motives are as varied as their efforts. High schools such as those in Detroit and Birmingham require community service to graduate, while Plymouth-Canton awards a half-credit to students who complete 100 hours.

Others are motivated by altruism. Madonna University senior Crystal Howard of Belleville traveled with five others from the university to Mississippi and Louisiana to rebuild homes for two weeks as part of Madonna's Alternative Spring Break program this month.

"It was an amazing opportunity," said Howard, 21, a pastoral ministry major who also volunteers to teach at St. John's Deaf Center in Warren.

"If you don't practice what you preach, it's useless."

She's not alone.

Nationwide, 38,000 students participated in so-called "alternative spring breaks" this year, up from 35,000 in 2006, according to Break Away, a Florida nonprofit.

And Michigan is a longtime leader. The University of Michigan launched one of the first alternative spring break programs in 1990 and now sends 400 students to 35 sites around the globe. Some 300 Michigan State University students this month fixed homes in Louisiana, Honduras and Puerto Rico.

Ali participated through the United Way's program, whose nationwide participation has tripled to 300 since it kicked off last year.

"As college students, we worry about work, school, resumes and we're not aware of what goes on outside our own box. It's not all about my life," she said.


Differing motives revealed
A February report by the National Research Center for College and University Admissions concluded that recent disasters sparked a surge in volunteerism. It claimed 61 percent of students do volunteer work; and of those, 42 percent participated in some way in hurricane relief.

"The fear transferred from the victims of Katrina to kids across America," said Don Munce, president of the Missouri-based group. "High school students respond aggressively and positively to disasters."

Others aren't so sure. A widely publicized report in February led by San Diego State University concluded college students are more narcissistic than ever and their past good deeds largely are motivated by padding college applications or resumes.

Erika Sorensen acknowledged that accumulating community service hours for the National Honor Society was part -- but not all-- of her motivation to sign up to spend a week building Habitat for Humanity homes in Covington, La.

The Groves High School junior and friends "ran" to sign up to the Birmingham School District's first-come, first-served spring break trip that leaves April 9.

"We had nothing else to do over spring break and thought why not go to Louisiana and build houses?," said Sorensen of Beverly Hills. "I felt like I should do something if I could and I have the time to do it."


No. 1 reason: To help others
Some volunteers may enhance resumes with service, but most don't, said Frank McGhee, program director for the Youth Initiative Project of the Neighborhood Service Organization of Detroit. Ninety percent of the 200 teens in the program have only one motivation: To help others, he said.

"This group was volunteering before the popularity set in," McGhee said. "They don't do it because they need community service hours. This is a youth-driven program that makes them want to stick around."

The program's rewards are evident to Rosalyn Edwards, 15. The sophomore at Detroit's University Preparatory High School speaks once a week about gun violence to middle school students.

"You become a leader overnight," she said. "I love my community and want to better my community."

The earlier kids start giving back, the better the benefits, said Karen Palgut, who helps her children Rachel, 15, and Alan, 17, collect clothes for the needy at Plymouth High School.

"If everyone did community service this would be a different world," said Palgut, 49. "They are volunteering and not just because somebody's making them do it, I think it's important and young people understand that."

You can reach Christine Ferretti at (734) 462-2289 or cferretti@detnews.com.

Black Mirrors: Press One For The Biggest Headache In The Whole Wide World

I love bad t-shirts. I love everything about them. Their tackiness. Their inelegance. Their lack of utter poise and charm. Say what you’ll say...but for me, a bad t-shirt equals a good time.

Over the years, a favorite hobby of mine has been buying bad t-shirts and gifting them to various friends and family members. Nothing says I Love You like a scoop neck that declares: I’m With Stupid!

The key to giving away bad t-shirts is all in your follow through. I can’t emphasize this enough: ALWAYS FOLLOW THROUGH. The next time you award your best friend a bad t-shirt, make sure you follow up in two to three weeks with a well-timed, guilt-induced phone call. Watch how I do it:

Hey, why aren’t you wearing that Milli Vanilli shirt I bought you? Don’t you like it? Seriously, it took me weeks to find that shirt for you! Why don’t you just wear it to the Tigers game tonight? Oh, you will? Thanks, that means a lot to me.

Attention? Oh, trust me, you’ll get ALL the attention tonight.

There’s only one other man born to this planet who enjoys bad t-shirts as much as myself...and that man is Kenny. Oh how, I wish you could all meet Kenny! I just love that kid! I love him to death. In fact, might just love Kenny almost as much as I love bad t-shirts. Almost.

Kenny has a lengthy and intimate history with bad t-shirts. One night, a group of Kenny’s pals – a sharp trio of educated and droll bachelors – fancied themselves up for a proper Boys Night Out. The evening was to begin at Post Bar...and continue on till all of Metro-Detroit was painted a suave and urbane shade of red.

Kenny showed up to the club wearing this monstrosity:

I guess the party had not arrived...because the bouncers at Post were so repelled by Kenny's shirt that they barred him from entering their club.

