Weaving a Social Fabric, Part IV: Polishing the Image

The weaving of a social fabric can be a growing experience. I shared 10 strategies for prosperity in the new economy in my third blog. Among the 10 is one focused on “polishing the image” of the city. This is an area that informal leaders can embrace with few barriers.

In essence image improvement is about marketing the strengths of your neighborhood and city while reducing drivers of negative perceptions, such as blight. Of course a challenge is the physical decline of historic urban centers like Detroit, Pontiac and Flint and the contrast with the suburban communities. You might be interested to note that Pontiac has 26 parks but only 3 city employees to take care of their upkeep.

Key assets of our city include the increased demand for urban living options along with diverse financial incentives to promote restoration in those areas. Possible opportunities for polishing the image of those cities is the ability to executive cost-effective and cooperative clean up efforts in neighborhoods around the city; the possible connection between economic development and historic preservation and the ability to promote social responsibility and the inclusion of disadvantaged populations.

In Pontiac we started a garden club 5 years ago with the mission to improve the image of the city throughout the seven districts. The foundation event is an annual garden walk. Around 10 homes are featured with a defined mix in the quality and stage of the garden. Of course we want around 3 or 4 gardens that are wonderfully designed and exhibited. At the same time we have gardens that are only a few years on the journey; perhaps in a smaller space with less costs; and reflecting the ethnic and racial make-up of the community along with home ownership and, at times, rentals.

Over the five year period and due in large part to the strong leadership of Pat Blackburn David over $5,000 is generated for strategic investments by the club directed toward improving the image. The club has adopted some public and private spaces such as the public library, the creative arts center, and a local historic building and its environs. We have approached the mayor with a design for improving the city hall grounds with strategic placed plantings in 2008.

Over the past couple of years the club has created additional opportunities for building the social fabric of Pontiac. Designing festive hats and holiday centerpieces are parallel activities that continue to work for us financially along with growing our civic muscle.

This past summer a strategic location on M-59 was identified to make an image statement about Pontiac. A partnership between the club and a private business/homeowner occurred. His hope was a nicer looking landscape. The club’s desire was to showcase what can be done with a little blood, sweat and tears. Morning glories adorned a lengthy chain fence creating a wonderful site from mid-summer to mid-October. This provided an immediate improvement. Longer-term work includes the planting of a number of trees with plans calling for the development of a neighborhood orchard.

In the future more morning glories will be planted throughout key entrances to Pontiac and in key neighborhood settings. This plant grows rapidly and makes an immediate impact. For the future a signature plant for Pontiac is being developed along the lines of Holland’s tulip festival. Pontiac’s plant of choice will be the Iris.

In another five years this small band of passionate people from an inclusive base with a strong work ethnic reflecting a clear vision will really have a major influence on the image of Pontiac. Again this is about informal leaders coming together to help weave a stronger social fabric. Making people smile is a wonderful dividend. What can you do in your neighborhood to “walk our talk” about improving the region?

Rick David
Vice President, Strategic Relations
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Setting the Table: Weaving a Social Fabric (Part III)

A Look at your Hometown

I would encourage each of you to look a bit deeper at your hometown. Do you truly understand your community’s asset? Make a new years resolution to go to a school board or city council meeting. Can you identify the formal and informal leaders in your neighborhood district? What is the strength of your community developmental district or your block organization?

It is my point of view that as United Way staffers we need to “walk our talk” by translating the theory of community building into each of our own lives. Simply bridging the style of our language of community work with the substance of individual action.

My attention in Pontiac centers on working in little and big ways to reform the cities public institutions to meet the requirements of the new economy and a belief that its manageable size can serve as a model for other historic urban centers in Michigan including Detroit.

Currently I am serving on the steering committee for the first community wide visioning plan since the early 1990’s. MSU and its Land Policy Institute serve as our facilitators in developing an asset-based economic development strategy.

We have been exposed to placemaking as the primary strategy for cities in the new economy along with the concept of smart growth. Target areas are assessed for the intangible characteristics of a place, such as sociability, cleanliness, walk-ability, pride, attractiveness and evidence of volunteerism. These qualities can all be measured. Smart Growth tenets such as walkable neighborhoods are nicely outlined in the website address of www.smartgrowth.org.

The process has uplifted 10 strategies for prosperity in the new economy followed by a prioritization process and action steps. Look at the following strategies and rate your own community against the 10 items below.

• World-Class education
• Connect to the New Economy
• Great place to Invest
• “Destination” downtown
• Create local entrepreneurs
• Polish the image
• Healthy, safe and attractive neighborhoods
• Quality community services
• Leverage public and private partnerships
• High-performance government.

Weaving the social fabric is a recipe of individual involvement, directed at small wins, one neighborhood at a time. Our 100 plus staff members have the ability to influence the quality of life of our service area. Move from an observer to a participant in the civic life of your community.

Rick David,
Vice President Strategic Relations
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Where Do You Rank?

An analysis of surnames, conducted by the Census Bureau using 2000 Census responses¹ and released this past week, reveals that Smith remains the most common surname in the United States. But for the first time, two Hispanic surnames — Garcia and Rodriguez — are among the top 10 most common in the nation, and Martinez nearly edged out Wilson for 10th place.

