April/May 2007 eNewsletter now available

community m@tters™ is your 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 April/May issue:

• Educational Preparedness: IDA program looks to prep 10 more for college
• Financial Stability: Take control of your future during Money Smart Week
• Basic Needs: MPRI Wayne celebrates anniversary
• Upcoming Events: United Way Emerging Leaders launch event
• Volunteer Spotlight: United Way celebrates region's exceptional volunteers
• Kurt's Corner: MEAP results reveal progress, problems

United Way 2-1-1 March 2007 Call Center Statistics

Highlights:

• Call activity in March 2007 was 35% higher than March 2006.
• United Way 2-1-1 received 8,518 calls in March 2007, a 13% increase from the previous month.
• Reasons for the increased call volume:
• increase in requests for Mortgage Payment Assistance and Mortgage Foreclosure Assistance,
• increase in requests for Rent Payment Assistance,
• Increase in requests for General Legal Aid.
• Utility Company referrals to 2-1-1 increased 5%.
• Follow-up activity increased 17% due to additional staffing capacity.

Click here for the complete report. [PDF]

Quality Of Life: The Survey Is In

Ed.'s Note: What follows are some of the results from the second in a series of metromode surveys that will help create a blueprint for changing the region. The next survey will appear May 17th in the Regional Activation Zone — metromode's place to get inspired, informed and connected to the community, found in the lower left corner of the metromode home page. To read more about the zone, click here.

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In November 2006, six of the region's top civic organizations - New Detroit, the Detroit Regional Chamber, Detroit Renaissance, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Cultural Alliance of Southeastern Michigan - joined forces to form a unified group called One D: Transforming Regional Detroit to ensure the region works together to achieve measurable goals in six areas of priority:

1. economic prosperity
2. educational preparedness
3. regional transit
4. race relations
5. regional cooperation
6. quality of life

While each of these organizations works to meet specific objectives of its own, all recognize that they have a collective responsibility to the region as well. Input and data gained from the community, government officials and other organizations outside of One D are extremely important factors in the success of this unprecedented transformation effort, and will be used by One D to build a one-vision, one-plan blueprint for transforming Southeast Michigan. The final blueprint is expected to be unveiled at the 2007 Mackinac Policy Conference.

As part of this data gathering effort, Issue Media Group (the publishers of Model D and metromode) and United Way for Southeastern Michigan have partnered to regularly survey the Detroit region, on behalf of the One D partnership and each of its member organizations, regarding key quality of life and economic issues in order to get a better handle on " the pulse of southeast Michigan."

We want to serve up surveys that will better help us, and others, understand what our residents are thinking. We want to open this capacity to other organizations that are working to make the Detroit region a better place to live and work. We are at an important crossroads for this region and we want to be able to measure our progress through the opinions of its residents. We hope you will want to join us on this journey.

We will be delivering a new survey each month. Upon review and analysis, we will select the most pertinent questions and repeat them at regular intervals over the next several years. In this way we will be able to track perceptual change over time and match that to the demographic and economic indicators that will comprise the One D Report Card.

Our first survey appeared in the March 1st issue of metromode and was designed to obtain feedback on "quality of life" issues in Southeast Michigan. This report provides the results of that survey.

On March 22 we launched a survey designed to obtain feedback related to the new "branding" effort from the Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau. Late in April we hope to look at Race Relations in Metro Detroit. Future surveys will delve into Art and Culture, Transportation, Education, Economic Opportunities and more. We welcome suggestions from organizations and individuals regarding other issues of importance and hope that you will join us as we take the "Pulse of Metro Detroit."

Quality of Life in Metropolitan Detroit

Our first survey addressed a number of Quality of Life issues in Metro Detroit. Over 1,000 persons took the time to complete the survey during the three weeks it was available. This report provides a summary of the responses received, and ends with a brief overview of respondent demographics.

The first question asked the following:

Using a scale of 1 to 5, where 5 means "very satisfied" and 1 means "very dissatisfied," please rate your satisfaction with each of the following in the Southeast Michigan region – and in Your Community:

• Quality of public safety services (i.e., police, fire, ambulance)
• Flow of traffic
• Access to arts and cultural activities
• Public transportation (bus/rail)
• Transportation services for the elderly and disabled persons
• Access to financial services
• Social services for families that need them
• Availability of quality food (fresh fruits and vegetables)

The following only address the Southeast Michigan region

-Redevelopment/revitalization of urban core communities in the region
-Management of suburban growth and development in the region

Figure 1. Percent of Respondents Answering "Very or Somewhat Satisfied" for the Region

Figure 2. Percent of Respondents Answering "Very or Somewhat Dissatisfied" for the Region

Figures 1 and 2 paint a very clear picture of the issues that Detroit area respondents feel are strongly present and those that they feel are lacking in the region as a whole. Over half of respondents indicated satisfaction with the access to arts and cultural activities, access to financial services, and the availability of quality food. The only other category to rise above 40percent in satisfaction was the " quality of public services." On the dissatisfaction side of the aisle, nearly four of every five respondents stated that they were dissatisfied with the availability of public transportation. This was followed by recognition of the lack of coordinated efforts tomanage suburban growth while working to redevelop and revitalize our urban core communities. Two other transportation-related issues also exceeded a 40 percent level of dissatisfaction –" transportation services for elderly and disabled' and general " traffic flow."

We also asked respondents to rank the majority of these issues from the perspective of their own communities. Suburban growth and urban revitalization were only asked in a regional context.

Figure 3. Percent of Respondents Answering "Very or Somewhat Satisfied" for Their Community

Figure 4. Percent of Respondents Answering "Very or Somewhat Dissatisfied" for Their Community

The results provided some interesting counterpoints to the regional opinions – a result similar to that found when respondents look at politics on the national and local level. In general, respondents show greater satisfaction, and less dissatisfaction, at the smaller geographic level. Services – both public (government) and private (food and finances) received high satisfaction ratings. The high preponderance of arts and culture in Detroit tended to lower the satisfaction score for this issue. Transportation, however, remained the principal issue of concern – garnering dissatisfaction responses from over 70 percent of the respondents.

Due to concerns about public safety and the lack of services – particularly grocery stores – in Detroit, we took a separate look at how Detroit residents answered this question. Only 42 percent were satisfied with the availability of quality food, while 34 percent expressed satisfaction with the quality of public safety services. On the negative side, Detroiters agreed that public transportation leaves a great deal to be desired – 71 percent were dissatisfied, with 47percent of responses being " very dissatisfied."

We next asked respondents to consider the issues in Question 1 and tell us:

Which THREE of these items do you think should receive the most emphasis from community leaders over the next THREE Years?