Kenny had a birthday party a few weeks ago at uber-chic club, Cinq. Before heading over to his shindig, I found myself surfing the web, desperately attempting to find Kenny the perfect bad t-shirt. Here were my top three finds:

1. 2.

3.
Note the last one, which is remarkably poor in taste and humor. To imagine that someone actually came up with this t-shirt idea...and then envisioned the shirt so witty that it needed to mass produced for public consumption...well, it just screams buy me and make Kenny look like the biggest fool in the room.

I’m not a huge fan of Cinq. Cinq is one of those nightclubs where you stand in line for half an hour...just so you can crowd up against aging hipsters and pay absorbent amounts of money for mediocre cocktails. My patience doesn’t fair well with social establishments like Cinq...but it was Kenny’s day to shine...so I slugged my way into line. That’s what you do for your friends on their birthdays, right?

Waiting in line, I’d the luxury of standing behind a couple undeniably gorgeous Spanish-speaking ladies and three fraternity brothers. Here is a full recount of their one-sided conversation.

JOSH: Hey, them girls are smokin’ hot!
BRIAN: Whatcha ya think they're speakin’? Spanish?
JEFF: Hit on 'em in Spanish, Josh!
JOSH: Ladies, you're muy bonita! MUY BONITA!
BRIAN: They're not listening, Josh.
JOSH: That's 'cause they probably can't speak American.
BRIAN: I just don’t understand why they come over here and don't speak American. We’re in America, right?
JOSH: Amen!
BRIAN: You know, I called up my cable company the other day and they asked me to press one for English!?! Why should I press one for English? I live here! I shouldn't be pressing nothing! I bet them girls don’t have to push one when they’re in Mexico...or Spain...or wherever the hell they’re from.
JOSH: I wish they’d all just go home. All of 'em. Then they could speak whatever language they wanted wherever.
JEFF: Josh, will you shut up!
JOSH: Oh, you shut up. You believe it too.
JEFF: That doesn't make a difference! We’re in public. We don’t talk about that stuff when we're in...
BRIAN: I don’t care anymore. All these foreigners need to get on their boats and go home.
(JEFF turns to me)
JEFF: You're one of them Indjuns, right? I guess this is pretty awkward for ya right now, eh?

Maybe I won’t buy Kenny that t-shirt after all.

Volunteering a long lost art at UM-D?

Source: The Michigan Journal
Published on: March 20, 2007
By: Ryan Schreiber

For all the students out there wanting to make a difference in the world, there's more to it than making loads of money, owning an oceanfront property or overseeing a staff of 30.

As myself and six others from UM-D experienced first-hand last week, our country is loaded with impoverished people and countless others who had everything, then lost it all due to uncontrollable circumstances. Missing classes, work and other activities was tough, but the students' dedication and determination to change the world forced them - plus over 120 others from around the U.S. - to use their mind and willpower to make a difference.

Alternative Spring Break is becoming increasingly popular with high school and college students who are willing to spend their time off from school lending a hand to those who need it most. This year, one group traveled outside the state through United Way of Southeastern Michigan to Lake Charles, Louisiana to help rebuild the Gulf Coast that was decimated by Hurricane Rita in 2005.

After seeing homes strewn about in lakes (that will probably never be cleared) and hearing about coffins that were never recovered after the flooding, I have a new sense of urgency to get these people help.

My group spent the week finishing the inside of two new construction homes for survivors. While we spent most of our time installing basemoldings and fiddling with caulk, the constant reminder of our helpfulness was reassuring, even when we felt we could be doing more.

Margaret Mead once said, "Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed citizens to change the world." It rings true across the nation and world every single day, but I don't see it happening as much as it should here at UM-D.

It saddens me to ask it, but are we just too busy with our daily lives, classes and jobs to care about those who need our help? It's easy to brush it off and say, "There's not enough time" or "I can't do it by myself." But for those who do express those sentiments, have you ever experienced the plight of the homeless or poor who do their best on a daily basis just to survive?

I, too, was in a similar boat for many years. I volunteered and helped out where I could during high school, but once I came to UM-D, my life got busier and my time for extracurriculars dwindled drastically. When I saw the advertisement to apply for ASB, I jumped at it because it was the chance of a lifetime.

Here at UM-Dearborn, we have a myriad of organizations and students who want to help, but need more students to participate. Volunteer Dearborn, for example, is a campus group "committed to being an integral part of our community and to developing in our students the practical skills necessary to institute positive change in their environments." They host service projects throughout the year and have a trip planned to Vista Maria in Dearborn Heights this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There, volunteers will run a mini life lessons workshop for the girls.

Other past events through campus include MLK Service Day, Super Makeover Detroit, Habitat for Humanity projects and trips to Gleaner's Food Bank. Opportunities exist; you just need to know where to find them. You never know - the people or places you aid just might give back more than you've given them.

I urge you to volunteer. Take a chance and show someone else outside of your personal circle that you care. Be a part of that small group of people that changes the world.

For more information about volunteer opportunities on campus, visit the Student Activities Office, 2136 UC, and speak with Randy Dillard. He can be reached at rdillard@umd.umich.edu or by phone at (313) 593-5667.

