Recently, we talked about the days when she took me door to door to raise money for important causes—including selling Girl Scout Cookies. It made me remember the day she was so excited when I made a donation from my baby-sitting money. I don’t remember anything else I have ever done where she reacted with such overwhelming joy. I had, after all, just acted on what she really wanted me teach me in life. That it is when we give beyond ourselves that we get the most out of life.

When I was in school, we spent hours discussing current events and issues of social justice. Through those conversations, she helped me to think about the world in which I live. She told me stories from when she was in college of helping to open her business sorority to her African American classmates. She took me to lectures on human rights and international affairs. She was the first to teach me the concept that when you reach out a hand to one, you influence the condition of all.

Mothers have a unique capacity to help their children see the world. When the Mary M. Gates Learning Center was launched here at United Way Worldwide; Mary Gates’s children, Bill and Libby, shared a powerful story from their childhood of how their mother would start dinner conversations based on the United Way committee meetings she had attended that day. She would ask them if they had to make the decision regarding what would make the community stronger similar to her committee work—what would they decide?

When I talk with the women of United Way Women’s Leadership Councils, they often tell me about how their mothers have influenced their desire to be involved in their community. We also discuss the importance of setting that same example for all of the children in our lives today.

Women like my mom are the heartbeat of community, and often go without being thanked. So this Mother’s Day—I want to say thank you to my mom and to all the mothers who keep our families, schools and communities running. There is likely a mother in your world that should be appreciated as well. Share your thanks and her story below.

I would like to thank Marianne Fishler who represented United Way Women’s Leadership Councils at the event. Marianne is the former Chair of the Women’s Leadership Council of the United Way of Central Maryland and is the President and Co-founder of Foundry Wealth Advisors, LLC, a Baltimore based wealth advisory firm. Marianne, like so many of you, is committed to our work to make sure that every child has the resources they need to learn to read well.

In her speech, Marianne called Congress to action:

Government is a part of the solution and must prioritize our nation’s educational attainment in its policies and funding allocations. As Congress makes appropriations decisions, it is critical that we make a strong federal investment in high quality literacy instruction that helps our young people receive the supports they need to achieve academic success.

Marianne also emphasized that although government has a role to play, we all must work together if we are going to see successful change in our education systems. It’s up to all of us: parents, teachers, the school systems and the entire community to create improved literacy scores for our children.

If you believe, as Marianne does that:

The time to act is now . . . Together, we can narrow the achievement gap. We can help open the doors to our children’s dreams. Propel them to new heights. Put fresh opportunities within reach. . . First children learn to read, then they read to learn. I believe with all my heart that helping children learn to read better is, quite simply, our moral and economic imperative.

Then take a moment to raise your voice on the issue today. Write an Op-Ed and submit it to your local paper. We started one for you, make it your own and send it on using our easy on-line tool. Get started now.

Thank you for Living United.

What we learned is that even in the age of social media, people feel more isolated than ever. At the same time, when they talk about creating opportunities they don’t mention institutions but instead talk about things they themselves need to do. They want to make a difference and take responsibility for their own lives and their own communities but aren’t sure what they can do that will make a difference.

These findings have many implications for United Way and other organizations trying to create change. We encourage you to download the report and have a discussion with your own colleagues about what the findings mean for you and how you approach your work in communities.

Download the PDF

The next day, Greater Twin Cities United Way arranged for 40 athletes and coaches from Nike’sElite Youth Basketball League to read with second graders at Jackson Magnet School in St. Paul, Minnesota.   Our hope is that our partnership with the league will inspire their student/athletes to be volunteer readers, tutors and mentors for years to come – perhaps even if they have a successful college and professional career. 

Kids look up to athletes, but you don’t have to be one to make a difference in the life of a child. Take a moment now and take the pledge to become a volunteer reader, tutor or mentor.  We need you and our communities need you!  And let us know about other examples of the connection between sports and volunteer engagement. 

• A good job
• Access to high-quality education and healthcare
• Safe, clean neighborhoods where children can play outside

In the United States, opportunities for a good life are increasingly challenging. Mobility in America – the ability for anyone to fulfill their potential and change their economic status with hard work – is grinding to a halt, and recent data demonstrates that many other industrialized countries now have more mobility than the United States.   

During today’s Opportunity Town Hall, Education, Financial Stability and Health experts, as well as United Way leaders from across the globe will explore what pportunity means to people and how communities can work together to create the conditions that promote opportunity for individuals and families at all income levels.

One of our featured partners during today’s Town Hall is Opportunity Nation, a broad-based, cross-partisan coalition of nearly 200 public, private, non-profit, civilian and military organizations.  Its focus is to collectively create and advocate for an agenda that provides better skills, quality jobs and stronger communities to all Americans. 

United Way Worldwide is partnering with Opportunity Nation to promote the Opportunity Index (www.opportunityindex.org), a tool for leaders and community members to use as a guide for measuring and improving opportunity in their area. The Opportunity Index provides a comprehensive approach to measuring access to opportunity in America by including a broad array of indicators that collectively impact a person’s life. The result is a comprehensive measure that provides a snapshot of what opportunity looks like at the state and community level. 

What’s the Opportunity Score in the county where you live?   In the county where you were born?  

To find out, visit www.opportunityindex.org

Last year, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) National Food Drive collected more than 70 million pounds of food in one day for individuals and families in need throughout the United States. This is an incredible accomplishment, and a testament to the dedication and commitment of a strong network working together for a worthy cause. For the nineteenth year, United Way will partner with the NALC National Food Drive scheduled for Saturday, May 12. Join us in “Stamping Out Hunger” by promoting this drive and encouraging your company’s participation and support.

