LIVE UNITED Y’All!

Mary Ann Steutermann

Growing up, I was lucky to have parents and other family members interested in how I was doing in school and very supportive of my progress. Mom would give me snack when I got home from school, tell me to turn off the TV so I could get my homework done, and would check on how I did when I said I was finished. Dad was a big help with geometry and science by helping me come up with ideas for the science fair or making me practice geometric proofs even when I didn’t want to. I also had a special aunt that I go could to for support when I had personal problems that I didn’t want to talk to my parents about. Unfortunately though, not every kid has that kind of support or the parental support provided isn’t enough to meet the academic and personal challenges the kid faces. Often, something more is needed.

Youth mentoring has proven to be one of the most effective ways of improving both self-esteem and academic success for young people. But mentoring isn’t a one-size-fits-all endeavor. In fact, there are about as many different types of mentor relationships as there are caring adults out there willing to work with kids. A mentor can help with homework, shoot hoops or play baseball, take a young person to the theater, or engage in any number of activities that can help boost self-esteem and confidence.

Making a Difference

Most importantly, mentoring is effective. Students who meet regularly with a caring adult mentor are 52% less likely than other students to skip a day of school and 37% less likely to skip a class during the school day. Likewise, young people in mentor relationships are 46% less likely to start using illegal drugs and 27% less likely to begin drinking alcohol (National Mentoring Partnership – www.mentoring.org). Even more striking is the fact that minority youth are an amazing 70% less likely to begin drug use than those not in mentor relationships (Child Trends Research Brief).

Short-term gains from mentoring relationships include an improvement in the young person’s attitude about school; improved behavior at school; better relationships with parents, teachers, and peers; higher college enrollment and greater aspirations beyond high school; and improved decision-making, communication, social and relationship skills.

But the young people aren’t the only ones who benefit. Mentors report a greater satisfaction in their connection to the community and an increased sense of pride in making a positive contribution to the lives of at-risk youth. They also benefit from opportunities to develop new communication skills and further enhance their own strengths (www.nwrel.org/mentoring; Cori Brewster & Jennifer Fager, Sept. 1998).

Baby Steps

The great thing about being a mentor is that you can do it any way you like. Mentors can work through programs like Big Brothers, Big Sisters or countless agencies that pair caring adults with kids in need of a helping hand. But what if you don’t have time for that kind of commitment? No problem! You can still make a contribution. Consider asking kids in your neighborhood or you friends’ children how they are doing in school. Ask about their interests, what they are learning, and what they want to be when they grow up. Encourage them to stay in school and to go to college. If you can be a mentor through a more formal relationship, super. But if not, just showing some concern for the kids you encounter is a way to make “mentoring” part of the culture in the Metro area and to show kids that plenty of adults out there want them to be successful and are willing to help.

Education, General, Volunteering Children, Education, making a difference, mentoring, Metro United Way, reading, Volunteer, youth

One of my favorite tunes of all times is the Supertramp song that was re-made several years ago by the Goo Goo Dolls - “Give a Little Bit.”  Yeah, I guess I am showing my age here – the original goes back to 1977, but the lyrics are still relevant.  If everyone were focused on giving a little bit of their time, their voice, and their money to help others, I am convinced that many of the challenges we face would be greatly reduced.

I’ll always remember a three day weekend I spent in San Francisco back in 2004 with my buddy Ernie.  We flew to the West Coast to participate in a leadership development workshop and intentionally arrived early to soak in the beauty of the area and spend some time with the local people.

We headed to one of my favorite districts, Haight Ashbury, so we could walk in the footsteps of so many talented musicians of the sixties.  After we grabbed some ice cream and took a seat on a less-crowded street corner bench, we noticed a gray haired gentleman with very few teeth strumming some classic rock tunes on his guitar and belting out the lyrics with an amazingly clear and captivating voice.   We walked over to get a closer look, made eye contact, and smiled.  Between songs we chatted with him.

John shared his name and a little bit of his life with us.  He was homeless, living in a tent in Golden Gate Park.  He was hungry and was playing for money to buy some food.  He was trying to take care of his daughter who had recently moved to his campsite.  Baked beans helped fill their bellies.

We asked him if we could sing a little bit with him.  Ernie is a talented musician with a good voice.   I have absolutely NO musical talent (ask UPS employees) but still try, nonetheless.  Together, we must have sounded okay because a small crowd soon gathered, voiced their approval, and gave a little bit of their money.

After about five songs, John smiled at us, thanked us for joining him, and said he was going to head back to his camp.  He said his daughter’s stomach had been hurting from lack of food, and he said he had collected more money playing that short time with us than he had made in quite awhile.  He thanked us for spending a little bit of time with him, and he was going to buy some baked beans and bread.