Roundtable to study assessment of schools

Source: The Oakland Press
Published: March 20, 2007
By: Diana Dillaber Murray

PONTIAC -- Participants in an Education Roundtable at The Oakland Press on Tuesday night appeared energized and ready to help Pontiac school students reach their potential.

They plan to take a closeup look at what children, parents, teachers and principals, administrators and community members cite as problems and strengths in an assessment of the district by the Chartwell Education Group, headed by former U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige.

The report is to be released in about six weeks, said Scott Jenkins, the representative assigned to Pontiac.

If things go as planned, once the report is analyzed, the strategic planning committee will meet, first to plan short-term action items and next to create a long-term plan to make a deeper impact.

Members of the Education Roundtable were called together the first time by Kevin Haezebroeck, president and publisher of the Press, and Executive Editor Glenn Gilbert after The Oakland Press "Pontiac: What's Next?" reader survey indicated the school district was the top issue of concern.

Participants in the roundtable came up with several top priorities at their first session in February. On Tuesday, they also considered input from readers in a second Oakland Press survey that ended March 9.

The roundtable, facilitated by Rick David, vice president of strategic relations for the United Way of Southeast Michigan, was made up of educators and community leaders and officials.
They are concerned about making a positive impact on the district, which is plagued by financial troubles, low achievement and discipline problems in some schools.

Top priorities that came from both the survey and the roundtable to improve achievement included: mentoring and tutoring children, early childhood education and giving parents the tools to help their children achieve in school.

Jan Brown, supervisor of special education at the secondary level, said if mentor, teacher, child and parent are on the same page, "that child is going to succeed."

Emerging as important to carry out other priorities was collaboration between schools, community action groups, businesses and universities.

Leaders of the steering committees, besides David, are community activists Carol Turpin and Fran Fowlkes, and Oakland County Circuit Judge Fred Mester and Cooley Law School professor Joan Vestrand. Mester founded the Pontiac Alumni Association, which provides a mentoring program for 350 students as well as scholarships, and Vestrand has brought Cooley and its law students into the effort.

As a basis for planning, the steering committee will review the assessment report due out from Chartwell Education Group and has contracted to do an assessment by the Pontiac Board of Education.

Activist Carol Turpin said she will undertake a survey of graduating seniors from both high schools to find out what schools are really like for children and suggestions for improvements they think should be made.

Joan Martin volunteered to interview all student council leaders at Pontiac Schools to get their input. Turpin wants all the information gathered to be made available for parents.

"Parents need to know what the problems in the school district are," Turpin said.

The Rev. Doug Jones, chairman of the Committee of 50, said the 30 nonprofit groups providing programs for Pontiac students need to come together - in what David described as an 'army' - to coordinate efforts.

"What we need is for every family to have support to ensure their family can survive," Mester said. "We can't keep talking and keep talking."

Groups want to change region

Source: The Northville Record

Published: March 22, 2007
By: Pam Fleming

Northville resident Mike Brennan knows the battle has just begun when it comes to tackling poverty and lack of education in Metro Detroit.

But Brennan, president and CEO of the United Way for Southeast Michigan for the past three years, said the United Way and five other charitable organizations are poised to transform the area with a new plan to help those less fortunate.

Announced in November 2006, the "One D: Transforming Regional Detroit" program includes staff from the United Way of Southeast Michigan, the Cultural Alliance of Southeastern Michigan, the Detroit Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Detroit Regional Chamber, Detroit Renaissance and New Detroit.

Their goal is to develop a unified approach in the region in six areas: economic prosperity, educational preparedness, regional transit, race relations, regional cooperation and quality of life.

The organizations plan to unveil a blueprint to help residents in the region at the Mackinac Public Policy Conference in June. About 2,000 professionals are expected to attend.


Creating an Agenda for Change
The local United Way also announced its "Agenda for Change" program in December.
This will focus on three areas in which United Way staff members believe they can help area citizens — economic stability, educational preparedness and basic needs.

"This is a major shift in the way the United Way does business as the organization moves from simply a fund-raising and fund-distribution agency to one that seeks to bring people and groups together to combat some of the region's most pressing problems," Brennan said.

The areas were determined after a year of research and investigation that included focus groups, leadership interviews and a community-wide survey that asked people what they thought were the critical issues facing the metropolitan area.

Deloitte Consulting in Detroit did some business planning to help bring the plan together, and Edsel Ford serves as the champion of "One D."

Brennan said input from some of the 7,000 tri-county residents served by the local United Way in 2006 helped the organization identify the three areas of concern.

"Whether they lived in Northville, Detroit, Downriver, Troy or Macomb County, we saw a common theme," Brennan said.

He believes the regional effort is one of the most innovative such programs in the nation.

"We're not aware of any other place in the country where six organizations have come together like this," Brennan said.

Need help? Dial 2-1-1 center
Brennan said December also marked the one-year anniversary of the United Way for Southeast Michigan's call center, which has received almost 100,000 calls since December 2005.

"Any resident can dial that number and get a trained professional who can help them with a variety of needs," he said.

The number is for nonemergency calls.

"It's an information and referral number where our staff can connect people in the community with available resources," Brennan said.