The number of Hispanics living in the United States grew by 58 percent in the 1990s to nearly 13 percent of the total population, and cracking the list of top 10 names suggests just how pervasively the Latino migration has permeated everyday American culture. Garcia moved to No. 8 in 2000, up from No. 18, and Rodriguez jumped to No. 9 from 22nd place. The number of Hispanic surnames among the top 25 doubled, to 6.

Reinaldo M. Valdes, a board member of the Miami-based Spanish American League Against Discrimination, said the milestone “gives the Hispanic community a standing within the social structure of the country.” “People of Hispanic descent who hardly speak Spanish are more eager to take their Hispanic last names,” he said. “Today, kids identify more with their roots than they did before.”

Demographers pointed to more than one factor in explaining the increase in Hispanic surnames. Generations ago, immigration officials sometimes arbitrarily Anglicized or simplified names when foreigners arrived from Europe. “The movie studios used to demand that their employees have standard Waspy names,” said Justin Kaplan, an historian and co-author of “The Language of Names.” “Now, look at Renée Zellweger,” Mr. Kaplan said.

And because recent Hispanic and Asian immigrants might consider themselves more identifiable by their physical characteristics than Europeans do, they are less likely to change their surnames, though they often choose Anglicized first names for their children.

The latest surname count also signaled the growing number of Asians in America. The surname Lee ranked No. 22, with the number of Lees about equally divided between whites and Asians. Lee is a familiar name in China and Korea and in all its variations is described as the most common surname in the world.

Altogether, the census found six million surnames in the United States, a finding that tells us that we’re a richly diverse culture. Among those, 151,000 were shared by a hundred or more Americans. Four million were held by only one person.

But the fact that about 1 in every 25 Americans is named Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, Jones, Miller or Davis “suggests that there’s a durability in the family of man,” Mr. Kaplan said. A million Americans share each of those seven names. An additional 268 last names are common to 10,000 or more people. Together, those 275 names account for one in four Americans.

As the population of the United States ballooned by more than 30 million in the 1990s, more Murphys and Cohens were counted when the decade ended than when it began.

Smith — which would be even more common if all its variations, like Schmidt and Schmitt, were tallied — is among the names derived from occupations (Miller, which ranks No. 7, is another). Among the most famous early bearers of the name was Capt. John Smith, who helped establish the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown, Va., 400 years ago. As recently as 1950, more Americans were employed as blacksmiths than as psychotherapists.

In 1984, according to the Social Security Administration, nearly 3.4 million Smiths lived in the United States. In 1990, the census counted 2.5 million. By 2000, the Smith population had declined to fewer than 2.4 million. The durability of some of the most common names in American history may also have been perpetuated because slaves either adopted or retained the surnames of their owners. About one in five Smiths are black, as are about one in three Johnsons, Browns, and Joneses and nearly half the people named Williams.

The Census Bureau’s analysis found that some surnames were especially associated with race and ethnicity.

More than 96 percent of Yoders, Kruegers, Muellers, Kochs, Schwartzes, Schmitts and Novaks were white. Nearly 90 percent of the Washingtons were black, as were 75 percent of the Jeffersons, 66 percent of the Bookers, 54 percent of the Banks and 53 percent of the Mosleys.

The following list provides you with the Top 50 surnames. You can find a more complete list by clicking here.

By the way…..your author ranks 1,613 in the list!

Kurt Metzger,
United Way for Southeastern Michigan Research Director

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¹ Compiling the rankings is a cumbersome task, in part because of confidentiality and accuracy issues, according to the Census Bureau, and it is only the second time it has prepared such a list. While the historical record is sketchy, several demographers said it was probably the first time that any non-Anglo name was among the 10 most common in the nation.

Setting the Table: Weaving a Social Fabric (Part II)

Development of a 21st Century Human Service Delivery System

History buffs will recall when the world evolved from WWII into the world of the “Cold War” new institutions were required to win the hearts and minds of Europe. The Marshall Plan, The United Nations, The World Bank and the International Fund were developed to provide leadership as a result of the new challenges from the East -- namely the Soviet Union. Today new institutions are again required in the contest with terrorists and others who attempt to defy the normal protocols of our world. Those new institutions are still on the drawing boards for work in the early 21st century.

Likewise, I believe that the 20th century design of our public and private provider community must be redesigned for a 21st century world. We have accumulated a fragmented system of services; designed from and made for middle class values, that is truly difficult to navigate for consumers and is based on the human service economic interests. Most of all it is perhaps the only industry that seldom listens to our customers yet claims to incorporate the best of the private sector learnings.

The weaving of a new public/private compact to better serve the consumers of service is an example of an opportunity for United Ways leadership in the 21st century.

What would it be like to truly listen and act on the wishes of the consumer of services? What would it be like to truly develop an integrated public/private system of caring? Is system building truly possible? Who is the customer for a community impact United Way? What kind of service delivery platform can we truly afford in a 21st century where the standard of living for the next generation, currently living in Michigan and in the United States, will not match their parents? How can Michigan citizens better recognize that a regional response is the pathway for our collective future?