For more information visit: http://www.helpstampouthunger.com/

Student United Way is an important platform from which youth leaders are empowered to stand up for themselves and take charge of their futures.  Collectively, in 2011 Student United Ways volunteered more than 32,000 hours, engaged more than 6,300 volunteers and impacted nearly 63,000 individuals in the process. The volunteer hours alone are valued at over $700,000. Student United Ways hosted community conversations, film screenings and town halls in order to raise awareness and discuss the education problems facing the U.S. They volunteered as readers, tutors and mentors to help improve the academic success for their younger counterparts. They also redefined “fun” by hosting creative fundraising events such as balls and banquets, donut eating competitions, high-heeled races and more. We are thrilled to reveal this year’s recipients during the 125^th anniversary of the United Way movement.

Congratulations to this year’s Student United Way Award Winners:

CAMPUS ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

Student United Way of Montana State University, Billings

STUDENT LEADER OF THE YEAR

Elizabeth Collins

Student United Way of Montana State University Billings

CAMPUS ADVISER OF THE YEAR

Alicia Meyer

Student United Way of Montana State University, Billings

INNOVATION

Student United Way of Pennsylvania State University

SIGNATURE PROGRAM

Student United Way of Arizona State University

LIVE UNITED IN ACTION: GIVE

Student United Way of Florida State University

LIVE UNITED IN ACTION: ADVOCATE

Student United Way of James Madison University

LIVE UNITED IN ACTION: VOLUNTEER

Student United Way of University of California, Riverside

LIVE UNITED IN ACTION: EDUCATION

Student United Way of University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

LIVE UNITED IN ACTION: INCOME

Student United Way of Cornell University

LIVE UNITED IN ACTION: HEALTH

Student United Way of University of Florida

It’s not over yet! In addition to the aforementioned award recipients we have one more prize to give away. Today we launch the social media competition of the Student United Way Awards program. Now it’s your chance to cast a vote and help your favorite Student United Way vie for the coveted People’s Choice award. Cast your vote now: Follow us on facebook.com/studentuw. Click on the Awards 2012 tab and follow the instructions to access the app. Select the Student United Way of your choice. Spread the word and invite others to vote. You can vote once a day until 12:00 PM EST on Monday April 30, 2012.  

As I begin to reflect on the week of learning I’d like to share a few highlights and takeaways that are fresh on my mind…

I had the good fortune of experiencing several poignant presentations including Iran’s first Nobel Laureate and first female Judge Shirin Ebadi. The Nobel Peace Prize 2003 was awarded to Shirin Ebadi for her efforts to promote democracy and human rights, with a special focus on women and children. Ebadi currently resides in exile in the United Kingdom where she continues to fight for human rights in Iran. Despite facing ongoing hurdles and resistance, Ebadi’s life story is one of perseverance, leadership, passion and humility. Her message was that no one in the world has everything they want and so individuals should share what they do have with others, be it knowledge, rights or freedom. Ebadi stated that it is important to empower youth with the right tools so that they feel empowered to change the things they don’t like in a productive manner. From Judge Ebadi’s words of wisdom, I believe more strongly that an investment in youth and education can provide the greatest return on investment to help communities strive for success. This is why United Way is recruiting one million volunteer readers, tutors and mentors to help improve the academic success of students in the United States.

Another powerful speaker, Geoffrey Canada from Harlem Children's Zone, spoke about strong leadership requiring the courage to make tough and often unpopular decisions in order to get the results desired. Canada believes that youth volunteers are leaders of today and tomorrow and that service-learning has a tremendous value to society. Canada also spoke of real heroes that he admires such as Harriet Tubman, a civil rights activist who fought in private and not for the sake of celebrity. This was a great reminder that effective leaders often work tirelessly behind the scenes not for the recognition but in order to advance the causes that they champion.

I also had the pleasure of presenting alongside five amazing panelists on the topic “Discover our Voice: Youth Action and Corporate Philanthropy.” Youth panelists Cooper Kennard (State Farm Youth Advisory Board), Molly Messner (NYLC Board of Directors) and Alexandria Rice (Youthprise Board of Directors) shared how their organizations are searching for systems changes, long term solutions with sustainable impact to address community problems. These three student leaders, in high school and college, serve as a reminder for the outstanding results that can come from authentically engaging youth in our work. Corporate panelists Janice Johnson (Community Engagement Director, UPS Foundation) and Kathy Payne (Senior Director of Education Leadership, State Farm Companies Foundation) shared their advice on the importance of youth engagement, empowerment and education in order to help equip the leaders and workforce of tomorrow. I shared stories about young people across the country making an impact by giving, advocating and volunteering in their communities through Student United Way. Collectively, the panel expressed the importance of engaging youth so that their voice would be heard. Other advice included the desire for more cross-sector partnerships and collaborations to help to stretch limited resources, improve efficiency and enhance community impact.

Last but not least, I’d like to give a shout-out to Greater Twin Cities United Way for showing their commitment to youth empowerment by being a Title Sponsor for The National Service-Learning Conference & Youthrive PeaceJam Leadership Conference for the fifth year in a row.

These are just a few lessons I learned on leadership from a Nobel Laureate and youth leaders of today and tomorrow. Inevitably, when you bring together energetic youth and caring leaders whom advocate for youth empowerment, sparks will fly, ideas will be generated and new partnerships will be formed. If we work together we can succeed.