The results are shown in Figure 5. Consistent with the views expressed in Question 1,respondents overwhelmingly listed Public Transportation as the issue that should receive emphasis from community leaders. Thirty-eight percent of respondents listed this as a "first priority," while 81 percent of all respondents listed it as one of their three top issues. Coming in second was the need to invest in the redevelopment/revitalization of Detroit and our other older, urban core communities. An assessment of the quality of public safety services, and improvements where necessary, came in a close third, followed by the issue of managing suburban growth and development.

The importance of these responses is that they point to issues that we must look at on a regional basis. We cannot continue to expect individual leaders to solve the problems. Rather, we must work across historical geographic and racial lines to get the job done. Respondents are tired of the "rhetoric" and want to see "action."

Figure 5. Percent of Total Responses – Three Items for Community Leader Emphasis

Our next question asked the following:

Several items that may influence your perception of living in the Southeast Michigan region are listed below. Please rate each item on a scale of 1 to 5, where 5 means "very satisfied" and 1 means "very unsatisfied."

• Quality of public schools
• Quality of post-secondary education (colleges, universities, vocational)
• Quality of governmental services
• Availability of quality jobs
• Availability of affordable housing
• Racial and ethnic harmony
• Availability of arts and cultural amenities
• How much the region values education and retains talent

Figure 6 provides a summary of the two ends of the spectrum – 5 (very satisfied) and 1 (very dissatisfied).While dissatisfaction ruled the day for most of the factors listed, respondents did show a great deal of satisfaction with the "quality of the region's post-secondary education" and the " availability of arts and cultural amenities." 72 percent of respondents were satisfied (very or somewhat) with our post-secondary educational opportunities, while 58% were satisfied with the region's arts and cultural opportunities.

On the other end of the spectrum, only 7 percent of respondents were satisfied with the "availability of quality jobs" (77% were dissatisfied), and only 10 percent were satisfied with "how the region values education and retains talent" (69% were dissatisfied).

Figure 6. Percent of Total Responses – Three Items for Community Leader Emphasis

We followed up the ranking question with the following:

Which THREE of these reasons will have the most impact on your decision to stay in the Southeast Michigan Region for the next 10 years?

An analysis of the results (Figure 7) spells trouble for our region. The availability of quality jobs far outdistanced any other response with 84 percent of all respondents listing it in their top 3 – and 48 percent listing it as number 1. The quality of public schools came in distant second at 48 percent, with regional values of education and talent retention placing third at 38 percent. All three of these issues ranked very low in their "satisfaction ratings."

Figure 7. Percent of Respondents Who Listed Item as Impacting Decision to Stay in SE Michigan

We also found that a number of respondents (almost 9 percent) wanted to provided other issues that were of importance to them. While they covered a wide range of issues, the primary categories were family, crime, cost-of-living, taxes and transportation.
The next question asked respondents to do the following:

Please rate the Southeast Michigan region on a scale of 1 to 5 where 5 means "excellent" and 1 means "poor" with regard to each of the following:

• The region as a place to raise children
• The region as a place to live
• The region as a place to work
• The overall image of the region
• The overall quality of life in the region
• How well the region is planning for the future
• How well the region works together

Figure 8. Percent Distribution of Responses Rating SE Michigan Region by Category

While respondents were stingy on giving an excellent rating to any of our quality of life categories, the region was rated positively by at least 40 percent of respondents as "a place to live" and as "a place to raise children." Almost 35 percent of respondents rated the overall quality of life positively. On the negative side, almost 80 percent of respondents rated the region as below average or poor in the area of "how well the region works together." "Planning for the future" and "the overall image" also came out on the negative end for almost 70 percent of respondents.

While the image is being worked on by a number of organizations, with the Detroit MetroConvention and Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) taking the lead in changing our brand, the lowratings for regional collaboration and planning should sound a clarion call to all " regional leaders." The ability to attract and retain young, educated residents and thereby build a knowledge-based economy that is attractive to a wide range of individuals and companies requires that we begin to work together as a region and develop regional plans for land use, transportation – public/mass and highways, housing, cultural amenities, and much more.

Our final question asked the following:

On a scale of 1 to 5, where 5 means "very safe" and 1 means "very unsafe," please rate how safe you feel in the following situations:

• In your neighborhood during the day
• In your neighborhood at night
• Overall in the community where you live
• Overall in the city of Detroit
• Overall in the Southeast Michigan region

Figure 9. Percent Distribution of Responses on Feelings of Safety by Location

Southeast Michigan residents generally feel safe in their neighborhoods, communities, and throughout Southeast Michigan. The only area where safety was an issue was in the City of Detroit. Nearly three in five (57 percent) respondents expressed feeling "unsafe" or "very unsafe" in the City of Detroit. An analysis by geography shows that Detroit residents feel somewhat safer in their city than nonresidents – 21% vs. 15%. Nevertheless, 50 percent of Detroit residents reported feeling "unsafe" or "very unsafe," as compared to 60 percent of nonresidents.

It is obvious from these results that the image of Detroit must be changed by addressing the issue of crime and safety. A previous study of Crime in Downtown Detroit by this author showed that the core of the city was safer than many communities in Southeast Michigan, as well as other downtowns in cities across the country.

Mayor Kilpatrick made crime a major topic of his 2007 State of the City address. He stated:

"The crime issue in the city of Detroit has consistently and constantly undermined any notion of recovery and revitalization or renaissance in this city for more than 40 years. No matter what we do – host the Super Bowl … host the All-Star Game … lead the region in new housing … sell million dollar condos downtown … build more housing than ever … open three new neighborhood recreation centers … fix streets … fix parks … host the Grand Prix on Belle Isle –the crime issue constantly undermines any notion of recovery all the time.

But the new officers and new tactics by themselves are not the only answer to our crime problem. One mistake we make in our community when we discuss crime is to immediately discuss police and police only. We must look at the nature of the crime we experience and develop strategies out of what we learn. And we must have a very candid conversation within this community about what we are doing to ourselves.

My Beloved Community, I truly understand the history of African American people in this country. But we have come to a point in our community where this is no conspiracy by Outsiders doing this to us. This is us killing us. This is mostly African Americans killing African Americans. This is some family member of mine or yours killing some family member of yours or mine. And we, as a community, have to stop it now. Nobody's coming to save us. We have to stand up for ourselves and stand up now."

While this is certainly an issue that Detroiters must be ready and willing to tackle, it must be understood that the Southeast Michigan Region can be healthy and safe unless all its components– with Detroit being the largest component of all – are healthy and safe. This is an issue that we all must be willing to tackle.

We ended the survey with the following open-ended question:

Based on the questions above, in a couple sentences, what is your opinion on the overall quality of life in your community and in the region?

Almost 900 respondents took the time to give us their thoughts. I do not plan to lengthen this report with an accounting of all the responses (they are available upon request). Needless to say, the comments covered the broad spectrum of issues and ranged from very negative to very positive. I think that the response that sums things up the best is the following (which was provided in all caps as shown):

"DESPITE THE REGION'S SHAKY IMAGE, I HAVE NO DESIRE TO LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE."