Callers might have a child who needs counseling or a parent who requires a home health nurse or meals delivered.

"We have identified more than 6,000 services in the tri-county area," Brennan said.
United Way statistics reveal that since 2000 the number of individuals in the area living at or below the poverty level has grown 20 percent.

Brennan said there's a misconception that most disadvantaged people live in urban areas.

"There are more people living at the poverty level or below in the suburbs than there are in the city of Detroit," Brennan said.

The 2-1-1 call center can also be used by those who want to volunteer in the area.
Why volunteer?

"Research shows that individuals who volunteer tend to live longer, healthier and productive lives than those who do not," Brennan said.

For more information, visit www.uwsem.org.

Pam Fleming is a staff writer for the Northville Record. She can be reached at (248) 349-1700, ext. 105, or at pfleming@gannett.com.

Spring Break: Try this option

Source: The Northville Record

Published: March 22, 2007

By: Pam Fleming

Josh Noble could have been soaking up the sun in Cancun or skiing in Lake Tahoe during his spring break last week.

But instead of having fun with his fraternity brothers, Noble was part of the United Way's Alternative Spring Break, helping Hurricane Rita victims in Lake Charles, La.

Noble, 20, a Northville resident and junior at Texas Christian University, was one of 14 local volunteers who headed to the Gulf Coast last week to participate in the humanitarian effort, a partnership between the United Way and thinkMTV.

Students came from across the country to help those affected by the storm.

MTV will air a show, "The Amazing Break," about the young people's efforts in the near future.

Angela Walker, 25, of Northville, was one of the team leaders in Lake Charles.

A graduate of Northville High School and Western Michigan University, Walker earned bachelor's and master's degrees in social work and has worked in the volunteer services department of the United Way of Southeast Michigan's office in Detroit for two years.

She said about 150 people traveled to Lake Charles, about two hours west of New Orleans near Houston.

Former Detroit resident helped
Her team's project was to rebuild a home for a woman who used to live in Detroit and moved to the Gulf Coast about a year before Hurricane Rita hit.

The woman lost her apartment and is currently living in a Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer.

Walker's team also helped Habitat for Humanity renovate one of their warehouses. She said her team also toured Cameron, La., finding nothing but concrete slabs where homes used to be.

"There are homes that were picked up by the storm and moved out into the middle of the water," Walker said. "It's extreme devastation 18 months later."

A lot of the victims brought the volunteers, breakfast and cooked them lunch.

"They were very welcoming and appreciative," Walker said.

Walker said the experience has been rewarding.

"We've seen what a difference in can make to be able to provide a home to people," she said.
She hopes to get more young people involved in the United Way when she returns.

"We're looking to have a roundtable with young adults in the area to discuss what can be done locally, such as notices through MySpace to keep this age group engaged with United Way," she said.

Devastation still exists
Noble said when Hurricane Rita struck the Gulf Coast, no lives were lost, but the damage was extensive.

"Many of us were unaware of the devastation here because the media concentrated on Hurricane Katrina," he said. He said FEMA is working on about 120 cases, but about 6,000 cases haven't even been evaluated yet.

His team worked on putting a new ceiling, fixing broken windows and painting the interior of a woman's home. They had to wear biohazard suits and masks due to black mold growing in the home.

"She was scammed by some local construction workers, and 18 months after the hurricane she's still renting a FEMA trailer," Noble said.

He also said the week was rewarding.

"It's definitely been a very humbling experience," Noble said. "This is something I'll remember for years to come. Why not donate your time to make somebody's life change forever? "

Pam Fleming is a staff writer for the Northville Record. She can be reached at (248) 349-1700, ext. 105, or at pfleming@gannett.com.

One D leaders make case to Macomb Chamber

Source: Crain's Detroit Business
Published: March 20, 2007
By: Bill Shea

The remedy for Southeast Michigan’s various woes lies in collaboration among public and private groups and organizations.

Failure to come together will mean more of the same.

That was the message delivered Tuesday afternoon by two leaders of the One D regional collaborative to the annual meeting of the Macomb Chamber, held at Macomb Community College Cultural Center in Clinton Township.

“I believe today Michigan is at a crossroads. The manufacturing jobs we’re losing by the hundreds of thousands are not coming back,” said Dick Blouse, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber, a One D member organization. “We have to keep what we have.”

The solution?

“We have to align public policy with economic development, which we don’t do very well,” he said, and that’s the point of One D.

One D was unveiled last year and is made up of the Cultural Alliance of Southeastern Michigan, Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, Detroit Regional Chamber, Detroit Renaissance Inc., New Detroit and United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

The collaborative intends to tackle six priorities: economic prosperity, educational preparedness, regional transit, race relations, regional cooperation and quality of life. One D is meeting every three weeks until the 2007 Mackinac Policy Conference (May 30-June 2), where it plans to release a detailed blueprint for specific projects aimed at making progress on the region’s issues.

Blouse and Michael Brennan, president of the United Way for Southeast Michigan, gave the approximately 150 people gathered a brief overview of the collaborative’s intentions and structure. A more elaborate marketing of the effort is planned for after the Mackinac conference.