United Way believes that education, income and health are the building blocks for a good quality of life. We recruit people and organizations around the world who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. We invite you to be a part of the change. You can give, you can advocate and you can volunteer. That’s what it means to LIVE UNITED.

That’s right. For some United Way volunteers, January through mid-April is a time when they know that their volunteering is making a huge difference in the lives of struggling families. These volunteers signed up last fall to be part of the VITA program (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), which helps low-income people receive the tax refunds they are due.

For example, since 2004, volunteers for United Way of Palm Beach County’s VITA Program have helped more than 68,000 households claim more than $108 million in Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and other tax refunds. Research shows that taxpayers receiving refunds through returns processed at VITA sites use their refunds for many purposes such as paying off debt, investing in education or housing, or opening a bank account. This is new money for low-income taxpayers, and for the local economy. Some VITA sites in Palm Beach County – and hundreds of other sites across the country -- offer weeknight and weekend hours, making the service – and the opportunity to volunteer -- more convenient for those who work during the day.

One in four eligible families fails to claim the EITC each year. You don’t have to be a tax expert to help. Contact your local United Way to find out more. Sign up to receive training in the fall. And this time next year, you’ll be celebrating the tax season and the chance to help a deserving family.

In the mid 20th Century, the concept of spaceflight seemed far-fetched to many. Even as the United States announced it would be the first to put a man on the moon, it was unclear how we would do this. The technology didn't exist and while innovation in space exploration was rapidly gaining momentum, the notion of man walking on the moon seemed more for the dreamer than the realist.

But indeed, another great achievement of humankind was reached and a thousand barriers broken. As we reached toward the stars, space innovation spurred a mini renaissance in developing new materials and spurred new inventions. The space program has affected so many aspects of everyday life that we rarely think about.

But it got me thinking. In fact, it inspired me to dream. As a community, we're strongest when everyone has access to the basic building blocks of life: a quality education, financial stability and healthy choices. At United Way, we challenged America to tackle a few of our greatest challenges:

• Cut the dropout rate in half by 2018 and work toward community that affords every child the opportunity to graduate able to read and ready to succeed.
• Cut by half the number of people who are financially unstable and work toward a community that affords all people the opportunity to achieve economic success.
• Increase by 1/3 the number of people who lead healthy lives and work toward a healthy and vibrant community

We may be bold enough to set these goals, and there might even be skeptics today who believe these challenges are insurmountable. But we believe achieving them will take the same collective spirit and determination that drove success in the space program. We won't be successful if the burden of improving the education, income and health of our communities lies solely with school officials, doctors and financial advisers respectively. There's a role for everyone with the energy and passion it takes to make a difference.

Celebrate National Volunteer Week by pledging to become a volunteer reader, tutor or mentor:

You could be the difference between a student deciding to drop out or stick it out. National Volunteer Week is a great time to renew your commitment to the common good. United Way is helping to recruit one million volunteer readers, tutors and mentors to give America's students the boost they need to succeed in school. Take the pledge to become a volunteer reader, tutor or mentor today!

And of course, there’s strength in numbers. About 64.3 million people volunteered through or for an organization at least once between September 2010 and September 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is heartening to know that so many people make time to give back.

Here at United Way Worldwide, promoting volunteering is a core part of our work in the U.S. and around the world. From Day of Action on June 21 in the U.S., to the Worldwide Day of Action on December 5, and throughout the year, United Way mobilizes volunteers to make an impact in education, income and health.

What does that mean? It could mean volunteering to read to or mentor a child, help make sure that people who are struggling get tax refunds they are entitled to, or help kids stay active and eat healthy foods. You can make an impact side by side with others, through social media, and by speaking out about the change we seek.

Whatever you do, we thank you.

Spread the word! @Walmart & @Live_United team up 2 bring u #FREE, safe, secure, #tax filing http://bit.ly/uwfreetaxprep.

United Way of Metropolitan Chicago published this It Gets Better Video in December along with the following blog post by Seth Vermilyea. Click here for the original post.

Seth Vermilyea

I have worked with UWMC since 2005 in various positions. I am currently a project manager in our donor services department and a founder and co-chair of our LGBT employee resource group: United Pride. In my spare time I work with the Greater Chicago Ferret Association maintaining their Facebook group & cause as well as their webpage. (Yup, I said ferret.)

When I think about the holidays I think about family, mountains, the pacific coast and green for miles.  I’m from the beautiful state of Oregon.  For most people in the Midwest that means Portland.  If you’ve seen Portlandia, yes, it’s all true even though it seems satirical and blown out of proportion.  It is also true that the west coast is very pro-diversity.  No matter the studies that the Latino population is “rising up” from California as an undercurrent rumbling or that you may never see an African American until you move to the “big city.”  We don’t talk about those things in great detail.  We also don’t talk about the LGBT community.  In fact, it’s talked about so little that there are two sides to the coin; it’s either a live-and-let-live situation or you could be staring down the barrel of a shotgun.  What you also don’t see are the pockets of small towns that a majority of us grew up in.  Those tiny insulated communities that protect and shelter you from the rest of the world and in turn, shut a lot of it out.

As I was growing up, I found that there are glimpses of hope (the loving people) when you’re from a place that doesn’t seem to accept you, that doesn’t show you role models and exposes you to people that taunt and jeer you.  You have to catch one or more of those glimpses of hope (the loving people), learn from them and pay it forward.  You have to be the loving people for others.