When I reflect back on my life, some of my most fulfilling moments are times when I connected with someone who, on the surface, appeared very different from me.  The memory of being on that street corner a couple of thousand miles from home with John, someone who had obviously endured many losses in his lifetime, will always stand out for me.

My first thought about being a donor to Metro United Way and being a volunteer in our community is having a sense of fulfillement and connection.  Doing something that makes a difference in the life of another person, even something very small like the brief time I spent with John,  makes a memorable and lasting difference for ME.  “Give a little bit” – and gain a lot!

“Now is the time we need to share.”  We all see the statistics – unemployment hovering around 10%, more people in our country living in poverty now than ever before, young children entering school ill-equipped to learn and not graduating from high school on time, if at all. 

In tough economic times, for those of us who are able, we need to reach even deeper into our hearts and our wallets to help friends, family, neighbors, and even “the man with the lonely eyes.”  So join me in giving a little bit of your time, your money,  your love, to make a positive difference for guys like John right here at home. 

“So find yourself, we’re on our way back home. Going home. Don’t you need to feel at home?”

Give to Metro United Way!

Give a little bit
Give a little bit of your love to me
Give a little bit
I’ll give a little bit of my love to you
There’s so much that we need to share
Send a smile and show you care
I’ll give a little bit
I’ll give a little bit of my love to you
So give a little bit
Give a little bit of your time to me
See the man with the lonely eyes
Take his hand, you’ll be surprised
Give a little bit
Give a little bit of your love to me
I’ll give a little bit of my love for you
Now’s the time that we need to share
So find yourself, we’re on our way back home
Going home
Don’t you need to feel at home?
Oh yeah, we gotta sing

General, Giving Giving, homeless, hunger, making a difference, Metro United Way, Volunteer

by Judy Schroeder, Manager of Neighborhood Engagement

Because of Darlene Seabrooks, I’m meeting some wonderful young moms who are getting involved with our Ages & Stages “Action Research.”  I want you to meet some of them, so we’re making a video that I’ll post for you in a few weeks.

Since Metro United Way plans for every child in our Greater Louisville community to be prepared and ready for kindergarten, we have to be asking…HOW? (Where’s Superman when you need him?)

The Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) is one tool used by hundreds of local parents to learn more about what their child is learning, and what they, as parents, can do for their infants and toddlers. After all, free and confidential assistance is available to all Kentucky children under age 3 who have developmental needs, regardless of income. Let’s figure out how to use that!

Nearly 900 families from all backgrounds, scattered throughout dozens of different zip codes, are already involved. That tells me parents from all backgrounds are looking for information about their child’s development, and they are getting it with a personal touch provided by your Metro United Way.

Right now, we’re finding that around 20% of our children generally need some help. Those parents get a personal phone call to discuss great community services that can do that.

Maybe because of my special bias as a Portland neighborhood resident, I always have to ask whether the families who are getting involved include our poorest neighbors.

GREAT NEWS:  In the course of this Action Research study, we’ve seen the few returns we started with from predominantly poor/moderate income zip codes (which were 5% or less) rise to at least 27% of the returns we have now.  We find that some of those neighborhoods are doing better than others. For example, in Shawnee up to 75% of the children are scoring “typical” or better.

It’s also true (at this point in time) that our Action Research neighborhood has the highest participation numbers across Jefferson County. That’s good. The outreach helped.

What’s really important though, is that 60% of these scores are saying that children need some specific help, three times the results in the general population, from what we see now.

Returns from Parkway Place Housing, where there is a median household income of less than $15,000 per year, jumped in July-August 2010 due to participation by our partner, the California Child Development Center, and Darlene Seabrooks. Ms. Darlene is the trusted community advocate and mentor at the Housing Authority’s after-school Tutoring Center who graduated from the Center for Neighborhoods’ Neighborhood Institute with the idea that she wanted to make a difference for children and families’ education.  She has!

She is connecting us to interested parents, who are involved only because Ms. Darlene figured out how to get them involved. Now let’s keep them involved, because parents are the real Superman to their children.
*****
To request an Ages & Stages Questionnaire, call 2-1-1, or complete a request form for Ages & Stages Questionnaires on Metro United Way’s website.

Advocacy, Education, Income Ages & Stages Questionnaires, ASQ, Children, Community, early childhood, making a difference, Neighborhood Engagement, parenting, Success By 6

My husband and I recently sat down to re-evaluate our yearly budget.  Budgeting is nothing new for me…I have always understood the importance of budgeting and saving.  And, I’m really good at sticking to the budget…until, that is, Macy’s has one of thier really great sales!  It’s all downhill from there. 