It is my point of view that the golden age of United Way is before us. That United Way for Southeastern Michigan has the scale and trust to lead our region and the state in answering the above questions and to help shape the required 21st century Human Service delivery system of caring.

Rick David,
Vice President, Strategic Relations
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Setting the Table: Weaving a Social Fabric (Part I)

America at the beginning of the 21st century is pining for a sense of community and civic engagement in both thriving and more distressed cities across our landscape. Successful interventions require an equally designed recipe of targeted physical and social organizational building efforts.

I believe that the clear emphasis on the physical dimensions of community building such as permanent fixtures like Ford Field and the periodic events such as Arts, Beats and Eats in Pontiac or the All Star game; and the needed welcoming of new business centers in downtown Detroit appear to be solutions but in fact have a mirage-like impact in turning around historic urban centers like Detroit and Pontiac.

In many ways this focus on the physical dimension is reflective of the “surge” in Iraq. It temporarily adjusts the playing field -- but only temporarily. For real change to occur in Iraq or in any community an equally strong focus is required on the social organizational efforts -- strengthening of a “community voice” and collective action by individual citizens, one block at a time.

The weaving of the social organizational fabric can be our call to action in capturing United Way’s 21st century mission and vision. It can be the answer to my continual question: “What do we want to be famous for?” It will also require a sea change in our work.

One example of this “sea change” is noted in the Aspen Institute research and in their Voices from the Field.

Non-Profits tend to think they are the community, because their boards are made up of the community people or their staff. But really, as a whole, non-profits are not the community. They may be the keepers of the vision…but their decisions aren’t necessarily the right decisions unless they’re community driven…You need to look at the people who are living there (in the neighborhood) every single day. The systems and the provider levels must get out of the way and let the informal leaders find their own voices or nothing happens in a sustainable way.

To set the table for this discussion, I would call your attention to the writings of William Julius Wilson and his 2006 book, There goes the Neighborhood. This is a great primer in better understanding change and social organization through the research in four Chicago neighborhoods.

Social organization depends, in Wilson’s research, on residents who “collectively supervise community activities, take responsibility for addressing problems, and actively participate in volunteer and formal organizations.”

There are no silver bullets in “weaving this new community mosaic.” It requires a cross-generational effort. An appreciation for the gifts of all people and the willingness to move beyond an observer culture to one of participation. A generation-long view accented with patience, cultural understanding, listening skills, and a strong dose of common sense.

This is indeed a tall order for any community. In future blogs I will share opportunities for United Way along with personal stories illustrating this social journey.

Rick David,
Vice President, Strategic Relations
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

GM Foundation Donates Three Sit-N-Lift Equipped Vans to United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Press Release

MEDIA CONTACTS:

United Way for Southeastern Michigan
Cara I. Belton, 313-226-9484 or 313 520-8454
Laura L. Rodwan, 313-226-9484 or 313-477-2750

General Motors
Geri Lama, 313-665-9973 or cell: 313-580-8469

DETROIT – General Motors Foundation has donated three Sit-N-Lift equipped Chevrolet Uplander vans to United Way for Southeastern Michigan. GM’s exclusive Sit-N-Lift feature provides a fully motorized lift-and-lower passenger seat to help people with limited mobility get in and out of the vehicle with greater ease. This is the fourth year the GM Foundation has donated vehicles to the United Way.

Erin Kreis, Assistant Secretary, GM Foundation, gave the keys to Michael J. Brennan, president and CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan at a ceremony held today at Merollis Chevrolet in Eastpointe, MI. The vans were presented by Brennan to three nonprofit agencies serving individuals in metro Detroit: Brightmoor Community Center, Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, and LA SED Inc., (Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development).

“The ongoing commitment of General Motors and the GM Foundation to helping individuals in southeast Michigan is evident by their generosity in donating these vehicles,” said Brennan. “With the Sit-N-Lift feature, GM provides a greater sense of independence and is making a difference in people’s lives every day.”

The vans will be used by agencies to transport senior citizens and others to doctor’s appointments, recreational activities, childcare, and other necessary daily activities.

“We are just thrilled to receive the new GM Sit and Lift van,” said Mark Lit, Executive Director of Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit. “Like many service agencies, transportation is a major problem, so this donation couldn’t have come at a better time. The Jewish population is aging rapidly -- it is very important that we are able to provide transportation for seniors to and from medical and critical care appointments, as well as events and gathering for socialization purposes,” he added.

GM is the only automotive manufacturer in the United States to offer a fully motorized, rotating lift-and-lower passenger seat to help people stay on the move. Sit-N-Lift provides convenient access to the right-hand second row seating area. Operated by a handheld remote control, the power bucket seat rotates, then extends out of the vehicle and lowers for easy entry and exit.

“These donations further strengthen General Motors’ longstanding partnership with the United Way. GM is committed to improving mobility in the communities we touch,” said Erin Kreis. “This is a great match-up of the United Way’s needs with the capability of GM vehicles.”

The donated vans will also come with three years of complimentary OnStar coverage. Because GM recognizes the special safety concerns of people with limited mobility, the company extends the OnStar safety and security package for every sport van customer who purchases Sit-N-Lift or has a van fitted with eligible aftermarket mobility equipment.