United Way of Metropolitan Chicago (UWMC) has accepted the challenge to be a glimpse of hope.  We created our own It Gets Better video.  Click here to view the extended version. The dedicated people in this video are UWMC employees, volunteers and friends.  Marion, from North Shore United Way, makes a comment in the video that resonates with me:

“Look toward the loving people.”

When you’re able to look toward the loving people all the others will fade into the background.  That’s not to say they go away, they just fade, because love is so much stronger than hate.

If you are in crisis and need assistance or know someone who is, please have them contact the Center on Halsted 773.472.6469 or the Trevor Project 1-866-4-U-TREVOR.

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the second annual “Building a Grad Nation Summit,” the premier event for America’s Promise Alliance’s 10-year campaign to end the high school dropout crisis, in Washington, D.C. The conference halls and break-out rooms were bursting with both intense anxiety about the state of our nation’s education system and excitement about galvanizing a movement dedicated to addressing the dropout crisis.

For those in the education advocacy community, it was a family reunion of sorts. It provided the opportunity to meet, engage and reconnect with those that are steeped in the task of preparing our young people for college and the 21^st century workforce. We shared successful models and approaches, coordinated policy strategies, created valuable connections, and re-fueled for the next leg of the race. 

Top Five Summit Highlights

Want to know what you missed? Here are a few summit highlights:

1. The Summit kicked off with remarks from United Way Worldwide President & CEO Brian Gallagher, who spoke about United Way’s commitment to cut the nation’s dropout rate in half by 2018;
2. Included a panel moderated by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, which highlighted several successful school turnaround models and featured a young person’s inspirational story of educational success;
3. Brought more than 1,000 education stakeholders from 42 states and more than 150 youth leaders to discuss challenges and solutions to ending America’s high school dropout crisis;
4. Featured the release of the latest Building a Grad Nation: Progress and Challenge in Ending the High School Dropout Epidemic report, which revealed that 24 states increased their high school graduation rates by modest to large gains; and
5. Provided an opportunity for about 200 attendees to meet with their Congressional representatives to discuss dropout prevention.

A Call to Action

Among the breakout sessions was a noteworthy discussion of “Hot Topics in Education Policy and Reform.” Speakers and panelists painted a picture of the status of education reform in Congress and how we can make certain all students graduate from high school college and career-ready.

First Focus CEO Bruce Lesley opened with an analysis of discretionary education funding trends and the policy implications for our young people. According to Lesley, funding for children’s programs has declined dramatically over the last few years. Even though children are one-quarter of our population, only 7.5 percent of the budget is dedicated to programs that address the needs of children and youth. He also provided analysis of the recession’s impact on children, noting that child poverty has increased from 17 percent in 2007 to 22 percent in 2010.

Given these dire statistics, Lesley provided an explanation of what’s needed to create policy change. In order to graduate all students, we must:

1. Share knowledge about what works;
2. Build public will around the issue of high school graduation;
3. Develop policies that address the barriers and obstacles; and
4. Take action and create windows of opportunity. 

While getting involved in policy change may seem overwhelming and convoluted, Bruce Lesley provided a call to action for all of us on the national, state and local level to be involved in one of these four entry points that support and boost high school graduation. Together we can ensure a better life for our students – and a better future for our nation. 

For more information on the Grad Nation Campaign, visit: http://www.americaspromise.org/our-work/grad-nation/building-a-grad-nation.aspx. Archived webcasts from the Summit are available at the America’s Promise website.

Interested in joining United Ways work to reduce the high school dropout rate? Send a message to your congressional member in support of policies and programs that boost High School Graduation here.  

One of those big things happened last year, and it’s called the Budget Control Act of 2011.  In an effort to restrain long-term government spending, Congress and the president agreed to empower a special Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (AKA, the “Super Committee”) to find over $1.2T in savings over ten years, or accept an across-the-board cut to the same tune for virtually every defense and domestic discretionary program.

Well, the Super Committee didn’t work out so well. So come January 2013, massive cuts to discretionary spending start to kick into gear.

How Congress navigates the new restrictions they’ve placed upon themselves remains to be seen. But what we do know is that now is the time for you to actively voice support for the programs that have the most impact on the people and communities we serve. As they say in DC, if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.

Members of Congress are making decisions about their priorities now. TAKE ACTION NOW! Simply plug in your information, and send it off to your Members of Congress now! 

 Women have played an important role in United Way’s mission since our founding. In 1887, Frances Wisebart Jacobs, along with a priest, two ministers and a rabbi recognized the need for cooperative action to address their city’s problems.  They created an organization to serve as an agent to collect funds for local charities, as well as to coordinate relief services, counsel and refer clients to cooperating agencies, and make emergency assistance grants in cases which could not be referred. In fact, they created a movement that would spread throughout the country to become the United Way. Now 125 years later, United Way is still focused on mobilizing the caring power of communities and making a difference in people’s lives.  And women are playing a critical role in that work.

 For example, members of United Way of Central Maryland’s Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) are advocates, mentors, fundraisers, donors and volunteers.  More than 2,400 WLC volunteers devote considerable time and expertise in support of United Way's mission.  This year the WLC is launching a volunteer reading program to help meet United Way’s goals in education.  The WLC has sent a “request for support” application to nonprofit organizations and others that offer volunteer reading opportunities with children.  WLC volunteers will identify the strongest reading programs in need of volunteers and then will recruit and match volunteers to agencies based on the volunteers’ and the organizations’ interests and needs.