Demographic Summary

The survey was conducted strictly via the web. A number of outlets were used, in addition to MetroMode and ModelD, to get the word out as to its availability. No incentives were provided to respondents. A relatively detailed set of demographics was collected from our respondents. This section only reports the results of several of the questions.

1. What is your current county of residence (identified through question on ZIP Code)?

• Macomb County 05%
• Oakland County 30%
• Wayne County 60%
• City of Detroit 32%
• Out-Wayne County 28%
• Elsewhere 05%

A quick review of the table shows that Macomb County is extremely underrepresented, when compared with other counties in the region. While several reasons for this may be put forth, there is no way to substantiate any of them. Suffice it to say, efforts to increase Macomb responses will be undertaken for future surveys.

2. Do you expect to be living in Southeast Michigan – 1 year from now; 5 years from now?

These results are quite positive in that almost 80 percent of respondents say that they will be in Southeast Michigan over the next year, while only 8 percent are sure that they will not. While the " stayers" drop to 43 percent when the length of time is extended to 5 years, the drop is more a factor of uncertainty (35%) rather than an intention to leave (22%). It may be assumed that a regional thrust toward cooperation and planning, coupled with increased attention to issues of public safety and a changing economic climate, will change these " Don't Knows," as well as some of the " Nos," to " Yeses."

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Kurt Metzger is a demographer and research director for United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

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One D: Transforming Regional Detroit consists of United Way for Southeastern Michigan, New Detroit, the Detroit Regional Chamber, Detroit Renaissance, the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Cultural Alliance of Southeastern Michigan.

Poll finds public transit overriding issue

Source: The Detroit News
By: Mike Wilkinson
Published: April 21, 2007

Group's online survey says Metro Detroiters want to eat, shop without cars; race poll under way.

Metro Detroiters love the area's concerts and art venues and relish its restaurants and grocers.

But a recent survey of more than 1,000 area residents showed they would really like the opportunity to get to those places without using their cars.

The online poll conducted by Issue Media Group and United Way for Southeastern Michigan shows four out of five respondents want a better rapid transit system.

"It's so clear that people are saying 'public transportation,' " said Kurt Metzger, director of research for the United Way for Southeastern Michigan and author of the survey.

Metzger created the online polls on behalf of One D, the coalition created last year to forge a comprehensive plan to tackle the area's problems. The polls will be one source of information for the group, which is focusing on six priorities: economic prosperity, education, regional transit, race relations, regional cooperation and quality of life.

A survey on race relations is under way, and more are planned on transportation, education and economic opportunities.

"Our effort is to get as much input across the board on all of these areas," said Anne Masterson, a spokeswoman for Detroit Renaissance, a coalition partner.

The quality-of-life poll touched on a number of topics, from public transportation to crime. It was advertised on a local Internet magazine and through the United Way. But its relevance may be limited: Just 5 percent of the respondents are from Macomb County, and just 44 percent of the Detroiters who filled out the questionnaire are black. The city's black population is more than 80 percent.

Coalition members are more interested in the current survey on race relations, and its reach will likely be broader. The United Way is willing to mail the survey to those who cannot take it online, and it will be translated into Spanish and Arabic, said Shirley Stancato, president and CEO of New Detroit, an organization that deals with race issues.

New Detroit has held a summit on race among area leaders. But Stancato said the poll will allow them to find out what people think about "in the privacy of their homes."

"I think it's important to know what people are thinking," she said.

Many have said race relations in the region, the most segregated in the country, must improve.

"I think race relations are so critical and cuts across this region in so many ways that everyone has an opinion," Metzger said.

One reason One D chose the online polls was their cost: zero. A scientific survey covering 800 people in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties could cost more than $30,000.

The race relations survey can be found at the United Way's Web site, www.uwsem.org. For a mailed copy, call (313) 226-9200.

Celebrate Volunteers Luncheon April 16

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Cara I. Belton, 313-226-9484
Laura L. Rodwan, 313-226-9484

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2007

“Celebrate Volunteers” Luncheon Scheduled for April 16

Celebrate Volunteers… Recognizing Home Town Heroes Honors Individuals, Groups, and Corporations

DETROIT – United Way for Southeastern Michigan will honor eight exceptional individuals and two groups from metro Detroit at its annual Celebrate Volunteers… Recognizing HomeTown Heroes luncheon on Monday, April 16, 11:30am -1:30pm, at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Ballroom. The event attracts over 1,100 guests each year, and is billed as one of the largest volunteer recognition events in the nation.

As part of National Volunteer Week (April 15 - 21, 2007), United Way for Southeastern Michigan joins other organizations across the country in recognizing outstanding, local volunteers, groups and corporations who enrich the lives of others in their communities. This year’s honorees hail from Detroit, Dearborn, Huntington Woods, Madison Heights, Novi, Northville, Sterling Heights, and Windsor, Ontario. Collectively, their work has served to improve the lives of many throughout Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

“Each honoree has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the southeastern Michigan region and has served our community in the best way possible – by affecting positive change and touching lives,” said Michael J. Brennan, president and CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan.
The Celebrate Volunteers…Recognizing HomeTown Heroes awards will be presented in seven categories: the Bernie Firestone Labor Award, the CorPLUS Award, the Exemplary Group Service Award, the Heart of Gold Award, the Outstanding Youth Award, the Young Adult Award of Excellence, and the Outstanding Business Award.

In addition, the Junior League of Birmingham will give special recognition to the individuals named to the 2007 Governor’s Honor Roll, as well as the area students who participated in the Alternative Spring Break. Special guests will include Detroit Mayor, Kwame M. Kilpatrick, Fox 2 News anchor, Huel Perkins, and keynote speaker and former member of the Detroit Lions, Luther Elliss.

Tickets are $35.00 each, or $350.00 per table, and may be purchased online at www.uwsem.org/celebrate or by phone at (313) 226-9430. To nominate someone for a future award or to learn more about year-round volunteer opportunities, click on www.uwsem.org or call United Way’s George W. Romney Volunteer Center at 313-226-9430.

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.

United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s
2007 Celebrate Volunteers…Recognizing Home Town Heroes Honorees

United Way for Southeastern Michigan will recognize eight exceptional individuals and two groups for their outstanding volunteer service and commitment to others at the annual Celebrate Volunteers…Recognizing Home Town Heroes event, held April 16. Awards will be presented in seven categories to the following individuals and groups:

The Bernie Firestone Labor Award, sponsored by United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s Labor Department, recognizes an outstanding rank and file member of a local labor union. The honoree demonstrates exceptional commitment to his or her community through volunteerism.

