United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Children learn through play

Today, the Detroit Free Press published an article on the importance of play for young children. What I've found is that parents and other adults have one of two reactions: 1) "But of course, let children be children!" or 2) "What? Children need to study, have structure, rules, etc." I submit that play falls in between these two beliefs. What might generally not be known is that play fosters learning. It also promotes confidence and social skills. All of these characteristics are required for children to be successful in school and in life.

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Labels: Annemarie_Harris, Educational_Preparedness, Employee Voices

2-1-1 On the Go! Version 2.0

In the first year of 2-1-1 On the Go! we took the approach of connecting people to services that were already in place. This was a respectable approach, and produced some pretty good outcomes for our homeless clients in regards to them finding jobs and places of their own to live. But as we have moved into year two, we've realized we want and need to do better. Relying on the system in place is one way of doing things, but if the system is broken, then we have a choice; complain about the broken system, or build a new one on top of it.

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Labels: 211onthego, basic needs, Employee Voices, John_Azoni

Rally 'round the flag

I didn't make it to Grant Park in Chicago for Obama's victory celebration last week, but we had a celebration in church on Sunday that felt like the same thing. Our pastor had been challenging us for weeks leading up to the campaign to look at issues from a Biblical perspective and to vote accordingly. She didn't advocate for one candidate over the other, and I imagine that our church, like most of America, was pretty evenly split between the candidates. But five days after the election she was very clear: Obama's victory was a victory for racial healing in our country.

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Labels: Diversity, Michael_Tenbusch

Consensus is the opiate of the people

The dropout epidemic has been defined by John McCain and others as the civil rights issue of our time. Why then, do those of us fighting for that right spend so much time in conferences trying to get consensus on what to do?

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Labels: Educational_Preparedness, High_School_Turnaround, Michael_Tenbusch

She had my heart at that cleaning toilets part

Recently we brought a small bus load of 15 people on an Impact Tour of our work for the Venture Fund. On the 20 minute ride to Cody 9th Grade Academy, I painted a picture of what high-performing, high-poverty high schools look like, and then walked into the school to see how it would compare. It was amazing.

Dr. Gabriela Gui, the school's infectiously enthusiastic leader, greeted us with smiles and a lot of high-octane energy. She explained that she is an immigrant from Romania: "I started out here as a substitute…No that's not right. I started out here cleaning toilets and sleeping in my car. But then I became a substitute, then a teacher, an assistant principal and a principal…I can tell you that the new Cody High School is going to be one of the best high schools in all of Michigan."

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Labels: Educational_Preparedness, High_School_Turnaround, Michael_Tenbusch

Center for Working Families facilitates financial stability

Families in metro Detroit will get a little more support as they strive to build assets in this tough economy thanks to a new partnership between United Way and Detroit LISC.

The Greater Detroit Center for Working Families (CWF) is an innovative partnership between United Way and Detroit LISC to advance community economic development in Southeast Michigan. The two organizations will serve as the intermediary of the CWF and manage it in partnership with the organizations delivering the program's services.

CWF is designed to provide a comprehensive set of services to the working poor that help them learn to save, build assets, and eventually move from negative net worth, or debt, to positive net worth and financial independence. To make this happen, the Centers focus on three components: one-on-one financial coaching to help individuals learn how to manage their debt and begin to save; career coaching to help individuals find the right job or training program to suit their long-term goals; and assisting with finding additional supports such as tax credits and other public benefits that provide additional income.

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Labels: Financial Stability

U of M Dearborn students make a difference

This past weekend, the University of Michigan - Dearborn made a difference in the community. Volunteer Dearborn sponsored service projects in celebration of the 18th annual Make a Difference Day which was held on Saturday, Oct. 25. Service locations were at Gleaners Community Food Bank in Taylor and the City of Detroit - Greening of Detroit.

On Make a Difference Day, national day to help others, more than three million people turned out nation wide to perform thousands of charitable acts for others according to www.usaweekend.com/diffday. This is the nation's largest single day of volunteerism. Volunteers started work at 8 a.m. and work throughout the day.

There were approximately 25 students from UM-D who attended Make a Difference Day. This was the first year for SAO Supervisor, Jon Larson. "It was fun and a worth-while experience," he said.

UM-D partnered with Southeastern United Way for this special day. Students and faculty worked hand-in-hand to assist those who work to assist the less fortunate.

"It's amazing how one morning can really make a difference," said Larson.

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Sunday, November 23, 2008

Children learn through play

Friday, November 21, 2008

2-1-1 On the Go! Version 2.0

Friday, November 14, 2008

Rally 'round the flag

Consensus is the opiate of the people

She had my heart at that cleaning toilets part

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Center for Working Families facilitates financial stability

Thursday, November 06, 2008

U of M Dearborn students make a difference