LIVE UNITED Y’All!

By Kerri Cokeley

Today, I had lunch with a friend who is a mental health provider. We had a specific agenda to discuss, but ended up having the kind of conversation I wish more people were having.

The purpose of our meeting was to talk about the huge need for mental wellness services in our community and what we could do about it. We talked about three-week-long waiting lists for people who finally decided to seek help, the exorbitant cost of treatment (both on providers and patients), and the fact that there are still many people who could benefit from counseling services but don’t realize or admit it.

A little later, we got on the topic of data. Did you know that in the 2009 Attitudes & Behaviors survey, over 80% of Clark County 10^th graders reported that they had felt sad or depressed in the past month? And that 19% admitted to trying to kill themselves at least once in their life?!?

It’s disturbing. Very disturbing.

We then discussed next steps and the leaders we would make appointments with to ask for their partnership to make more services available. We committed to making this happen. But, what followed was the conversation that everyday people, here in our hometown, need to have more often.

We shared our own experience. Acknowledged the rollercoaster of life, its many ups and downs. The points in life when we didn’t know how to handle the grief, trauma, and stress that’s inherent in just being human. The fact that we tend to suppress our feelings, until things spin out of control. And how hard it is to reach out for help when things seem dark. Thankfully, we have both found the strength at different points in life to reach out when we needed support to make it through. We understand the concept of mental wellness, that it’s about trying to find and maintain balance.

After the check was paid and hugs were exchanged, we went on about our afternoon. But hours later, I sit here with the topic heavy on my heart. How is it that we so often gloss over the darkness, the depression we all experience in life? Why does being melancholy have to be taboo? Why don’t we talk about it and help each other work through pain more often?

I wonder what it would be like if we didn’t suppress our feelings so much? And if people recognized a problem with someone they would extend a caring hand? And if we all could work through painful feelings with support and without judgment?

What if, when we greet our acquaintances by saying, “How are you?” we really meant it?

Health Health, mental health, Mental Wellness

By Kelly Hutchinson, Donor Relationship Manager

Not that kind of high silly…  No I am not talking about any Mick Jagger songs or Melvin Jackson lyrics. Nor am I referring to the euphoric high experienced by marathon runners and world class athletes. This blog is a few thoughts and words about another, far more altruistic high that is called the helper’s high.

It’s nothing new mind you. I would say that there is new research and old wisdom that each uphold the simple truth that those of us who are what I would call “dealers” are aware.

Simply put, it feels good to “get your good on.” And it not only feels good, but it also has been proven in the brain to lower the output of stress hormones, improve cardiovascular health, strengthen the immune system and extend life span. And unlike exercise, there’s evidence that the helper can actually get a small helper’s high even by simply recalling the helping or charitable acts long after they’re finished. Isn’t that a cool residual for doing good!

Think about it…the last time you felt needed, did something for someone else, helped a neighbor, volunteered a few hours or made a donation…you may have came away tired but also deeply refreshed. Proverbs 11:25 reads, “Those who refresh others are themselves refreshed.” Emerson also knew a thing or two about the helpers high as he wrote, “No man [or woman] can sincerely help another without helping himself.”

Lastly, have you seen the bus? This eye-catching bus is a big helper’s high we hope for our friends at TARC who have wrapped it up and are helping spread the LIVE UNITED message in our community. What do you say…wanna check in on the helper’s high? Ready to schedule a little time to do good and get on the bus –you know, we can’t do the work here at Metro United Way without you. It is your United Way and we have got some serious opportunity in our community and the world right now to lend a hand, give a dollar, help a neighbor, mentor a child….and the research shows we will be better for it!

When was the last time you felt the “helper’s high”? Do you think generosity plays a part in your personal or spiritual wellbeing? Are you ready to get your good on and get on the bus? What are your thoughts?

Giving, Health, Volunteering charitable benefits, helpers high, TARC

By Kerri Cokeley

For some Clark County (IN) area residents – the YMCA is coming to you!

At Metro United Way, our teams of volunteers are always looking for new ways to address the underlying causes of issues faced by our community. Last summer, Metro United Way’s Clark County Community Solutions Committee held a conversation with local agencies working to combat childhood obesity to see if there was something more we could be doing in this area. What emerged was a pilot “Neighborhood Outdoor Youth-Play Initiative” that is being led by the YMCA of Southern Indiana.

The goals of the program:
• Get youth engaged in healthy outdoor play and games
• Encourage and foster lasting neighborhood friendships
• Reduce youth obesity
• Educate youth and adults about healthy actions and eating
• Help parents connect with other parents
• Empower neighborhoods to create safe opportunities for youth
• Be creative and have fun

The YMCA has been facilitating one week of organized games, activities, and a family gathering each season in five different neighborhoods. Each neighborhood will have four weeks of youth activities and four parent / family interaction activities in this year-long pilot program.

The next round of sessions will be held in the neighborhood surrounding the schools on the following dates:

Jan. 11- Jan. 15: Parkwood
Jan. 25 – Jan.29: Maple
Feb. 8 – Feb.12: Bridgepoint
March 1- 5: Jonathan Jennings
March 15-19: YMCA Clark County Branch

Do you live in one of these neighborhoods, or know someone who does? If so, will you help us spread the word about this new initiative? The more people who participate, the better our outcomes, and the greater the likelihood it can grow to even more neighborhoods.