About GM
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 280,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

About The GM Foundation
The GM Foundation was established in 1976 to support the philanthropic interests and business priorities of General Motors Corporation. In 2004, worldwide contributions by GM and the GM Foundation totaled $68 million.

About United Way for Southeastern Michigan
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 Campaign, 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.

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Did My Daughter Go To A Quality Preschool?

I really have no idea. I chose my daughter's preschool, which she attended last year, because of family and friend connections to the school. My sister went to the same preschool 25 years ago (and she turned out OK)! Many moms I know who sent their children there had nothing but positive things to say about the school. The director of the school has been there for 20+ years.


I felt good about the environment and the staff when I took my daughter for a visit. So, that was enough for me. But did that all mean she was in a quality setting that was giving her a strong foundation for school and beyond? According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, elements of quality early childhood education programs include: relationships, curriculum, teaching, assessment of child progress, health, teachers, families, community relationships, physical environment, and leadership and management.

In measuring my daughter's school against this critiera, it stacked up pretty well. She loved the school, her teacher, etc. and is now doing really well in kindergarten (I'll take some credit for that too. OK, so should my husband).

But I wonder, do parents truly know what to look for in making decisions about early childhhood child care and education? The advice and guidance we receive, in my opinion, doesn't directly address quality characteristics. It would be great, in fact, if parents didn't have to think about it at all -- that the school or child care setting could tell you what level of quality they are providing, based on universally accepted and evidence-based standards.

Quality early childhood care and education should be the norm, not the exception.

"Meet Me Half Way"

I have been taking an afternoon each month to learn more about the issue of homelessness in the region. I do this by walking and driving neighborhoods with two of our 211 associates as they link resources to individuals through our 211 on the Go initiative. Every time I go out, I learn. I learn about the steep climb in front of us in this region. I learn about the condition of our neighbors. I learn about someone's story.

The other day we came upon a couple of individuals waiting for the bus not too far from the Eastern Market. One young man from Roseville was interested in learning more about job networks, housing possibilities and transportation. The other individual had made his way--in part-- by making and selling beautiful walking sticks. He sold them for $65. During the conversation with our 211 associate John, the craftsman began to talk about a friend of his who created The Heidelberg Project.

As fate would have it, we turned down a neighborhood street and came upon the project created by Tyree Guyton. When you come upon The Heidelberg Project you see someone telling a story. The street he grew up on has become one of pallets he paints on to tell a very personal story.

Tyree Guyton has exhibits in museums and galleries --- and recently had the New York Times describe his work: "Mr. Guyton is a civic treasure as an artist and as the creative force behind the extraordinary “Heidelberg Project,” a grand communal act of urban reclamation that has, for 20 years, been turning blocks of condemned houses in a black neighborhood into giant sculptural assemblages incorporating cast-off materials and found objects."

There has been much written and debated about The Heidelberg Project. I was curious what the story is behind the artist. Here is what I found:

"I strive to be a part of the solution. I see and understand how order is needed in the world and in our individual lives. My experiences have granted me knowledge of how to create art and how to see beauty in everything that exists."

"My work talks about what I see but it helps others to see what they see. My job is to help people to see. What they take away from my work is their own personal testimony. "

"I like to take that which is dead (cast aside, thrown away) and put life back in it by adding colors and shapes and making it speak back to the world."

The Heidelberg Project over the past 20 year's has gone onto be recognized as one of the most influential art environments in the world. One person telling his story.

The point is, everyone has a story to tell. Tyree Guyton tells his in a dramatic fashion on some streets on the East Side of Detroit.

Yet for many in our community, his or her story is just invisible. No one hears it, sees it or visits it.

Part of our work at United Way is to put a light on many invisible stories in our community. And each day, we work to create pathways of understanding and avenues to help. Mr. Guyton suggests in his art (see above) to "meet me half way." To me, that isn't a bad way to approach our day --- striving to meet each other half way.

To learn more, go to uwsem.org.

Thanks for reading. Pass it on.

2007 United Way Campaign Raises Millions, Momentum Continues

Press Release

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Cara I. Belton, 313-226-9484 or 313 520-8454
Laura L. Rodwan, 313-226-9484 or 313 477-2750

COMMUNITY UNITES TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT IMPACT LIVES

DETROIT - United Way for Southeastern Michigan reported that it has raised $58 million during their 2007 Campaign. The announcement was made by 2007 Campaign chairperson, Troy A. Clarke, president of GM North America and GM group vice president, before a gathering of more than 300 volunteers and contributors representing labor, nonprofits, individuals and workplace campaigns.

“We are proud to celebrate this remarkable accomplishment,” said Clarke. “The millions of dollars raised during this Campaign make it possible for United Way to bring about long-lasting, positive change in our community; and that commitment continues. In an unprecedented show of support, several companies have come forward and asked United Way to leave the door open for them to continue running campaigns already in progress,” he added.

United Way CEO and President Mike Brennan added, “We are going to continue to seek $59 million. I am encouraged by the fact that even in this challenging economic climate, people still want to contribute to United Way. Our response to that resolve is: We will never quit; the work before us is just too important to the future of this region. United Way and our partner agencies remain committed to working against our Agenda for Change, and providing the best programs that are able to deliver the most impact in our communities.”