Women have long volunteered to make their communities, their country and indeed the world a better place.  Here's to the inpired dservice they provide, on International Women's Day and throughout the year!

Her spirit is alive today in the women of United Way Women's Leadership Councils (WLCs) created and led by dynamic women, their proof positive mission is clear "mobilize the power of women to advance the common good." Across the country, members of WLCs are grounded in the idea that the building blocks of a good life — education, income, and health — lift the community as a whole and create a better life for all. 

In addition to local goals, WLCs are working to help ensure every student has the resources necessary to learn to read well by the end of 3rd grade.  Members are outraged that two-thirds of all fourth graders are not proficient in reading, which studies show, make them 4 times more likely to drop-out of high school.  Like Frances would have before us, the WLC are taking action to change this. One strategy that we know works, is connecting a caring adult with a struggling student.

If you also think that it is an outrage that kids today are not learning to read well, there is something you can do — pledge to be a volunteer reader at www.unitedway.org/wlcvolunteer.

Alternative Spring Break programs tend to run a week in duration, allowing students an intense immersion experience in volunteering. Participants gain new skills, make new friends, learn about important community issues and importantly feel a sense of accomplishment by giving back. Alternative Spring Break got the name because it was viewed as the opposite of the more traditional Spring Break opportunity. Today, student’s sign-up for a variety of reasons including a desire to take action on social issues, gain a fun an exciting new experience, build skills for their resumes, and to network with other young leaders.

United Way got involved in Alternative Spring Break’s after hurricanes Rita and Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast area in 2006 and 2007. Young people across America watched the news and reached out to make a difference. Every year since, United Way has continued to work with its corporate, community and nonprofit partners to help create opportunities for student volunteering through Alternative Spring Break, in the Gulf Coast and communities across the nation. Stay tuned for United Way Alternative Spring Break action in the coming weeks as students put down their laptops and text books in order to lend a hand.

Here are some highlights: 

Atlanta, Georgia - Deloitte has a long history of support to United Way through skill-based volunteering, pro bono service, board leadership as well as an award-winning employee giving campaign. Deloitte added to this list in 2008, an innovative partnership with United Way that helps to identify high potential employees and engage college students in volunteering. Starting March 10 to March 16, Fifty-three students will join Deloitte and United Way in the fifth Maximum Impact: Alternative Spring Break. The week-long program will include volunteer projects that aim to impact early childhood education and high school graduation rates. Learn more by reading Deloitte’s press release, by viewing the promotional video or by following the action on Deloitte’s Twitter @DeloitteUS.

Biloxi, Mississippi - United Way National Alternative Spring Break will again be held in Biloxi, MS where students will volunteer on a number of projects to help further the restoration of the Gulf Coast region. 68 young people from 23 states, representing 30 colleges and universities will trade a spring break with tank tops and beaches for tool belts and boots! These students will donate over 4000 hours of volunteer time to the Mississippi Gulf Coast by attending the 2012 National ASB! Participants will arrive here on March 11th and depart on the 17^th. Learn more here. 

Newark, New Jersey and Tucson, Arizona - Students have already begun volunteering in Newark, NJ and Tucson, AZ as they kick off a month of volunteering. Projects focus on advancing education, by helping children with homework, conducting facilities improvements at Boys' & Girls' Clubs and delivering new programming in the areas of arts & crafts, science, and cooking.  Find out more about each program at their respective blogs ASB Newark and ASB Tucson. Students may still register for the end of the month programming at either location by going to the following links: sign-up ASB Newark or sign-up ASB Tucson.

Your Community - It’s not too late to organize an Alternative Spring Break in your community or to volunteer during your time-off. Contact United Way in a community near you to learn about potential volunteer opportunities. Tell us what you have planned for ASB by posting messages and pictures on Twitter @live_united #unitedwayasb

Alternative Spring Break is a program of Student United Way. Learn more about Student United Way by following us on facebook.com/studentuw or visiting liveunited.org/student.

The Joseph A. Beirne Community Services Award is presented each year to one person in the nation who exemplifies the highest standards in service to others. This singular honor this year is presented to a one-of-a-kind community leader, Bill McCarthy. He has been dedicated to organizing, mobilizing, reaching out to community partners and building coalition to change people’s lives.

As President of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, and member of UNITE HERE Local #17, William “Bill” McCarthy has dedicated his life to the pursuit of social and economic justice for workers and their families.  He has supported and worked for programs to reduce poverty, address homelessness and to educate youth – areas of key alignment with United Way’s mission.

Bill’s desire to help others flourished many years ago with his active involvement in the local Hotel and Restaurant Employees union.  For 15 years, he fought to defend the rights of workers in his own membership as well as other labor unions.  Serving since 2002 as the elected President of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation and as a member of the Board of Directors for Greater Twin Cities United Way, Bill has been dedicated to organizing, mobilizing, reaching out to community partners and building coalitions to change people’s lives.  In 2010, Bill initiated a plan to reorganize and re-energize Greater Twin Cities United Way partnership with Organized Labor.  His strategy sought to increase awareness, participation and contributions through engagement of rank and file members, labor leadership and labor management.  He led customized union leadership campaign meetings and helped developed a more integrated work plan to produce greater impact and fundraising results.

In 2006, Bill founded Working Partnerships, Inc., which is dedicated to improving the lives of working families.  Bill’s direction of the Minneapolis United Way AFL-CIO Community Service Liaison Program through Working Partnerships has led to the creation of financial assistance programs that help those in need of critical assistance.  

