Meeting Local needs

Human trafficking is the act of compelling someone to work or engage in commercial sex, for little or no pay, through force, fraud or coercion. It happens throughout the world — and in all 50 states and territories of the U.S. More than 40 million people are affected by it globally. The United Way Center to Combat Human Trafficking is bringing anti-trafficking projects to scale by energizing, coordinating and mobilizing the global United Way network and the many organizations working on the frontlines. We believe a strategy that unites all stakeholders and centers survivors is the most effective approach to combating trafficking. #LiveUnited #humantrafficking #endhumantrafficking #stophumantrafficking #humantraffickingawareness

A single mom, Marcia owns an HR business that places workers, such as nannies and caregivers, in people’s homes. For the past few summers, she’s supplemented her income by working in television production. But as the pandemic spread, Marcia couldn’t find clients or supplemental work.

Cornell came to the Urban League of Louisiana’s Office of Workforce Development, joining its Career Pathways Program as a step to change his life. “This is my second chance,” Cornell said. “My goal is to make this opportunity work for me and my family.” United Way of Southeast Louisiana in New Orleans believes every person deserves the chance to live their best life; that's why United Way supports the job training program.

Necessity is the mother of invention, so when local school districts shuttered their facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, United Way of Abilene reimagined solutions for the community. That included a plan for easing the child care burden faced by essential workers shouldering the brunt of the public health crisis.

By now, we know: masks matter, especially in schools. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cloth masks in schools can help slow the spread of the coronavirus, along with other mitigation strategies like hand-washing, social distancing, and regular cleansing and disinfecting of frequently-touched surfaces in schools and buses.

In Colombia, only 44% of children graduate grade school. That undermines their success in work and life. That's why United Way Colombia has worked to support learning for children, parents and teachers, starting in the early school years.