“Increasingly, everyone is beginning to understand a go-it-alone theory isn’t sustainable,” Brennan said. “We have an over-developed capacity on the things that divide us.”

During a panel discussion that included Bill Crouchman, chairman of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners, regional transportation was a key topic. A variety of proposals exist for various rail and bus routes, but there is no agreement on a master plan for the entire region.

“In this region, we need to go from neighborhood to neighborhood, county to county, as much from Ann Arbor to downtown (Detroit),” Blouse said.

Brennan said other, smaller cities across the country are far ahead of Detroit in efforts to create regional mass transit, and that harms the Southeast Michigan.

“Absent this, we are not considered a tier-one region,” he said.

Crouchman agreed with the transit need, but wondered who was going to foot the bill for such a system.

“The first question that pops into anyone’s head is, ‘How do we pay for this?’ ” he said.

Also discussed was the talk in Macomb County about switching to an elected county executive form of government, similar to Oakland and Wayne counties. Currently, the county doesn’t have a central administrator. Instead, the board chairman acts in that role, and needs consensus of the 26-member Board of Commissioners.

“It’s become cumbersome, too slow to react to problems that arise,” Crouchman said. “Trying to get consensus is very difficult.”

The county government is still in the early stages of exploring a switch in how it administrates itself, he added, and will solicit help from the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, a public-policy group.

Mike Brennan: Nonprofits must collaborate, consolidate

Source: Crain's Detroit Business
Published On: March 18, 2007
By: Michael J. Brennan, United Way

The writing is on the wall, researchers who study nonprofits will tell you. Today’s economic climate nationally is such that nonprofits across the board need to do some deep thinking about what it will take to survive in a sector that will look vastly different in 2017.

There are 31,343 501(c)(3) organizations in Michigan, including nearly 12,000 in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, according to the Urban Institute’s Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy.

While competition drives innovation and promotes efficiency, an overcrowded field perpetuates waste. We have too many players chasing after the same ball. Something has to give, because the vitality of our nonprofit network is essential to the health of our region. In response, funders are encouraging more organizations to examine collaborations and consolidation as a means of more efficiently tapping into the resources needed to serve their communities.

Obviously, no one wants to feel forced into a sandbox with a competitor and made to play nice. However, consider the reality. Between 1977 and 1997 the number of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations grew 115 percent, according to the book The State of Nonprofit America. The private sector grew 76 percent.

Ten years later, we are seeing 30,000 nonprofits created annually, while the private sector is contracting. Charitable giving has increased from $103.7 billion in 1975 to $260.3 billion in 2005, but has not kept pace with nonprofit expansion.

The sector is also facing a serious dearth of leadership. In fact, a recent Stanford Social Innovation Review article estimates that over the next decade, nonprofits will need to find about 640,000 new executives to fill key positions — nearly 2½ times the number currently employed.

Today’s young professionals look more favorably at private-sector jobs or entrepreneurial opportunities than nonprofit work. Add to that the challenge regional companies have in recruiting workers, and the cause for concern is clear.

Although imposing, these are problems are not insurmountable, but the grant-making community must own a significant piece of solution. This will mean funding more collaboratives (rather than competing agencies) and providing access to flexible capital — not just money, but resources and expertise. Helping nonprofits improve leadership, expand operational capacity and improve facility-management skills must be key elements.

Nonprofits can help themselves by exploring ways to work together. For instance, Gleaners Community Food Bank and the Food Bank of Oakland County merged, and 1.5 million more pounds of food were distributed in Oakland County as a result. The recently formed Cultural Alliance for Southeastern Michigan brought together 70 arts organizations, and they now have a voice in regional planning discussions.

What nonprofits cannot do, however, is continue clinging to history or to turf. Instead, they must value cooperation and creativity. The future of the sector depends on our ability to let go of the past so that we may realize true progress.

For more information about what the United Way is doing, read about our Agenda for Change process at www.uwsem.org.Michael Brennan is president and CEO of the United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

Hurricane Help

MTV to air show on student volunteers over Spring Break

Source: TCU Daily Skiff

Published on: March 20, 2007

By: Ashleigh Whaley

One student, who worked in Louisiana last week hoping to change a national image of college students, said getting "black-out drunk" during Spring Break is in the past.

Josh Noble, a junior biology major and vice president of Phi Kappa Sigma, joined 150 students Saturday on Spring Break in Lake Charles, La., to rebuild a community devastated by Hurricane Rita 18 months ago.

Noble said Spring Break festivities often give college students a bad name.

"I've had my fair share of freshman Cancun trips and ski trips in Tahoe," Noble said. "I want people to know that people in the Greek community are getting out there to help."

In 2006, United Way of America and ThinkMTV formed a partnership to recruit volunteers between the ages of 18 and 24 willing to give up their Spring Breaks to help Gulf Coast communities devastated by hurricanes in 2005, said Angela Walker, a volunteer program associate for United Way of America in southeastern Michigan.