But that was the old me.  The new me (thanks to my husband) has a new appreciation of the budget and the importance of sticking with it even when Macy’s dangles an impossible-to-pass-up sale in front of my face.  Being newly married and thinking about starting a family has definitely changed my relationship with the budget…I have a new respect for the budget and how it can impact my family’s future. 

Now, don’t get me wrong…I’m not perfect and still struggle to restrain myself, but for the most part I am committed to my monthly spending budget.  HOWEVER, this last conversation has left me shocked.  While I am spending well within my budget, I realized that I spend money on really stupid things!  For example, every morning (with occasional exceptions) I stop by the corner gas station for a 24 oz cup of coffee.  Ok, get ready for this…almost $2.00/day = $10.00/week = $500.00/year…on coffee…OUTRAGEOUS!!! 

I began thinking to myself, what can I do differently with this money?  As it turns out, $500.00 can do quite a bit of good in this community.  According to Metro United Way’s 2010 Resource Guide, a little can go a very long way.  This is great news for those of us who want to give (small or large amounts), but are unsure how our money is helping.  See for yourself…

“EVERYONE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE”

Metro United Way 2010 Resource Guide

“Whether you’re able to give $2 a week or $10,000 a year, your contributions will have an important impact on people’s lives…”

To learn more about giving, click here.

To check out Metro United Way’s 2010 – 2011 Community Campaign Video, click here.

General, Giving budgeting, coffee

Consider Giving 110%
By Jan Sherrell

So have you been asked to give to the Metro United Way campaign this year? We are requesting that you decide what you would like to give and then add 10% and we’re saying “Give 110%.”

Did you eyes go crossed at that? Are you one of those hard-core realists that knows you can’t do/give/love/donate/work more than 100%? Does catching someone saying “I could care less” when it should be “I couldn’t care less” make you crazy?

This year we aren’t announcing a goal dollar amount. We know that any number we announce would not meet all of the needs in our community. Our focus is on the need, not the number. We know the community needs more – more than 100% – truthfully more than 110%.

Our survey of providers has shown that the need is up and the resources are down. Those that are in a position to assist are being asked to consider a larger donation than last year, hence the 110%.

So since the need is greater than ever, the ask of 110% is our way of asking those that can give – to consider giving more.

What phrase catches your ear every time you hear it? Or maybe you couldn’t care less about linguistics.

General Community, donate

By: Angie Ditsler

About a month ago I changed roles at Metro United Way.  I am now the new Manager of the Gheens Bridges to Tomorrow initiative.  I, by no means, expected the transition to be easy.  I fully expected to encounter a huge learning curve as I settled into my new job here in Louisville and slowly adjusted from my previous role in Shelby and Oldham Counties.  With so many different partners involved in Bridges, I honestly expected that the most difficult part of the transition would be coordinating the volume of activities and people, and keeping up with the pace of how quickly things move here.  If there is one thing I don’t have to worry about learning, I thought, it’s getting to know the agencies themselves that participate in Bridges.  After all, I’ve been working at Metro United Way over four years already, and I already know all about all the agencies we serve!

Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong!  Even as an employee at MUW with a background in social services, I must admit that spending time at each of the four Bridges centers this past month and learning more about the role each of them plays in the community has been a very eye-opening and humbling experience.  For example, in the three years since I last volunteered at Americana Community Center, it has opened a health clinic on its property and now operates a Family Program that focuses on the time parents and their children spend together.  I had no idea that Neighborhood House is home to a JCPS “STOP” program that works to prevent truancy among middle and high school students, and Presbyterian Community Center is preparing to open the doors of its new Child Development Center, making room for 50 additional young children in its program!  Did you know that Louisville Central Community Centers is in the middle of an enormous capital campaign that will expand its facilities, attract small businesses, and hopefully generate dozens of new jobs in central Louisville?  I didn’t know all this is going on, and I consider myself an active and knowledgeable member of my community!

What I’ve learned in my first 30 days at my new job is that there is a lot I didn’t know about my community, and a lot I still don’t know.  There is always something new to learn and experience in our own backyards.  Being an advocate for our neighborhoods and community is not just about sharing what we already know and believe; it’s also about being open to learn and talk about thing we don’t know much about either.

Advocacy, General advocate, Americana Community Center, Gheens Bridges to Tomorrow, Louisville Central Community Centers, Neighborhood House, Neighborhoods, Presbyterian Community Center