Winner: William Deuparo of Detroit
Mr. Deuparo is a retired employee of General Motors and member of UAW Local 22. He has been involved with the Clark Park Coalition for more than 15 years and currently serves as treasurer on the organization’s Board of Directors. William volunteers practically every day of the week, (between seven and 11 hours a day), at the Clark Park Recreation Center. His time and skills are invaluable to the center, helping community youth stay active and safe. On any given day, William can be found mentoring youth after school, volunteering at the Clark Park Ice Rink in the winter, and serving as an umpire for the Clarke Park girls’ softball team and scorekeeper and third base coach for the Clark Park adult softball team in the summer. He also serves as the official photographer of the Coalition and documents all major events. In addition, William assists with grounds keeping of the park, including shoveling snow, raking leaves, painting benches and playground equipment, and planting trees to keep the park safe and attractive.

The CorPLUS Award, sponsored by the Junior League of Detroit, recognizes a retiree who exemplifies the highest standards of service in the city of Detroit. A $1,000 gift is given to the nonprofit of the winner’s choice. This year’s award will be presented to:

Winner: Barbara Wojtas of Sterling Heights
Barbara Wojtas has been a devoted volunteer at Capuchin Soup Kitchen for two years. As a retired elementary school teacher in East Detroit Public Schools, Barbara has gained a great deal of experience helping children learn and appreciate school. Three times a week, Barbara volunteers with the organization’s after school program. Working with three or four children at a time, she helps them complete their schoolwork, read and work with computers. Barbara finds volunteering to be a fulfilling and satisfying way to spend her time since she retired 10 years ago. In addition to her work with the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Barbara has delivered meals for Meals on Wheels in Sterling Heights for the past five years, and has visited patients at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Macomb County for over ten years.


The Exemplary Group Service Award, sponsored by United Way for Southeastern Michigan, recognizes families, couples or groups who strive to improve the lives of neighbors, friends and their community through group volunteer work. A $500 gift is awarded to the agency of the winner’s choice. This year’s award will be presented to:

Winner: Disaster Action Team – American Red Cross Southeastern Michigan Chapter
The 104 members of the Red Cross’ Disaster Action Team are always ready to respond in times of crisis. This group of dedicated men and women consists of 13 on-call teams which log 25,000 volunteer hours annually. They work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Each team is able to respond quickly to meet the needs of individuals and families facing disasters such as house or apartment fires. Last year, they responded to 927 calls, providing food, clothing, shelter, hygiene items, and medication. In addition to disaster response, the team members train new volunteers and serve on national disaster response teams when needed. They also coordinated donation drives to collect and package comfort kits for disaster victims, and delivered cots to warming centers and bottled water to cooling centers in the summer months.

The Heart of Gold Award, sponsored by United Way for Southeastern Michigan, honors four individuals who demonstrate an immeasurable commitment to volunteer service in metro Detroit. The following people will receive the Heart of Gold Award:

Winner: Dan Ballnik of Dearborn
Dan Ballnik cares deeply about the environment and shares his knowledge about environmental and conservation issues with many. As part of Friends of the Rouge, Dan has mobilized thousands of students, Ford Motor Company employees, and residents of Wayne County to restore the Rouge River and native plant life in the area. Each year, Dan organizes more than 600 volunteers to restore riverbanks, build bridges, and plant greenery. Dan has also organized Schoolyard Habitat projects at elementary and middle schools in Dearborn. The projects generate awareness about native habitats and their restoration in the area. The funding Dan helped to secure for these projects are now utilized by the schools as educational tools to build further awareness about additional habitats for local wildlife. Dan participates in the Rouge River Remedial Action Plan Habitat Committee, the Riparian Corridor Management Technical Advisory Committee, and has helped reduce maintenance costs for the city of Dearborn by installing Grow Zones that do not require mowing.

Winner: Beverly Palise of Madison Heights
For nearly a decade, Beverly Palise has been spreading Christmas spirit through her work with the annual Festival of Trees benefit for Children’s Hospital of Michigan. Each year, Beverly designs the event’s “money tree,” which contains 300 one-dollar bills festively arranged. The tree is then raffled off to benefit the Hospital. In 2005, the money tree she designed raised $7,000 for the Hospital. She has also designed other trees that are sold during the fundraiser. Beverly’s volunteer experience also includes singing with the Detroit Edison Glee Club at nursing and retirement homes in the region.

She is a member of the church choirs at First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth and Ward Evangelical Presbyterian in Northville. In the past, Beverly has volunteered for the Parade Company, the Rainbow Connection, and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Winner: Bobbie Patt of Huntington Woods
Bobbie Patt has dedicated her life to nurturing metro Detroit area youth, and was nominated for the award by the National Council of Women, Greater Detroit Section. A retired elementary school teacher, she now gives her time to a variety of programs through the National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Detroit Section (NCJW). Each week, she tutors children in Ferndale through the Ferndale Public Schools Literacy Project. She also helps the NCJW pack and deliver backpacks filled with school supplies to children in need throughout the region. For the past six years, Bobbie has served as an advocate as part of Children’s Advocates: Court Appointed Guardianship Services for children needing legal guardianship within the Oakland County Family Court System. Through the NCJW, she delivers Kosher Meals on Wheels and serves as the co-chair of Tributes - a program that manages contributions given in honor of family and friends. She also welcomes people into her home through Sarah’s Tent, a support group for new Jews by choice, individuals in interfaith relationships, and Jewish people with little Jewish education or experience.

Winner: Robert Rosowski of Northville
Robert Rosowski has been helping individuals with their taxes for nearly 20 years. A retired vice president and treasurer of Masco Corporation, Bob first got involved with Accounting Aid Society as a board member. His leadership soon proved to be an invaluable asset to the organization’s Resource Development Committee, Personnel Committee, and Advisory Council. Robert firmly believes in gaining understanding through personal involvement, so he also signed on as tax volunteer. On Saturdays from January through April, Bob can be found at the Butzel Family Center on Detroit’s eastside, assisting low-income individuals with their taxes at the Butzel Family Center on Detroit’s eastside. Robert spends an average of one hour with each client, reviewing financial records, preparing city, state and federal tax returns, and helping individuals locate available tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, home heating credits, and property tax credits. His service has put more money back in the hands of metro Detroiters each year.

The Outstanding Business Award, sponsored by United Way for Southeastern Michigan and the Southeast Michigan Corporate Volunteer Council, recognizes the many ways businesses can contribute to social and economic development through volunteering. A $1,000 gift is awarded to the agency of the winner’s choice. This year’s award will be presented to:

Winner: United Parcel Service (UPS)
UPS employees from the Pontiac and Madison Heights service centers have made a difference in the lives of hundreds of foster children through St. Francis Family Center/Catholic Social Services of Oakland County.