Clarke noted the highlights of the 2007 Campaign, including United Way’s broadening the base of support, which extends beyond the manufacturing industry. As Campaign chair, he had the pleasure of welcoming AT&T as the newest member of the “million-dollar club.” In 2007, AT&T’s employee campaign and corporate gift totaled $1,015,000. Clarke offered a special thank you to financial services companies that stepped up their support during the 2007 Campaign. Five firms—Deloitte & Touche, Ernst & Young, KPMG, Plante & Moran and PricewaterhouseCoopers—increased their combined giving 13% over last year to over $1.1 million.

Another company that received special recognition was Dura Automotive. A long-time Campaign participant, Dura Automotive dropped out last year due to bankruptcy. Having now emerged from bankruptcy, the company renewed its participation in the United Way Campaign, contributing a total of $33,600 toward this year's goal.

“The opportunity to serve as Chair of the United Way 2007 Campaign has been a rewarding experience for me,“ said Clarke. “Despite the economic challenges that we are facing—as individuals, families and throughout the business industry—I was constantly uplifted by the giving spirit that exists in this community,” he added.

The event highlighted the work of volunteers and contributors and included reports from Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corp., organized labor, the Combined Federal Campaign, Leadership Giving and Major and Midsized accounts.

“In all of my time with United Ways across the nation, this has been the most challenging climate to run a campaign,” said Brennan. “With that in mind, we owe an incredible debt of gratitude to the generous commitment of thousands of volunteers, the Campaign Cabinet, and of course, the staunch leadership of Troy Clarke. Troy cheerfully dedicated his expertise, commitment and resolve for the benefit of the people of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.”

Other highlights featured at the event included:

• 96 companies ran a Torch Drive campaign or gave a corporate gift for the first time.
• Leadership Giving Initiatives, like the Virgil H. Carr Society and the Women’s Initiative, foster philanthropic participation, encouraging new and increased leadership gifts of $1,000 and above. Currently, Leadership Gifts make up 25 percent of the overall Campaign total.
• The Tocqueville Society’s Automotive Matching Gift Program maximizes new leadership gifts by providing a dollar-for-dollar match for new or increased Tocqueville Society gifts of $10,000. There are currently 300 Tocqueville Society members.
• Leadership Next, a new initiative to engage the next generation of leaders, began in June. This dynamic group of individuals is committed to increasing financial security and educational preparedness in our region.

Elizabeth Bunn, secretary/treasurer, International Union, UAW, expressed her gratitude to the men and women of organized labor. “Members of organized labor are so proud to work with United Way and its member agencies to assist those in need,” said Bunn. “We’ve been a part of the United Way family for more than 60 years, and truly value our long-standing relationship.”

Clarke passed the torch to the 2008 Campaign Chair, Dave Hunke, CEO of Detroit Media Partnership.

Contributions for the 2007 United Way Campaign will still be accepted at www.unitedwaysem.org or by calling the United Way 2.1.1 or 1.800.552.1183. Campaign contributions help support hundreds of programs and services at more than 130 partner agencies throughout the tri-county area.

United Way’s Victory Celebration was made possible in part through contributions provided by United Way’s Meeting Sponsorship Pool.

United Way’s 2007 Campaign Results, Nov. 15

MILLION DOLLAR CAMPAIGNS

Chrysler LLC total contributions: $7,526,611 (includes contributions from hourly and
salaried employees and DaimlerChrysler Corporate Fund) This figure does not include an additional $330,600 contributed to New Detroit.

Chair: Thomas W. LaSorda, vice chairman and president, Chrysler LLC and co-chairs Frank Ewasyshyn, executive vice president, Manufacturing, and General Holiefield, vice president, UAW Chrysler Department.

Chrysler LLC Corporate Fund: $1,778,541 (already included in the total above)

Ford Motor Company total contributions: $9,282,687 (includes contributions from Ford’s hourly and salaried employees, and Ford Fund.) This figure does not include an additional $380,000 contributed to New Detroit.

Co-chair: Cisco Codina, group vice president, Ford Motor Company; and Mark Fields, president of the Americas

Ford Fund: $ 2,000,000 (already included in above total)

General Motors Corporation total contributions: $7,090,652 (includes contributions from GM’s hourly and management employees. This figure does not include an additional $350,000 contributed to New Detroit.

Chair: Jill Lajdziak, general manager, Saturn Division, General Motors Corp.
The General Motors Foundation: $1,272,250 (already included in the above total)

Other million-dollar campaigns include:

AT&T total contributions: $1,015,000
Total includes AT&T’s corporate gift, as well as contributions from local area employees.

Comerica Incorporated total contributions: $2,267,016
Total includes Comerica’s corporate gift, as well as contributions from local area employees.

DTE Energy total contributions: $1,578,941
Total includes contributions from DTE Energy hourly and management employees, as well as the corporate gift, which is a 50 percent match of the employee giving.

Lear Corporation total contributions: $1,112,175
This includes $808,175 in contributions from Lear Corporation’s hourly and management employees and retirees. The Lear campaign has raised over $1 million for eight consecutive years.