Noble was recruited by his hometown's United Way affiliate in Detroit, said Sheila Consaul, spokesperson for United Way of America. The United Way Alternative Spring Break 2007 trip will be featured this week in a segment called "Amazing Break" on TRL, she said.

Consaul said Hurricane Rita was the third largest natural disaster in American history, but it unfortunately remains overshadowed by the impact of Hurricane Katrina, the nation's most devastating natural disaster that occurred three months prior to Hurricane Rita.

"Homes are definitely still scattered around," Noble said. "Some of them floated down the bayou and settled in the marshes."

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, 20,000 people fled to southwest Louisiana, the region later destroyed by Hurricane Rita, Noble said. Lake Charles is in this region, and people are still sleeping on cots in the civic center as they wait for assistance they cannot afford, Noble said."

The last major hurricane to hit Lake Charles was in 1957," Noble said. "It took 10 years to get it back to how it used to be, and it will probably take 10 years this time too."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is charging Louisiana in full for the aid it has given since the hurricanes, Noble said. However, an agreement was made: For every hour of community service performed in Louisiana, FEMA will credit it back $18.35, he said.

"This week alone, we earned the state of Louisiana $173,517 in credit toward its debt," Noble said. People often wonder what leads someone back to a place knowing that it will likely be destroyed every 40-50 years, Noble said.

"It's the culture here that brings them back," Noble said. "It's the warm-hearted Creole people that you can't find anywhere else."

Citizens of Lake Charles need "an incredible amount of assistance" to rebuild, Consaul said.

Working in teams of 10 to 12, volunteers face a variety of difficult jobs throughout the week, Walker said. They will reconstruct and build homes and remove the debris that destroyed cabins at Camp Fire USA youth camp, she said."

There are about 6,000 homes in limbo waiting for FEMA assistance and tons of houses with blue tarp roofs," Noble said. "People aren't getting help from insurance agencies and many have been scammed by contractors who either take their money or do a bad job."

The home of Salemah Broussard, 65, received more water damage after her new roof was built than she did during Hurricane Katrina, Noble said. While Noble's team worked at her house Thursday, she sang church songs to encourage them, he said.

When Noble began to tear down Broussard's ceiling, he noticed it was infested with black mold. He said his team was forced to abort the project and discard their clothes. Noble had to bleach everything in Broussard's house, a task he said was difficult because of all the special things she kept there.

"Bleach is the only real mold litigation we have access to," Consaul said. "Josh showed huge depth of character in his willingness to lead the team on a difficult task."

Noble became associated with United Way of America as a high school student in Michigan, Walker said. He and his friends went to Congress to establish 211, a natural disaster emergency information number.

"211 is a national initiative and one of United Way's No. 1 priorities," Consaul said. "Like 411 or 911, it's a social service number. If you need assistance finding elderly care, counseling, getting government checks or substance abuse information, you can dial 211 and be connected in 65 percent of America."

© Copyright 2007 Daily Skiff

Five Things: About a work presentation

Source: Detroit Free Press

Published on: March 19, 2007

By: Margarita Bauza

Most workers already have enough to do. So the last thing they need is a long, dry presentation from a boss or colleague. If you have to make a speech at work, make it worthwhile for everybody, says Joscelyn Andrews, director of Oakland County Area United Way. Too often, the people on the receiving end of presentations don't take much away. Andrews offers up these ways to engage:

1. Never read from a piece of paper. Know the subject well enough so that you don't have to look at anything.
   


2. Humanize the topic. Even if it's a technical subject, use personal stories and examples people can identify with. And remember, not everyone's good at jokes. If you're not, don't start with one.
   


3. Involve the audience. Ask questions, preferably in the first 60 seconds, Andrews said. Start with a good "Has any of you ever ...?"
   


4. Offer handouts at the end. If you give them out at the start, the audience will read them and not listen to you.
   


5. Understand your audience. An example: If you're speaking at a weekend retreat, don't show up in a suit. Wear jeans or khakis.

United Way and partners host community baby shower, March 17

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Patricia A. Ellis, 313-226-9484 or cell, 313-410-3417
Megan Bracket, 313-226-9409 or pager, 313-840-4321

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2007

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

PONTIAC – United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s Success by 6® will host a community baby shower on March 17. The event brings together 25 nonprofit agencies in Oakland County to educate and support parents and their children.

“The community baby shower is a day that benefits all families,” said Victoria Martinez, manager, United Way’s Success by 6®. “It’s a great way to spend a day as a family, learning, having fun, and interacting with other parents and children.”

The baby shower will offer information sessions and demonstrations on topics such as safe sleep, prenatal and infant healthcare, and selecting appropriate childcare. There will also be exhibits and information about developmental milestones for children, infant feeding, early literacy and it’s importance to a child’s development, and socio-emotional well being of parents. This is the fifth Success by 6® baby shower. They are held twice a year in north and south Oakland County communities.

WHAT: Success by 6® Community Baby Shower

WHEN: Saturday, March 17, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

WHERE: Summit Place Mall (on Telegraph and Elizabeth Lake Rd., in Waterford) Begins in front of Ruby Tuesday and proceeds to Grand Court

The event will:

• Provide resources, education, support, and intervention for pregnant women and parents or guardians of young children in Oakland County.
  