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United Way of Southeastern MI /2007 “Celebrate Volunteers”
Page 4

Through their numerous sponsorships, grants, fundraising, volunteerism, community awareness and community mobilization efforts, UPS has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to children in need. Throughout the year, UPS volunteers raised funds in order to provide water park trips and outings for the children served by St. Francis Family Center. Their continued support for the children include providing grant applications for placement sustainability of foster children, and providing opportunities for seasonal employment - which instills independent living skills, financial management ability and independence. Volunteers also utilize the company’s Global Day of Caring to improve the family center’s building and grounds, resulting in a more enjoyable environment for foster children who use the facility to visit with birth parents or attend appointments.

The Outstanding Youth Award recognizes a youth aged 12-18 who is taking action to make our world a better place to live. Nominees in this category show leadership, commitment and character through volunteering in many different activities or in giving significant time to one particular project. A $250 award is given to the agency of the winner’s choice. This year’s award will be presented to:

Winner: Mikhail George of Novi
Mikhail, age 17, attends Detroit Country Day School and has been volunteering since his freshman year of high school. He is an active volunteer with the Red Cross, where he has spent more than 100 hours assisting with local blood drives. Mikhail has completed the specified requirements for “blood trainer” certification, which will allow him to train future volunteers. Mikhail also volunteers for the City of Novi Youth Health Council, giving approximately 60 hours of his time to help organize community events that promote health awareness for children. His care and commitment for others compels Mikhail to volunteer much of his spare time to worthy causes benefiting youth. Last year, Mikhail volunteered with the United States Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program, working to solicit donations and toys for children in need. He also volunteers to read to children at the Novi Public Library.

The Young Adult Award of Excellence recognizes a young adult, aged 19-25, who represents the highest standards of service, leadership, commitment and character in the community. A $250 gift is awarded to the agency of the winner’s choice. This year’s award will be presented to:

Winner: Danielle Baillargeon of Windsor
While attending college in Detroit, Danielle Baillargeon said she "fell in love with the city and its residents and wanted to find a way to help." After conducting an online search for volunteer opportunities, Danielle became affiliated with Coalition On Temporary Shelter (C.O.T.S.) and has been volunteering there for the past year. She has spent over 100 hours at C.O.T.S., cheerfully sharing her organizational and computer skills to assist with mailings and data entry in the Development department. In addition, Danielle worked in the organization’s Child Care and Literacy departments, where she enjoyed interacting with children and reading stories. In the past, Danielle has volunteered for the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation and nursing homes and hospitals in Windsor, Ontario. Danielle is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies at Wayne State University.

Black Mirrors: The Arcade Fire

They've been nominated for countless upon countless awards, including Grammy's, Juno's, and, BRITs. MTV2 heralded their debut album, Funeral, as the Greatest Album of 2005. Time Magazine honored them on the front cover of their magazine. The Arcade Fire have conquered mainstream and indie music circles around the globe with their captivating music and insightful lyrics.

Currently, the bands new album, Neon Bible, reached #1 in Canada and Ireland...and #2 in the US, UK, and Portugal. The first single of Bible is a darkly orchestrated masterpiece called Black Mirror.

Click the music player to hear The Arcade Fire sing about Black Mirrors.

BLACK MIRROR
I walked down to the ocean,
After waking from the nightmare,
No moon, no pale reflection:
Black Mirror.

Shot by a security camera,
You can’t watch your own image,
And also look yourself in the eye:
Black Mirror.

I know a time is coming,
All words will lose their meaning,
Please show me something that isn’t mine,
(but mine is the only kind that I relate to).

Le miroir casse {this broken mirror},
Le miroir casts mon reflet partout {this mirror casts my reflections everywhere}:
Black Mirror.

Black Mirror knows no reflection,
It knows not pride or vanity,
It cares not about your dreams,
It cares not for your pyramid schemes.

Their names are never spoken,
The curse is never broken,
The curse is never broken...

Un, duex, trois, du miroir noir {one, two, three, the black mirror}:
Black Mirror!

Mirror, mirror on the wall...
Show me where them bombs will fall!
Mirror, mirror on the wall...
Show me where them bombs will fall!

Black Mirror.

TO READ THE REST OF THE BLACK MIRROR DIARIES CLICK HERE

An Outside/In Detroiter on Himself and The Region’s Future

We all know the world is rapidly changing: for that story click here and here. You can even search for it here to review any of the 207,000,000 web pages available on the subject.

What does this all mean for Detroit? What does it mean for me?

My Detroit story is new narrative, one of momentum rising and abundant opportunity. Here I get experience beyond my best expectations. Diversity is the region’s strength. I believe racial understanding and reconciliation is possible. For an outside/in Detroiter, I think in these terms, everyday, before thinking about what hasn’t or won’t work.

I take an experience first approach to life. All my resources and choices are centered on trying to answer affirmatively one thing: does it, whatever it is, maximize my experience in the world?

With that in mind, I choose Detroit.

I choose this place, my work at United Way, even my time here on this blog because I deeply believe transformative progress is possible.

But what about me—How am I affected by an evolving community problem solving paradigm? What’s my role in the infrastructure of good I’ve described?

I reflect on that a lot. Unlike other enterprises or business ventures, nonprofit work like mine rests on the central premise—indeed tension—that I show up everyday and say: “I sure hope we put ourselves out of business today.” If getting rewarded for community based work through intangible means is critical, this is supposed to be our ultimate payoff.

But enough about me.

We need space to safely evaluate the structures and rules we have in place; to authentically gauge if they remain the best ones for us in our current context.

There are times when, against all odds, we can take ownership and truly demonstrate progress by working together to effectuate change. Our opportunity ... United Way's ... Southeast Michigan's ... ONE D's .... Yours ... Mine ... is here, now, begging us to seize the moment.

Change is in the air.

As my prior posts indicate, I try to see the world in microcosmic analogies. Take the largest issue and try to conceive of it in real everyday and personal terms. Consider Detroit and the region. Consider race. Consider community problem solving techniques. How are these similar to your own personal issues? Trying to make a change in your life? Trying to understand the world better? I am, and I process the big questions by putting them into personal terms.

Next time you hear the same old complaint about this place and its problems, try this:

Reframe.

Problem Solve.

Deliver.

Brad Frost,
Brand Strategist, United Way for Southeastern Michigan
This post is part of an on-going series from MetroMode.

Myelin, Bananas & (Quitting) Smoking – Tools to a Better Future

Three vignettes. Nothing terribly special about them. Just conceptual tools that help me understand the world better. Tools that can help put our problem solving work into perspective and perhaps stir conversation. Credit goes to the New York Times, my twin brother and the Marlboro Man.

1. Heard about Myelin?

Myelin is this incredible substance, addressed recently by the Times on this basic question: what is talent? This infinitesimal biologic neuro-chemical stuff—most appropriately likened to “bandwidth”—allows us to execute key physical and mental processes effectively, like playing the piano or hitting a tennis ball extraordinarily well. The most essential ingredient is technique – or as the old adage goes “practice, practice, practice.” I read the article in amazement.