Under Bill’s leadership, Minneapolis was chosen by the National AFL-CIO as one of five cities in the nation to pilot a project around the needs and aspirations of unemployed workers.  Bill’s vision for the program is for Labor to help the large and growing population of unemployed workers find a collective voice, to provide emergency services, and to create activists who will advocate for good jobs in the Twin Cities community.   Richard Davis, Chairman, President and CEO of U.S. Bancorp, states that Bill exemplifies LIVING UNITED.  Bill has even led efforts to ensure that union members are recognized for their community engagement.  In 2010, the first publication honoring union members who volunteer in the community was produced.

Bill’s leadership and collaborative nature with United Way’s organizational partners and donors have helped make a difference in bringing people together and meeting the needs of residents in the Greater Twin Cities region. 

Bill has been dedicated to organizing, mobilizing, reaching out to community partners and building coalitions to change people ‘s lives …His strategy sought to increase awareness, participation and contributions through engagement of rank and file members, labor leadership and labor management.

Established in 1974, United Way’s Joseph A. Beirne Community Services Award honors the memory of Joseph A. Beirne, the first president of the Communications Workers of America and the first labor representative to serve as president of United Community Funds and Councils of America (now United Way Worldwide). The award recognizes union members for outstanding volunteer service with United Way.

United Way Worldwide has evolved from its roots as a fundraising organization to a critical community convener that mobilizes local partners, including businesses, community leaders, public officials and community residents, to expand opportunities for people to live healthy, quality lives. United Way focuses on three key building blocks: a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and good health. With support from United Way Worldwide, 12 United Ways across the country have formed the United Way network’s first Health Mobilization Group. This peer-learning community will use the County Health Rankings framework to work with the residents, external experts and stakeholders to drive systems change to improve health and health equity in their communities.

 NewPublicHealth will conduct an in-depth series on the work of United Way on the ground to improve health, education and income. The series will include Q&As with thought leaders as well as those advancing initiatives at the community level: the leaders in local United Way organizations and their communities. We kick off this series with a conversation with United Way Worldwide President and CEO, Brian Gallagher, MBA, about the organization’s priorities, key partners and methods for mobilizing communities for social change.

The Interview

NewPublicHealth: United Way focuses on three key issues: education, income and health. Why are these the most critical issues, and how do they work together to impact quality of life?

Brian Gallagher: We actually began by focusing on the idea that we’re in business to advance the common good in communities. When we started asking ourselves how we would do that, we quickly understood that our focus must be on creating opportunities for a better life. We talked to experts in human development and conducted polling across the U.S. to ask ordinary people what they believe they have to have in terms of opportunities for a better life. The answers came back the same—education, financial stability and being healthy and having access to quality care. We consider them the building blocks of life.

We know that young people who are healthy and have good nutrition and physical activity actually do better in school. The facts are pretty compelling. And the opposite is true, too. The more education you achieve, the healthier you are. And again, the more financially stable you are, the better access you have to nutritional food, better lifestyle choices and healthier outcomes. They all work together to create a quality life.

NPH: What is United Way’s strategy for helping more people live healthy lives?

Brian Gallagher: We really focus in a couple of areas. One is improving conditions that support healthy eating, physical activity, and avoiding risky behaviors. The other is access to health care. For instance, we were very involved in helping to get the SCHIP legislation passed in the 111th Congress. Even more important now, if you think of the nearly 1,200 local United Ways across the country, we’re actually an information and content distribution channel. We can connect federal government, corporations and foundations with local communities because we have a unique reach. United Ways cover 95 percent of the country. The outreach efforts around SCHIP eligibility have been key for us following passage of the legislation. It’s not just what we focus on in terms of healthy lifestyles, but it’s actually making the connections between information and programs and services with people, and the policies, systems and environments in communities.

NPH: How does United Way go about mobilizing people and communities across sectors for social change?

Brian Gallagher: The strategy for us is grounded in the idea that if conditions are to change, normative behaviors also have to change. If you think about smoking in public places, for instance, before cities could pass ordinances to ban smoking in public places, there had to be a majority of people who lived in those communities who wanted that change. The mobilization effort is really the idea of how do you get individuals back involved in their communities and in their own life again.

Too often what’s missing is that institutions and systems work independently of each other. Mobilization brings institutions and individuals—businesses, local public sector leaders, local non-profits and other citizen’s groups—together to set collective goals and develop collective strategies. That’s where you see progress.

NPH: What are some interesting examples of the mobilization work?

Brian Gallagher: A good example is in Birmingham, Alabama. A community group there is focused on what city-wide conditions and resources must change to promote healthier lifestyles. Sixty different voluntary organizations came together—public sector, businesses, citizen’s groups—and they’re working on things like promoting bike lanes, vending machine policies in stores and in schools, working with local farmers and faith-based organizations to place community gardens in underserved areas. The content is important, but it’s also the idea of putting different people with seemingly different interests together for a common purpose.

NPH: How do they decide what to focus on? Does it typically come from the people in the community, or the outside experts?

Brian Gallagher: It’s a little of both—but it doesn’t work unless the local community commits to it and believes it. You can come from a national or statewide perspective. What’s important is that you have the data and strategies that have worked in other places to influence what a community might be working on. However, at the end of the day, they have to decide to work on it. If you don’t have local buy-in and local leaders moving toward a common goal, it doesn’t matter how smart you are in Washington.

NPH: Who are the partners United Way considers to be critical?