CAMPAIGN SUMMARY

AUTOMOTIVE UNIT: Total contributions raised: $23,899,950
Chair, Troy A.Clarke, president GM North America and Group Vice President, General Motors Corp.

MAJOR ACCOUNT UNITS: Total contributions raised: $21,818,816
Includes industrial, commercial and service accounts.
Vice Chair: Tim Manganello, chairman & CEO, BorgWarner

Industrial Accounts: $6,000,798; chair, Tony K. Brown, group vice president, Global Purchasing, Ford Motor Co.

Commercial Accounts: $5,356,848; chair, Thomas Ogden, president, Michigan Markets, Comerica Bank

Service Accounts: $6,510,186; chair, Marietta Davis, general manager, The Heartland District, Microsoft Corp.

Professions Accounts: $3,950,984; chair, Steve A. Roach, practice group leader, Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone PLC

NEW & EXPANDING MARKETS: Total contributions raised: $4,939,018
Vice chair: Greg Kosch, regional president of Florida Markets, Fifth Third Bank
Industrial Unit (Ford): $715,122; chair, Andrew Hinkly, executive director of Americas, Ford Motor Co.

Industrial Unit (Lear): $513,134; chair, Joe Sefcik, vice president, Global Purchasing, Lear Corporation:

Commercial Unit: $515,862; chair, Rebecca Smith, president, Eastern Michigan Region, Huntington Bank

Service Unit: $776,095; chair, Jennifer Shroeger, vice president, Metro Detroit District, UPS
Nonprofit Unit: $809,991; co-chairs, Richard Williamson, executive director, Boy Scouts of America, Detroit Area Council; and Cheryl Johnson, CEO, Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS)

Government & Schools Unit: $804,925; co-chairs, John King, consultant, Detroit Workforce Development Department, A Michigan Works! Project; Dwight Dean, regional director, U.S. Department of Commerce – Bureau of Census; David Girodat, president & CEO, Fifth Third Bank-Eastern Michigan Division; Paul Irwin, senior commercial executive, Fifth Third Bank-Eastern Michigan Division.

New Business: $118,306

Direct Mail/Telemarketing: $685,583; chair, Greg Kosch

COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN: Total contributions raised: $3,391,743
Includes all federal campaigns, military, civilian and postal campaigns.
Chair: Michael Wheeler, director, Medical Center Veterans Affairs and co-chair Nancy Rettinhouse, district manager, U.S. Postal Service, Detroit District Administration.

LEADERSHIP GIVING AND FOUNDATIONS: Total contributions raised: $1,947,353
Includes contributions from Tocqueville Leadership Giving members who contribute $10,000 and above, company retirees, local foundations and individuals giving outside the traditional workplace campaign. Chair: Tom Dekar, vice chairman and regional managing partner, Deloitte & Touche

NEW DETROIT FUND: Total contributions raised: $1,909,450
This campaign raises funds for operating costs for New Detroit Inc. whose areas of focus are youth development, economic equity, and racial justice and cultural collaboration. Chair: John Rakolta Jr., chairman and CEO, Walbridge Aldinger

SPECIAL INITIATIVES: Total contributions raised: $100,000
This includes fundraising efforts for United Way 2-1-1; chair, James Vandenberghe, vice chairman, Lear Corp.

Total raised in the 2007 Torch Drive Campaign as of Nov. 15: $58,006,330

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 Campaign 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.

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The Goo Goo Dolls take center stage for United Way on Thanksgiving

United Way/NFL Thanksgiving Day Halftime Show • Ford Field, Detroit • November 22 at 12:30 p.m. (ET) on FOX

NFL football on Thanksgiving Day is one of the most treasured traditions of the holiday season and United Way's halftime show with the NFL has become a welcomed addition.

This year, the NFL and United Way are teaming with the Goo Goo Dolls who will perform Top 10 hits “Better Days” and “Stay With You” from their recently released new album The Goo Goo Dolls Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 – The Singles, from Warner Bros. Records.

The performance will be the highlight of the halftime show, which focuses on the United Way and NFL’s commitment to youth health and fitness. In this show, United Way hopes to inspire millions of NFL fans to get involved in helping to reverse the growing epidemic of childhood obesity and encourage young fans to “Play 60” by getting 60 minutes of activity each day. Approximately 300 kids will join the Goos on field to help deliver a message about the importance of physical activity.

In recent months, The Goo Goo Dolls, who have had 14 successive Top 10 Hits, set the all-time record for the artist with the most Top 10 hits in Hot AC Radio ever with fourteen. The Goo Goo Dolls Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 – The Singles will include the band’s three Number One smashes — “Name,” “Iris,” and “Slide,” — as well as the Top 10’s “Black Balloon,” “Dizzy,” “Broadway,” “Here is Gone,” “Big Machine,” “Sympathy,” “Better Days,” “Stay With You,” and “Let Love In,” the title track from The Goo Goo Dolls most recent album, which has been certified gold.

The group hails from Buffalo, where they are opening a non-profit recording studio, a place for local up-and-coming artists to hone their skills. The group also works closely with USA Harvest to distribute meals to needy residents in each city where they perform. To date, the Goo Goo Dolls and their fans have collected and distributed over two million meals.