It made me think about how often we look at our deficits first as what we need to “work on.”

According to Myelinists’ theory, though, what’s most critical is an extraordinary focus on technique—those things we’re strong at; increasing our sweetspot to deliver where we have the most potential to succeed.

You can imagine my relief – we should focus on what we’re good at and make ourselves great, even extraordinary.

2. How would you, without a tranquilizer, catch a wild monkey?

Actually, its amazingly simple. Place a netted trap with a banana hanging in the center. A monkey can reach in and out with ease. But as soon as it grabs hold the banana, the net locks its arm and it can’t move.
To get out, all the monkey has to do is let go of the banana. But, as zoologists know from experience, the monkey will not let go of the banana, no matter what.

I think everyone benefits if we can answer one fundamental question: What’s our banana?

What’s yours? Your industry’s? Detroit’s? The Region’s?

I’ll lead by example: Mine is meaning. I am trapped by it; it nourishes me. I refuse to let go. That’s why I care so much about my experiences, my work, where I choose to live and how I spend my time. It can make me a royal pain to be around sometimes. But that’s me, and that’s my banana.

We need to know our banana, embrace it, see its flaws and merits. Mitigate the bad and harness the good.

Here’s an example: one about relationships, incentives, old rules and a new world.

3. Quitting smoking is a hard thing to do. Even harder is to quit being a smoker.

In the last two decades, the relationship between smokers and, well, everyone has changed enormously. The rules – from social etiquette to bar room bans – are different. The world is more enlightened and knowledgeable on the subject.

Yet people still smoke, in droves.

Why?

I think the central problem is one of incentives. And the beast is gradual taxation. Cigarettes cost about 25 times more than they did 50 years ago. But that sticker shock didn’t come all at once. Instead, it graduated up, at a glacial pace.

Want smoking rates to go down? Multiply the price of smoking by 25 times.

Tomorrow.

Seriously, would you pay $125 for a pack of cigarettes?

It’s a lot like asking what it takes to sustainably change our diet. Are we so addicted to certain behaviors we delude ourselves into thinking that, no matter the consequences, for now this still feels good …even though its glacially painful …even though its going to kill us.

These three vignettes raise lots of questions:

Are we building on past success or hurting future progress? Are we in an environment that promotes new ideas, innovation and creative problem solving? Are we using dated techniques and rulebooks?

Are we focused on our strengths and expanding our sweetspot? Are we clear what our banana is? Are we addressing monumental shifts in complexity by glacially weaning ourselves off old habits? Do we know the difference between quitting them and actually, sustainably, changing who we are in the process?

Brad Frost,
Brand Strategist, United Way for Southeastern Michigan
This post is part of an on-going series from MetroMode.

Black Mirrors: Sharks, Prince, Salt & Everything Else You've Come To Fear The Most

I’d the oddest dream last night. I was off the beaches of Fiji, dogpaddling the Pacific Ocean...when suddenly I started being chased by a troupe of singing Hammerhead sharks. It was rather disturbing. The sharks were all singing various Prince songs. A few were crooning When Doves Cry. Another belted out Let’s Go Crazy. There was even one that had committed to memory I Would Die 4 You. The weird thing was, in my dream, I didn’t think twice about why these sharks were hunting me down...or how they’d taught themselves to speak, let alone sing. No, all I could think of was, “Seriously, how do all these sharks know so many different Prince songs?!?”

Note to self: No more cheese before bed. Or Purple Rain.

While I’m relieved that singing fish are utter falsehoods...the parts concerning Fiji, the Pacific, dogpaddling, and me are utterly true. In December of ’05, I vacationed off the coast of Nadi, where I’d the luxury of swimming in an ocean for the very first time. Alas, there were no sharks involved...but I blogged about the experience nonetheless. As I read my entry for the first time in over a year, I can’t help but think of Black Mirrors:

Today, I met up with my uncle and his wife. I spent the entire afternoon with them loafing on the beach and swimming in the sea. The sea! God, I’ve never tasted saltwater before! How unfamiliar! The entire experience has caught me completely off guard.

When you least expect it, the circle of life has an amazing sense of throwing new arches your way. As conscious beings, we spend a tremendous part of our brief and limited existence arrogantly assuming we’ve seen and done it all. Using a string of singular, recurring daily rituals, we end up persuading ourselves that life is nothing more than mere routine:

• Wake up at 7:52am
• Drop kids off at school
• Commute to job
• Work eight hours
• Drive home
• Eat dinner
• 6:00pm news
• Put the kids to bed
• Watch Law & Order
• Read a couple chapters from a NY Times bestseller
• Fall asleep
• REPEAT

It’s from this mindset we make-believe that all future events in our lives, no matter how fresh and new, end up being repackaged versions of our past. You might fall in love with some fantastic new girl…but it’s not like you haven’t fallen in love before. You might graduate with your MBA…but it’s not like you haven't graduated before (high school, kindergarten, etc). Even the swank of brand new creations end up being boiled down re-inventions. The never-before-seen 2008 Ford Explorer is really just another Ford Explorer. Coke w/Lime is really just Coke...with lime. We’ve been there and done that. We’ve experienced all that life can offer.

Then one day you paddle out into the Pacific, taste some salt, and re-realize how naked and alone you truly are. It’s thrilling and humbling and dreadful...and all at once. Overwhelming, for sure. I guess it’s times like these that make air worth breathing. If there weren’t a sense of uniqueness or individuality to our experiences, what would motivate us to keep pushing forward in the first place?

As you can tell, this topic exceedingly vexes me. I’m constantly petrified that if I stay in one place for too long, it'll end up being the death of me. It’s why I changed my major three times in college. It’s why I can’t hold down a steady relationship or career for longer than a year. It’s why in the past eight years, I’ve lived in seven different cities…at fourteen different addresses…with thirty-nine different roommates. It’s why I’m always walking away.

What if there comes a moment in my life where every experience is so familiar that it all ends up being one deeply tiresome routine?

The truth is I shouldn’t be fretting over such thin-skinned uncertainties. And not because the questions are intensely heavy or depressive...but rather because the questions solely serve as a clever way of stating, What if I’ve been there and done that…and then I get bored? It plays off a primal assumption that I’ll actually get to a point in my life where I’ve done everything. And who am I to be worrying about that? I’m two weeks shy of twenty-seven years and savoring saltwater for the very first time.

The way I live, consume, and play, I’ve maybe thirty years left in me. Unless I hit the Mega Millions jackpot, I can pretty much guarantee that two-thirds of that time will be consumed by work and sleep. A good portion of that remainder – my so called “free time” – will in all likelihood be spent playing Nintendo, listening to Belle & Sebastian CDs, reading comic books, watching Mad About You reruns, and being an all-around sarcastic wiseass.