Brian Gallagher: The first point I would make about the critical nature of partnerships is that it has to be a diverse, comprehensive set of partners. United Way is 125 years old this year. We have a 100-year history of partnering with major corporations and organized labor in America. You need both. Business and labor are critical to us because they both have influence in terms of policy as well as access to information. Local government officials and organizations are also critical because if you’re going to focus on issues like nutrition and vending policies in schools, or smoking policies or physical changes in a city, you’ll need the support of those leaders. You also need content expert partners—academics, foundations, community health advocates and others. We have a national partnership with CDC because we want access to their expertise and we can help put that to work on the ground. Obviously we also need health care, health care systems, hospitals and community clinics. Those are our natural partners in health across the country.

The one thing that is surprising to many people is that we need partnerships with individuals in communities. You can partner with communities in different ways, but most organize themselves in groups—through faith-based organizations, neighborhood organizations and through the use of technology. Increasingly, we’re finding that we have to have partners that are vehicles for getting individuals together because that’s one of the ways to create normative change.

NPH: Why is the business sector so critical as a partner?

Brian Gallagher: Quite honestly, sometimes what people need in terms of opportunity is a job. Maybe the most forward-leaning force in America is the marketplace. Businesses move to opportunity faster than government does and faster than most non-profits do. If you can get businesses involved in an issue like healthy lifestyles and normative change, you take advantage of this huge momentum, which is jobs and job creation in the marketplace. In addition, increasingly businesses that are socially aware want their people involved in this kind of work, so it gives us access to human capital.

As an example, we’re in conversations all the time with folks at PepsiCo. They regularly face challenges in terms of their impact on health in America. I can tell you that the leadership of PepsiCo wants to be a positive contributor. If we can put these different kinds of partners together to say, “how do you create a marketplace for healthy products?” in terms of vending policies and other methods, in a way that someone like PepsiCo can get behind, because it’s both a market opportunity and creates a healthier environment, that’s the win-win we’re looking for.

NPH: Many local United Ways are using the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute that provides a standard way for counties to see where they are doing well and where they are not so they can make changes to improve health. Can you talk about the work that these United Ways are doing to make policies, systems and environmental changes in underlying conditions that affect health?

Brian Gallagher: What’s really important about that is one of the foundational components that have to be in place for system’s level change—you have to have data. In order to get players to the table in local communities, it helps to be able to compare communities to each other. If you can get a consistent set of data so, for example, Cincinnati can look at what Milwaukie’s doing in teen pregnancies, and you can look at the data and clinically proven strategies, you’re much further along in the conversation.

Having the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps levels the playing field. I’ve worked for United Ways in five local communities, and I’ve been in many conversations where supposed experts will essentially make assumptions about data and what strategies work. United Ways are using the Rankings’ comprehensive framework about inter-connected factors that affect health because it is a core, foundational base that gives confidence to this system’s change process.

It’s been, for instance, one of the big missing pieces in the area of education, because there are huge arguments on what actually is the graduation rate because there are differences in measuring it. Until you have an agreed-upon, consistent set of data, you argue about assumptions that no one can prove.

NPH: Can you also tell us about the Health Mobilization Group?

Brian Gallagher: It’s a group of local United Ways that, with the help of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and others, are a learning cohort. It’s everything that I just described in terms of how you create systems change—that’s not the way we grew up institutionally in the United Way network. We grew up as a fundraising organization. We have to learn what it takes to bring these different interests together, and how you create strategies and measure progress together.

We bring together 12 United Ways, including their volunteer and professional leadership, and put them into a learning cohort. We bring in content experts such as the Prevention Institute and mobilization experts such as the Harwood Institute, and we train the local United Ways on how to actually do this work. Then they go back into their communities to share the learning and put it into practice. We find that an 18-month period allows for a much more in-depth method for learning and competency development than what you can get at a conference or individual training exercise. It’s an accelerated, intense development process.

NPH: How is it going so far?

Brian Gallagher: We’re very encouraged by it. We’ve got mobilization groups in health, education and income now. If you look at all the performance metrics that matter to us—showing progress on education or health issues at a community level, revenue generated for the organization, trust levels—we’re making tremendous progress.

Through the partnership, NIKE Basketball will help promote our mission at each of the 12 NIKE EYB events during 2012.  At these events we will help educate players, fans, coaches, scouts and others to see the value of getting involved in their local communities through information booths, on-site branding, workshops, and social media initiatives.  In four of the cities, the two groups will hold co-branded events featuring the NIKE participants to give back to those host cities.

NIKE’s Elite Youth Basketball Director, Merl Code is proud to join United Way in our efforts to create opportunities for volunteers, saying, “We see our events as an opportunity for student-athletes to grow off the court as well by acting as ambassadors in the schools and communities after learning first-hand from their experiences this summer.”

Highlighting the NIKE schedule includes events in Minneapolis during April’s National Volunteer Week (April 20th) and a special initiative as part of the NIKE Skills Academies in Chicago on United Way’s Annual Day of Action (June 21st).

 For more information, please visit the official source of NIKE Elite Youth Basketball at www.NIKEEYB.com.

While the majority of Americans rank children and youth among their top political priorities, a recent study found that these issues have commanded only 2 percent of the presidential debate discussion. Given that children represent a quarter of the country’s population and 100 percent of its future, it is critical that the presidential candidates address how they will improve the health, welfare, financial stability and education of our nation’s children.