The NFL most recently worked with The Goo Goo Dolls in September 2006 when the band helped the New Orleans Saints reopen the Louisiana Superdome. The band performed just prior to the gates opening.

Previous performers at the Thanksgiving Day Halftime Show have included Mariah Carey, Bon Jovi, Mary J. Blige, John Mellencamp, Enrique Iglesias and John Fogerty. It takes hundreds of people from throughout southeastern Michigan volunteering their time and talents to deliver the 10-minute show, which is produced annually by sports/entertainment company e2k.

Becoming the Next Greatest Generation

We call upon those who have lived on this earth

Our ancestors, and our friends, who dreamed the best for future generations

And upon whose lives our lives are built

And with thanksgiving, we call upon them to

Teach us and show us the way

Every Tuesday morning our Great Lakes Green Initiative group begins our meeting with a Chinook Blessing, taken from the book Earth Prayers. In the passage above, we acknowledge our debt to those who have gone before us. The baby boomers were raised by a generation who eventually became known as 'The Greatest Generation', cited for their courage during such difficult times as the Great Depression and World War II. I am a baby boomer, and although we have had our sets of challenges, I wonder about the legacy we are leaving our children.

We have, many of us, achieved material success and have accomplished much in the workplace. We are richer and more educated than any generation in the history of the United States. The world our children will inherit, however, is a great source of concern, with a growing divide between the rich and the poor, burgeoning population growth, increasing scarcity of natural resources, and a world seemingly connected but sadly lacking in mutual understanding. Now, as many of us are retiring, is an opportunity to use our acquired knowledge, skills and wisdom to hand down to our children a better world than the one they are currently living in. The way I see it, we have a choice: We can pursue the traditional retirement plan, move to gated communities and play golf, or perhaps we can give some thought to what we might contribute, given the extraordinary richness of our backgrounds.

So I am calling out to all of you boomers to consider what you want do with the final third of your life. We have had unprecedented freedom in choosing our paths so far, and there is no reason we cannot do the same now. As I said in a previous post, we are all unique, talented individuals, and if we miss this opportunity, the world - our children's world - will be all the poorer for it.

I'm thinking now about what the history books will say about my generation. What great contribution did we make? How did we change the course of history for the better? How did we help those in need? How did we help heal the earth? Will our children be proud to have been raised by such a courageous, committed group of people? Right now I'm not sure about the answers to these questions, but we still have the opportunity to write ourselves a legacy.

There are a million and one ways to make a difference, and I can guess most of you are already contributing in your own unique way. If you are not sure how your skills can be best used in our community, however, I'll suggest one simple thing to consider today: Call 2-1-1, United Way's community help line, and talk with someone about volunteering in an area of interest to you. I can attest to the fact that volunteering with this organization can make a difference in your life. Perhaps we will, finally, be remembered as "..ancestors…who dreamed the best for future generations."

Civic Engagement 2.0

I think most of us want to engage with our communities but have lives that already seem overly full. If we could fit a community-volunteering activity seamlessly into our lives, we would probably do so right away. If you feel I'm speaking to you, read on.

My message for you today: I'd like you to challenge the notion of what civic engagement is all about. I have participated in the traditional forms of civic engagement for decades now, and continue to do so gladly. I have volunteered at school, at church, in my neighborhood, and am currently working with small groups at United Way to address Web 2.0 technologies and early childhood literacy. All wonderful stuff.

But there is something else I'm doing that I'll call Civic Engagement 2.0. I'll call this a form of societal volunteering by example. It takes almost no effort, no time, and I think it might have quite a powerful impact on my community over time. This might be something for you all to consider who have over scheduled lives.

First, though, a little background: When my husband retired a few years ago, we decided to follow our passion and work in the area of environmental sustainability. We formed a community called Great Lakes Green Initiative in 2005, and have worked, in weekly and monthly meetings, at understanding our impact on the environment and subsequently making changes to our lifestyle. Some of our changes have been big, such as installing a geothermal heating/cooling system, but most have been small, such as changing light bulbs in our home to compact fluorescents. My C.E. 2.0 story has to do with a very small change - a bag.

I had learned a couple of years ago how to shop at the grocery store with reusable bags, but was still bringing bags home from other shopping places, such as the mall. No big deal, but we have learned in our work that even the smallest changes can make an impact - why use resources unnecessarily? So I found a nice reusable bag and started taking it to the mall with me. I was surprised at the reaction I got. Everywhere I went, salesclerks asked me about it, as did others in line with me. I didn't feel the need to educate people on the waste of paper and plastic bags, and when they inquired, 'Saving the earth, huh?' I just said, 'Yep.'

Well, that's the story. Not too dramatic, and that's the point. I'll never know if I have inspired anyone else to change to reusable bags, but I'm betting that I have planted a seed. And we all know how powerful those planted seeds can be. So I would ask you expand your notion of what it means to be civically engaged, and understand that we can be a force for change by our smallest actions.

Civic Engagement: It Will Change Your Community

In my last post I spoke to the truth that engaging in your community can change who you are forever. Of course, there is a flip side: it will also change your community forever. We live in the United States, a country founded on the principles of freedom and independence. This is wonderful and necessary, yet there is a downside to this way of life. Independence without tapping into our communities can lead to quite a narrow life. We can live in our small worlds, isolated in our ever-expanding homes, sliding into the garage at night, and never experience the larger world around us. This type of existence can work, but it has a shallow feel.