Been there, done that? If anything, I should be concentrating on being nowhere and doing nothing.

Giving Her Time: Joan Gehrke

Source: MetroMode
By: Maureen McDonald
Published: March 29, 2007

Each month, metromode's Regional Activation Zone features people whose volunteer efforts make this better place to live and work. This month: Joan Gehrke.

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Who: Joan Gehrke, special projects manager for Jim Nicholson, the CEO of PVS Chemicals in Detroit, an international supplier of sulfur-based products.

Volunteer history: Numerous civic groups, including United Way for United Way for Southeastern Michigan, St. John Hospital, the Detroit Historical Museum and the Detroit Science Center tap Gehrke for leadership posts because of her proven ability to raise money for civic and social causes.

Gehrke won a "Heart of Gold Award" from United Way in the mid-1990s for raising $500,000 to help revive the Detroit Science Center. Around the same time she began serving on United Way’s board. Philanthropy is a 30-year commitment of Gehrke's, mentored by her late father-in-law, one of the founders of New Detroit, Inc., and the chair of the Detroit Regional Chamber.

She is also the recipient of the "Distinguished Volunteers" at St. John Hospital helping it raise $26 million of an anticipated $30 million for its foundation. "I keep finding causes I can put my arms around," she says.

The organization: Gehrke chairs the steering committee for 2-1-1, the 24-hour help line that over 100,000 callers used last year to get help or give help from 6,000 heath and human service resources in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. "What is exciting is the potential of 211 for real-time monitoring of social issues," Gehrke says. "Every single call that comes in is an opportunity to come closer to identifying the root causes of community ills. The top requests are for utility and rent assistance from people who don't know where their next dollar will come from."

How what she does makes a difference: Helping raise funds for 2-1-1 is critical to Gehkre because it is a lifeline, helping quell the frustration in those in the direst need for help. "People can get caught into a telephone voice mail loop. They call six different places and never talk to a human being. I'm so pleased that 2-1-1 has human operators who are specially trained in listening and making referrals. Many of them are multilingual. These are some of the most dedicated people I've met. The challenge now is raising awareness because we don't have a huge advertising budget."

On her volunteer accomplishments: "People praise my ability to raise money? Trust me, I don't do it by myself, I work with a lot of great people who know what they are doing. I've learned that people give generously because of who asks them to give. My role is to identify peers who can ask others to donate. It is kind of the art of the heart. The real heroes are the people who do incredible things every single day, those that put food on the tables at the soup kitchens, make sure the homeless have clothing and hold the hands of the ill people."

Background: Gehrke laughs good naturedly that her name gets misspelled as gerke, gerkey, gaurke, or gherkin as in the pickle. Yet she prefers it to the generic maiden name, Smith. She grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, met her husband in Washington, D.C. and came to Detroit in 1973. Her father-in-law had a passion for healing race relations and other civic causes, which inspired her to volunteer time even while she and her husband, William, raised their three children. William is a retired partner in an accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers. She loves tennis and Tai Chi, while he fancies golf. Together they love cooking gourmet meals at home.

How others can get involved: Contact the United Way for Southeastern Michigan to donate to the 2-1-1 effort. The 2-1-1 line takes calls from those who want to volunteer for various agencies. The need is great in all three counties, as poverty has risen 60 percent in Macomb County, 20 percent in Oakland and 35 percent in Wayne. Each step made helps improve the condition of the community helps make southeast Michigan a better, more compassionate place to live.

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What is the Regional Activation Zone? A place to Get inspired. Get informed. Get connected. Read about it here.

Tell Us About It: Visiting in the 'D'

How do you play a tourist in your hometown? What are your favorite spots to take out-of-town guests to show off the 'D'? What can we do to make it a better spot for visitors?

United Way for Southeastern Michigan, metromode and the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) want to hear your views of the region and its amenities - both from a personal perspective as you plan your own activities, as well as you view the area when describing it to potential tourists or when hosting out-of-town visitors. Click here to learn more or start the survey now.

Relationships and Community Problem Solving

Answer this: Who’s the single most important person to you?

Now, imagine they’re in trouble. Here’s what I assume – you would do everything reasonable within your power to help them out of the dilemma. If not, email me why. But on that assumption, read on.

Personally, my greatest advantage on this planet is I can fail – utterly fall on my face in financial ruin – and still have resources, i.e. relationships that would come to my rescue to help me get back on my feet.

You know what I call that: privilege. In fact, I represent privilege in powerful ways: An American born, college educated, heterosexual, white male with full use of my physical and mental faculties, born into an upper-middle class family of other college educated white Protestant Americans; that’s perhaps the singular image of privilege worldwide.

When I have a challenge or goal, say paying for college or buying a home, I have a whole army of resources rushing to help alleviate the barriers I face to entry. Those include not only my parents and their support, but government loans, college scholarships, a mortgage from the bank. Public, private, nonprofit – personal, familial, teachers, advisors, mentors. Relationships. Trust. Appropriate risk for high potential returns.

My personal mission on this planet is to help develop solutions which alleviate the barriers those with less resources and less privilege face in the pursuit of their own dreams and aspirations. Luckily, I’m not the only one that wants to work on these issues, so rather than trying to achieve that mission on my own, institutions like United Way provide the perfect vehicle for me to have a meaningful impact in areas I want to effectuate change.

But United Way, like all institutions for that matter, or any individual – we are all really only as good as our best relationships. Nothing matters more.

Yet, when people come together to discuss community problems and social issues, there is often an overwhelming Us/Them dichotomy. A dichotomy of the haves and have nots, those of privilege and those without. In Metro Detroit this is most evident when we look at the regional geography, synonymous with race, and the troubling racism which infects us and hinders our capacity to work effectively together. We have to continue to build these relationships through empathy and sincere understanding, and work hard at it until we solve them.

Frankly, we have to re-frame our thinking. We have to recognize how powerfully our success is directly related to the success of others. That for this region to succeed, we must authentically embrace our interconnectivity.

Here’s what I think – Regional Detroit is just like the person you love the most. And we need to affirm our commitment to making this the best place it can be. We can only do that by improving our relationships – personal, institutional and across sectors. We don’t do that by obviating our differences, but by recognizing our mutual dependence and working together to better understand and help each other’s growth.

We have to start demanding more from each other. Re-frame our thinking around key relationships rather than institutional interests.

For United Way that means asking more of our investors and in turn, more from those we share resources with; otherwise, we’re simply status quo plus – new paint job on an old failing house. We have to work on the structures and improve the foundation.

Southeast Michigan just called for help – what are you doing to help break down the barriers to our success?