Join the #Kids2012 campaign and help us make this presidential election an opportunity for dialogue about America’s future. This initiative is focused on mobilizing individuals and institutions to call on the presidential candidates, debate moderators, and state and local campaigns across America to put children into the spotlight.

Please take a moment to sign our petition asking the media and our presidential candidates to reflect the public will and make children and youth and their families a priority in 2012. With your help, we can get the candidates talking about kids!

To view a brief presentation about Kids2012, click here. (When you get to the presentation, clicking "more" in the bottom right hand corner will allow you to view it in fullscreen mode.)

Help Us Spread the Word about #Kids2012!

Sample Tweets:

#Children, #Youth and #Families should be part of the presidential debates! http://chn.ge/Aq6WxR #kids2012 #kidswin

It’s time for the #candidates to #answer real questions about our #future!

Sign the petition: http://chn.ge/Aq6WxR #kids2012 #kidswin

2% of debate questions for our #1 issue?  Include #children in the debate! http://chn.ge/Aq6WxR #kids2012 #kidswin

Sample Facebook Posts:

Children and youth are my top priority – are they yours? Then take a minute to sign our petition to move children into the spotlight this election season http://chn.ge/Aq6WxR

The next presidential primary debates are coming up in Arizona and we want real answers to our questions about children, youth and families. Help us make sure child and youth issues are part of the debate by signing our petition! http://chn.ge/Aq6WxR

This powerful statement is a call to action as relevant today as it was when The Lorax was published more than forty years ago. Although we don't use those words, here at United Way Worldwide we've issued a call to action to help tackle a serious issue in the U.S. - the unacceptably high rate of high school dropouts. Unless we care a whole awful lot and tackle the root causes of kids not graduating - like young children who never learn to read well or who have no one to mentor them -- nothing is going to get better, it's not.

March 2nd marks the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Could there be a better day to celebrate the joys of childhood reading? And can you think of a better way to celebrate than to read to a child on that day?

Start the celebration early by pledging to become a volunteer reader, tutor or mentor, and on March 2nd  join thousands of others for the National Education Association’s Read Across America. This national reading event takes place each year as a way to remember Dr. Seuss and to bring together kids and teens to celebrate reading in thousands of schools, libraries, and throughout the community. The Lorax is the featured book this year.  In addition to the film adaptation of the book opening on March 2nd, there are plenty of resources available that will help volunteer readers bring the book to life.

On Dr. Seuss’ birthday, or on any day, find a way to read, tutor or mentor a child.  Find a way to care a whole awful lot.  And things will get better, just as they ought. 

Image © Motivational Memo

Given United Way’s long-history of fostering and leading community wide social change movements and in light of this “call” for communities to engage on enhancing opportunities for young people, United Way has launched a series of community conversations around the country.  The conversations will be with community leaders and everyday people to identify ways that their communities can come together to ensure opportunities for a better life for all young people, especially at-risk and disconnected youth.

Because United Way is focused on advancing the common good, these conversations will center on understanding the challenges communities face in creating pathways that connect young people to school and work, and what businesses, government, nonprofits, and people can do to overcome these challenges and make a real difference. They will be part of a larger set of conversations happening in the U.S. and nearly a dozen countries around the world on creating opportunity for a good life for all, the results of which will be shared in a report being released at a global Opportunity Town Hall in Nashville May 3.

Nearly 40 United Ways (listed below) have signed up to host 3-5 community conversations in February and March around creating opportunities for disconnected youth. These United Ways will also share what they learn with cross-sector community leadership and gauge interest in building a coalition to address challenges in helping young people connect to employment, education, and other community opportunities. 

Each United Way participating will be working with local partners to host conversations and to bring leaders together. United Way Worldwide is eager to work with national partners interested in working with us to make connections in the participating communities where appropriate.  Working with our partners is a key step in moving from engaging and aligning the community around an issue to building coalitions, developing strategies and taking action.  If you are interested in learning more about how you can become a partner with United Way Worldwide or one of our local United Ways, please send an email with details to:

communityconversationpartner@unitedway.org and we will make the appropriate connection. 

Throughout the week-long series of meetings Brian talked about the many benefits, to all sectors, of investing in communities and people.  “Attention must be focused on creating both economic and human opportunities,” he said.  “There is no economic success, without long-term, enduring human success.  People must be the priority.”

He suggested that they are also essential to any solution.  “We need to get people back involved in creating community success. It’s the only way to create sustained change at scale.”

Brian is one of the Forum’s few Nonprofit/NGO sector leaders. Additional information on Brian’s sessions as well as the World Economic Forum can be found at www.weforum.org.

Myers grew up poor in Harlem.  His father was illiterate, but his mother read to him.  Kids would tease him when they saw him carrying books home from the library.  He wrote poetry at a young age, and, as he says in his biography, “I wrote well in high school and a teacher (bless her!) recognized this and also knew I was going to drop out. She advised me to keep on writing no matter what happened to me. I didn't know exactly what that meant but, years later … I remembered her words. I began writing at night and eventually began writing about the most difficult period of my own life, the teen years.”  Now Myers is a critically acclaimed author of young adult books.  According to this news story, as ambassador, Myers wants to encourage parents to read to their children when they are very young, and help remove the stigma from teenagers who can’t read well. 

Many factors have led to Myers success, but I was struck by how books and encouragement seemed to have played a central role.  Stories like his renew my resolve to meet our goal of inspiring 1 million people to become volunteer readers, tutors, and mentors.  While we can’t all be noted authors, we can be ambassadors for literacy, and for hope.

More:

New York Times Article