The truth is, an important component of a great social experiment such as the United States is the fact that a knowledgeable, committed populace is essential to making it work. We are free to reap the benefits of individual hard work, but we work within communities, and if our communities are not alive and healthy, it will eventually affect our own individual plans.

So with our freedoms come responsibilities. If there is a need in the community, someone steps forward to fill it. In a healthy community, people look out for each other and offer what skills they have. When my husband was working out of town for many years, I was grateful to all of the parents who coached my kids in sports. I was able to use my background in education to volunteer in our school libraries and reading programs. And when my husband retired, we were able to coach our Engineering Club's robotics team.

One of my daughter's high school teachers said it well when, in his syllabus, he addressed the issue of participation: If you attend class but choose not to participate, we are all the poorer for it. You are a unique individual - no one is like you or thinks like you - and your contribution is not only welcome but essential. We are all responsible for fashioning the society we want - our contribution is essential.

Civic Engagement: It Will Change You

I've been asked to write a few posts this week about the importance of civic engagement. I agreed without too much hesitation because, having turned 53 this summer, I feel like I probably have enough life experience to say something on the subject that just might resonate with others. In any case, I appreciate the opportunity to share a few ideas that have grown in meaning for me over the years.

The idea for today: engaging with your community can change who you are forever. I know this to be true because it has certainly happened to me. Believe it or not, I was forever changed by my very first experience with community volunteering. I happened to attend Marian High School in Birmingham, and in 1968, when I was a freshman, I joined the Future Teacher's Club. Membership in the club required that every Saturday morning we all meet in Marian's parking lot, hop in a van and make our way down to Detroit to tutor children at one of the elementary schools.

I don't remember the name of the school or where it was, nor any of the kids, nor the specific subjects I tutored, but I can't forget the feel of the school. I remember that the school was worn and tired looking. I remember the halls were dark. I remember the desks were in poor condition, and that we had to share old copies of dated books for tutoring. I also remember that the kids who came were fed breakfast. I thought about the breakfast that I had had that morning in my brightly lit kitchen, the clean, comfortable school I attended, the expensive language labs, the gleaming gym floor.

I'd like to say that I immediately became an advocate for equality in education, but I didn't. I registered what I saw - that is all. One day, however, many years later, while taking child development classes for my Speech Pathology degree at Central Michigan University, a thought struck me that has passed through my mind on a regular basis since: Those kids didn't have a chance to compete with me. I began to understand quite clearly that it was no accident that I was at a university getting a higher education, while others were not. I had the privilege of a comfortable home, plenty of food, an excellent school and the companionship of others who were just like me. When thinking about the kids I had tutored, I could not imagine that many of them would end up in my college classes with me. How, I thought, would they have done on their college entrance exams, given the lack of rigor in their academic curriculums and other poverty-related challenges? This, I thought, didn't seem fair.

Once this understanding really set in, I discovered I was changed. My political leanings began shifting left. Discussions of affirmative action engaged me. I'd also like to think that I became more compassionate in my work, both paid and volunteer. This experience set me on a course to observe other cases of societal inequality - you might say it opened my eyes - and I haven't been the same since.

Help United Way connect youth to quality educational resources

Preparing every child across the region to succeed in school and beyond is a priority at United Way for Southeastern Michigan, and using technology, we hope to connect more young people to quality educational resources. The reality is that every child who fails to enter kindergarten ready to learn or is not able to keep pace early on in school is more likely to dropout, or fail to reach his or her potential. But together, we can set these youths up for success.

United Way is raising funds to buy low-cost computers through the One Laptop Per Child initiative. For every $400 raised, one computer will go to a child in southeast Michigan and a second computer will go to a child in a developing country.

Help us help them by making a contribution today. This is your chance to change a life.

Contribute by November 12th!
Visit www.uwsem.org/leadershipnext or United Way for Southeastern Michigan's Facebook Cause page to donate online today.

Learn More
Learn more about the One Laptop Per Child program by visiting www.laptop.org.

Hotline to aid food donation program

Source: Crain's Detroit
Date: 5:17 pm, November 6, 2007
By: Sherri Begin

Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan hopes to bring in additional food donations through calls to United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s 2-1-1 emergency help hotline.

Offers of food donations made to the hotline will be referred to Gleaners.

The Detroit-based food bank will then coordinate a pickup, tapping the agencies and pantries it provides with food for assistance in the effort.

In a release, United Way said that requests for emergency food assistance was the number one reason for calls in Wayne County for the second month in a row last month.

Those same requests rose from second to number one in Macomb County, but dropped to third-place in Oakland County.

Late last month, Gleaners launched a campaign to raise $1 million by Thanksgiving to help meet rising demand.

During the first nine months of this year, Gleaners said its distribution increased by 2.2 million pounds or 12.7 percent compared with the same period of 2006.

At the same time, national food donations from food manufacturers dropped a record 35 percent for the year to date, the food bank said.

Gleaners supplies food to 400 soup kitchens, shelters, churches and pantries.