• Encourage positive parenting practices and strong family and community support.
  
• Serve as a forum for expectant and new mothers to network with other parents for support and information sharing.

United Way’s Success by 6® is an initiative within United Way’s Agenda for Change, which focuses on making measurable change in this region in three core areas: Educational Preparedness, Financial Stability, and Basic Needs. The initiative is a partnership that brings together families, government, schools, nonprofits, and other resources to ensure children enter school ready to succeed. Research shows that 90 percent of a child’s brain is developed from birth through age five. United Way knows that if children do not get proper developmental and educational support from birth through age six, they will start school behind their peers and encounter problems throughout their lives.

For more information on resources for children and families, call 2-1-1 or 800-552-1183.

United Way for Southeastern Michigan mobilizes the caring power of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways throughout the region. The organization is led by a diverse group of volunteers from business, labor, government, human services, education and the community. United Way provides opportunities to invest in the metropolitan Detroit community through its annual Torch Drive and is a leader in convening partners to impact local residents each year by increasing economic self-sufficiency, protecting children and youth at risk, strengthening families, empowering neighborhoods and communities, and promoting health and wellness. Additional information is available at www.uwsem.org.

###

March 29 forum explores strategies to help prevent foreclosures in Macomb

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Patricia A. Ellis, 313-226-9484 or cell, 313-410-3417
Megan Bracket, 313-226-9409 or pager, 313-840-4321

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2007

Forum seeks Leaders from Financial and Mortgage Institutions, Government, Education and Human Services Arenas to Attend

Since 2005, the number of foreclosure filings in Macomb County nearly tripled, going from 2,755 to 8,192. Due to these staggering figures, leaders from the education, financial and mortgage institutions, government and human service sectors are holding A Forum on Foreclosure to discuss strategies that will help prevent foreclosures in Macomb County, as well as help in the intervention process for those going through foreclosure.

“Home foreclosures have increased dramatically in Macomb County,” said William Crouchman, chair, Macomb County Board of Commissioners. “It’s important to realize how this disturbing trend affects the homeowner and the entire community. We must explore options that help people handle the consequences of foreclosure.”

Anne Lilla, housing coordinator, Macomb Michigan State University Extension added, “Community leaders want to know what to say to people who are in foreclosure. While our system is not perfect, information about options is available. This forum will describe possible ways that people can avoid foreclosure or manage it with the least amount of damage.”

Some of the objectives of this forum will be to:

• enhance education and financial literacy opportunities
  
• address what’s causing the high foreclosure rate and seek prevention solutions
  
• develop a unified approach among area service providers to assist Macomb County residents faced with foreclosure

“This forum supports United Way’s Agenda for Change, emphasizing opportunities to enhance financial stability, educational preparedness and basic needs, such as housing,” said Michael J. Brennan, president & CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan. “We must work together if we are going to make progress on critical issues, like decreasing the rate of foreclosures, in order for our region to thrive and excel.”

WHAT: A Forum on Foreclosure

WHEN: Thursday, March 29, 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.

WHERE: Macomb Community College Center Campus, University Center
44575 Garfield Rd., Clinton Township

Speakers: William Crouchman, chair, Macomb County Board of Commissioners; Ron Reed, CEO, Community Central Bank; Jerome T. Moffit, chief deputy treasurer, Macomb County; Anne Lilla, housing coordinator, Macomb Michigan State University Extension; and Greg Sterns, manager, Lighthouse Community Development.

RSVP for this free forum by March 23 by emailing forum@uwsem.org or by calling 586-463-3720. For information on foreclosure assistance please call United Way’s 2-1-1 by dialing 2-1-1 or 800-552-1183.

Community partners presenting the forum include: City of Warren, Lighthouse Community Development, Macomb County Asset Building Coalition, Macomb Community College, Macomb County HOME Consortium (City of Roseville, City of Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development), Macomb County MSU Extension, Macomb CRA Association and United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

###

Alternative Spring Break volunteers featured on WWJ-AM

Source: WWJ-AM 950
Original Airdate: March 13, 2007

Click on the link below to hear a pod cast featuring Kawthar Ali and Crystal Grammatico, two students volunteering with United Way's Alternative Spring Break in Lake Charles, La.

Making the Grade: WWJ-AM 950

Group seeks outstanding volunteers

Source: Romulus Journal
By: Molly Tippen
Published: March 8, 2007

Citizens have until March 16 to enter a dedicated community volunteer into the United Way for Southeastern Michigan “Celebrate Volunteers . . . Recognizing Hometown Heroes” contest.
The United Way will present awards to volunteers in eight categories this year, said Patricia Ellis, a spokeswoman for the organization.

“We’re looking for people who volunteer their time and expertise, but don’t expect any recognition,” she said. “We’ve had people that volunteer in all sorts of capacities – we had a youth volunteer who put in more than 400 hours of time at Oakwood Hospital. Those are the kinds of people we want to hear about.”

Volunteers are being singled out because of National Volunteer Week, celebrated from April 15 – 21, Ellis said. A luncheon is planned to honor the eight volunteers on April 16.