Brad Frost,
Brand Strategist, United Way for Southeastern Michigan
This post is part of an on-going series from MetroMode.

Case Study: United Way

I work for United Way. My job is to help move this historic institution from an efficient fundraiser on behalf of community non-profits (all good organizations) to one with multi-dimensional strategies (i.e. research, investments, public policy, community awareness, volunteer mobilization and fundraising) focused on the region's most pressing social issues. United Way's everywhere are looking themselves in the mirror and asking this central raison de etre: How do we add the most value to the communities we serve?

Why change the largest nonprofit in the country? From a resource and operating efficiency perspective, sure we're successful. What's the problem that needs to be addressed?

In brief, for over a century, United Way has been at work mobilizing resources to make the community better – yet almost all of the social ills we face persist. They stubbornly persist despite all of the dollars we’ve placed against them—further, they are ever more complex.

Consider: More people are homeless; illiteracy is rampant; and educational and wealth disparities persist despite all efforts de jour or otherwise to address them.

However, just like other issues, big and small, these problems can be solved.

Plus, here's an inside scoop: without a change in strategy, United Way is dead, a study in obsolescence.

To understand what that means, consider the razor blade industry; they purposefully make their wares obsolete by releasing better versions of themselves every 3-5 years. You think it took Gillette, driven by a profit motive, five years to figure out that a 4th, 5th or 6th blade would make their Mach Razor better?

So what does this have to do with United Way? In the information age, there is limited value to United Way as mere fundraiser, but extraordinary value to United Way as community problem solver. Built from a foundation of 75 years working closely with corporate, public and nonprofit institutions, we are uniquely positioned to help agencies and corporations work better together by aligning them against common purpose. When United Way substantiates its case by harnessing community will, we can then collectively, dare I say, regionally obtain meaningful results.

Our position enables United Way to serve as trusted broker between the multiple and often disparate community stakeholders we represent. In fact, it was only a year ago that over 6,500 people across the region gave voice to United Way’s first ever Community Action Survey. The survey told us powerful things: Residents demand that the region work better together (by an 85% margin). City/Suburb; Black/White; Rich/Poor – all the dichotomies we know of – shared regional priorities and possessed common aspirations.

With the community voice, United Way moved confidently. We began reframing how we perceive Metro Detroit’s traditional divides. As stewards of the community’s agenda—United Way could leverage the historic response to help change the regional conversation. Suddenly, progress seemed more possible, more imminent, than many could remember for a long time.

Critically, by taking on regional issues, United Way embraces Metro Detroit from a new-narrative perspective, from a “what’s ailing and needs help” to a “what’s possible and can be solved” paradigm.

Baby steps.

But to stay relevant and add value; United Way will continuously need to reframe and transform its work in order to effectively address ever more complex issues. Every industry faces this dilemma these days.

More than that, its personal.

Lou Glazer, of Michigan Future, calls this the “Rock Climber Effect;” simply, there are no more linear ladders to progress and advancement. For as adaptable as we are individually with new technologies, new rules and new realities for advancement, institutions—or any bureaucracy—are slower to keep pace.

Thus, for United Way and other nonprofits, the stark challenge comes after we commit to the necessary transformations our globalized-rock-climber-world demands from us. To more effectively address community problems, we will have to continuously redeploy our efforts by consciously (and rapidly) changing with the times. We must build from the things we do best, do them better, and re-focus our efforts to make long-lasting changes.

Summary: United Way

Relationships – Corporate and nonprofit leaders built on a foundation of working to make the community better in meaningful ways. Add regional voices to synergize community based interests with those of our civic and corporate leaders.

Incentives – Obsolescence. As a prominent leader in a community-first industry and central player in the Infrastructure of Good, United Way owes it to those we serve to change and reposition our work in order to best deliver results where the region shares common purpose.

Old Rules – Built on an industrial, pre-information age bedrock, United Way cannot count on the historic position as Community Fundraiser to be sustainable. We must lead by example to show that “entitlement” is no one’s prerogative anymore. Community stakeholders demand more from us and the investments they make in social causes; United Way and other nonprofits must follow their lead and demand as much from investors in return – this is the new donor institution paradigm.

New World – Be regional, be local. Embrace global. Take risks. Southeast Michigan needs to re-frame the rules by which it engages. It needs leadership from all sectors. Leave your baggage at the door, role your sleeves up, and get to work.

Brad Frost,
Brand Strategist, United Way for Southeastern Michigan
This post is part of an on-going series from MetroMode.

Community Problem Solving

How do you solve your problems? When hungry, eat. Thirsty, drink. Tired, sleep.

Simple.

More complex problems? Want to lose weight? I know there are thousands of books on the subject, but here's the answer I know works: Either consume less calories than you do now or, work off more calories than you currently consume. People call this going on a diet.

Amazing.

Here's the thing – you can't change something sustainably unless you re-frame your thinking. Consider this: you are always on a diet – it's not optional. But we're powerfully conditioned (marketed) to think we can elect a short term solution that will give permanent and lasting results. To lose weight and be at a healthy body mass, you need to actually change your diet, not just temporarily go on one.

I just don't think we can expect the world's problems – and, more importantly, our own – to be effectively addressed if we continue to think and act as we always have. Isn’t insanity defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?

Sound familiar?

It's helpful for me to see the regional issues (they are plentiful) in similar terms: What if we just thought of Southeast MI as a place that needs to sustainably change its diet?

Too simple? Sure.

But perhaps it helps to think this way: rid ourselves of the baggage associated with the terms we usually ascribe to Metro Detroit’s problems, and get down to some long-range thinking on how to make the situation better.

How do we move from a deficit-first, zero-solution & unconstructive-narrative, and start on a path that is asset-based, solution-focused, performance-oriented, results-driven & impatient-with-anything-but-constructive-problem-solving-type-people-and-organizations?

How do we re-engage and reposition our work in a way that makes sense to those involved and yields results for everyone?

I’m lucky: everyday I'm asked to reframe what United Way means to itself and the communities it serves. The analytic process of trying to understand this enormous Infrastructure of Good, its dynamics, and the issues it faces in our neighborhoods, schools and communities is both fascinating and overwhelming. The complexity and nuance can be paralyzing. But the questions are central; thinking about them in a new way, essential; working together to make sustainable change, critical.

I see our community problem solving techniques in these terms: Relationships, incentives, old rules, new world. I believe we must continuously put our thinking and orientation into deep question. Like individuals that wake up January 1st each year and commit to personal change, and institutions like United Way that discern change is required across the nonprofit sector, this region must continue developing techniques that will change its approaches, mindsets and results.

Indeed, perhaps its high time—imperative even—for Metro Detroit to sustainably change its diet.

Reframe.

Problem Solve.

Deliver.

Brad Frost,
Brand Strategist, United Way for Southeastern Michigan
This post is part of an on-going series from MetroMode.