“We look for volunteers all year around, but this a chance to thank them for heir efforts in the community.”

About 3,000 volunteers serve throughout the Southeast Michigan area each year, according to United Way data.

Categories include the Bernie Firestone Award, sponsored by the United Way and the Michigan Department of Labor, which recognizes an outstanding rank and file member of a local labor union dedicated to community service.

The CorPLUS Award is sponsored by the Junior League of Detroit, and recognizes a retiree whose volunteer efforts exemplify the highest standards of service that benefits metropolitan Detroit.

The Exemplary Group Service Award recognizes families, couples or groups who strive to improve the lives of neighbors, friends and their community through volunteer work.
The Governor’s Honor Roll is sponsored by Junior League of Birmingham. It is a non-competitive award that recognizes individuals for outstanding community service, selected by the organizations they serve.

The Heart of Gold Award is given to volunteers in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Winners are chosen for their enthusiasm. The Outstanding Youth Award recognizes youths 12-18 who are taking action to make our world a better place to live through volunteering. Nominees in this category show leadership, commitment and character through their service in many different activities or in giving a significant amount of time to one project.

The Young Adult Award of Excellence recognizes adults ages 19-25 who represent the highest standards of service, leadership, commitment, and character in their community.

The Outstanding Business Award recognizes and celebrates the many ways that businesses can contribute to social and economic development through volunteering. Businesses recognized by this award excel in, and are committed to, community involvement through volunteering.

To obtain nomination forms and guidelines, please log on to www.uwsem.org/celebrate or contact the United Way George W. Romney Volunteer Center at (313) 226-9430.

Nominations must be received at United Way no later than 5 p.m. on March 16.

Students going on Alternative Spring Break

Source: Arab American News
Published: March 3, 2007

DETROIT – Fourteen Detroit area volunteers, including college students and professionals, will give at least a week of their time volunteering for Alternative Spring Break 2007, a partnership of United Way of America and think MTV. United Way for Southeastern Michigan will be taking this enthusiastic group of volunteers to Lake Charles, Louisiana, March 10 –17, to help in the long-term recovery efforts to rebuild the Gulf Coast area still devastated by the 2005 hurricanes. In total, approximately 300 college students from across the country will be participating in Alternative Spring Break during the month of March.

The goal of the Alternative Spring Break is to inspire young people to engage in community service during their spring vacations. This year's volunteers will clear debris, restore local schools and nature trails, and repair some of the more than 1,700 homes that still have blue roofs, which are temporary FEMA tarps that prevent further damage.

"United Way's Alternative Spring Break is a great way to engage young people to make a lasting difference in our country," said Michael J. Brennan, president and CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "Families affected by the 2005 hurricanes are still recovering from the devastation. The progress that will be made by the collective action of these committed volunteers, and the lives they will touch through their efforts, is an amazing example of what can be done when we work together."

This is the second year for Alternative Spring Break. Last year, approximately 100 volunteers traveled to Biloxi, Miss., and Foley, Ala. to remove debris from yards, repair porches and roofs, tear out walls and rebuild a youth recreation center.

"I never knew I could learn to do so many things to help make a big difference," said Brian Sawyer, who participated in last year's efforts and will be returning this year as a team leader.

"It was the greatest experience and the most inspiring of my life. I learned that anyone with determination and passion to make a difference can. This year I hope to gain the commitment of other young adults like me to come back motivated to build our own communities stronger."

Sponsors for this year's Alternative Spring Break include FedEx and GameStop. CheapTickets is serving as a promotional partner and MTV Networks is serving as the media partner. United Way of Southwest Louisiana will be the host United Way for the program, providing volunteer housing and project support.

Brennan added, "You don't have to go far to make a difference. There are lots of opportunities to give back right here at home. What you get in return is the priceless gift of helping others."

Going with the group will be American Muslim Kawthar Ali, 22, of Dearborn Heights, a senior at the University of Michigan - Dearborn studying elementary education. Ali is committed to making a difference both in and outside of her community and enjoys working in a diverse environment. Ali was born in Tehran, Iran but spent her early years in Damascus, Syria. She moved to the United States with her family when she was twelve. She was intrigued with Alternative Spring Break because it was different than other volunteer projects she's participated in.

"For one week, I won't be thinking about myself or school; I'll be thinking about those who are homeless or in need of help," said Ali. "I don't want to sit at home saying 'I wish I can help those people affected by the hurricanes' but instead I'm giving up everything for a week just so I can help build or paint a home and bring a smile to someone's face."

A 2003 graduate of Crestwood High School, Ali volunteered through Key Club and the National Honor Society. She is a recipient of the University of Michigan Dearborn's Distinguished Student Leader Scholarship and a member of Volunteer Dearborn.

"I'm going into education and this experience is a perfect way to encourage young students to give more than they receive, and to be compassionate about others," she said.

To learn more about year-round volunteer opportunities, go to http://www.uwsem.org/ and click "Get Involved"or call United Way's 2-1-1 number.

United Way for Southeastern Michigan mobilizes the caring power of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways throughout the region.