Through this effort, we will do much more than play around! The YMCA will be creating opportunities for adult neighbors to participate in fun activities with the youth, meet one another, and exchange names and numbers with other parents with same-age children. Our hope is that we can engage adults to serve as mentors, catalysts, and safety patrol for ongoing youth play even if it is in the yards and common space close to their homes.

For more information, contact the YMCA of Southern Indiana at (812) 283-9622.

Events, Health Bridgepoint Elementary School, Johnathan Jennings Elementary, Maple Elementary School, Parkwood Elementary School, YMCA of Southern Indiana

By Howard Mason

In May of this year, Metro United Way announced the LIVE UNITED Social Innovation Prize presented by Ernst & Young and opened the competition for submissions. A total of 46 completed submissions were received by the entry deadline, July 8, 2009. Metro United Way Community Change Incubator volunteers reviewed these submissions and found 18 to be ineligible for judging, primarily due to not being aligned with our Education, Income or Health Building Block(s) and/or not sufficiently innovative.

The remaining 28 proposals were scored by three-judge panels, using an online survey scoring tool. The average score of all judges for each proposal was determined for these items:

• Statement of issue/problem
• Innovation and benefits connected to selected Education, Income, Health Building Block(s)
• Finances and implementation
• Ability to grow, sustain and contribute learning
• Overall attractiveness

Judges also recommended whether to advance a submission to finalist.

Eight innovations emerged as the clear leaders and were selected as the finalists. See them on liveunitedyall.org/innovation.

I had the pleasure of calling each finalist to let them know that they had been selected to advance in the competition. I also asked them to come to a meeting at Metro United Way to meet the Community Change Incubator volunteers and social innovation prize judges, tell their story, hear about the plan for creating a learning community, and get briefed on the deliverables that were required of finalists.

It was a great meeting and everyone was touched and energized by the passion and creativity of the innovations. Most of the finalists were at least a little intimidated by the deliverables.

Each finalist had three weeks to provide:

1.      Innovation name or title.

2.      Innovator name.

3.      Still photo.

4.      Resume for individual innovator or organizational description, contact information and three references.

5.      Headline description of the innovation.

6.      Description of the innovation with a one-sentence summary, a paragraph on how the innovation is unique, and another paragraph on how it would work.

7.      A short video pitching the Social Innovation.

8.      An account to receive credit card donations.

This was a tall order, but these are the kind of things our volunteers have learned were first steps to go from idea and discussion, to action and accomplishment.

To be a successful social innovator, it takes a burning idea that has magnetism-that draws excitement, people, resources to it. It also takes the energy and commitment to dig in and do the work that is needed to make the idea come to life.

Now it’s up to YOU to vote on which innovations will win. You cast your vote by making a contribution in any amount up to a maximum of $250 from any individual donor through the innovation’s ChipIn widget, displayed on the innovation’s web page on this site: liveunitedyall.org/innovation.

No matter how much money each finalist receives in this competition, it will not completely fund their innovation. The work they did to prepare for the finalist round of the LIVE UNITED Social Innovation Prize will help them be more effective by getting them recognition, opening doors, and practicing the skills to become the magnet.

Next steps for the LIVE UNITED Social Innovation Prize:

November–Announce winners and award prizes.

December–Convene winners and finalists to launch a Community of Social Innovation. Assess needs for support, learning, incubation.

January through June–Conduct monthly meetings of the Community of Social Innovation with mentoring/education activities selected by participants.

Special thanks to the Community Change Incubator volunteers whose efforts made the prize happen: Doug Lowry, Deborah Boyer, Michelle Wyrick, Rob Kaplan, Merv Antonio, Jud Hendrix, and David Allgood.

Many thanks to Lynn Smith for organizing the entries and the surveys-a huge task with many tight deadlines.

And extra special thanks to Erin McMahon for her tireless work and unflagging enthusiasm and good nature in developing the web sites.

Don’t forget to donate to your favorite and encourage others to do the same!

Education, General, Giving, Health, Income Add new tag, Social Entrepreneur, Social Innovation, Social Innovation Prize

By Kelly Hutchinson, Donor Relationship Manager

I have been thinking a lot about the upcoming annual campaign in our community. It is what I do…think, plan, connect, encourage, communicate, review, explore, inquire, inspire, discuss and consider what will make a difference this year in someone’s workplace campaign. What is important to an individual donor? How can I demonstrate appreciation for the good works made possible by our Metro United Way corporate partners, donors and volunteers? I am also leaning into my work and trying to look at things a little bit differently this year. Quite frankly we must. You have heard it before right? If you continue to do things the same as in the past and you continue to get the same results then why does it surprise you?

My list will be kept short, but I hope you will join my conversation and share some of your idea’s on what you think is HOT and what you think is NOT.

What’s HOT:
• Making sure all children are safe, nurtured and prepared to succeed in school ( learn more about Success by 6)
• Making plans in your workplace to educate and build awareness for the work the work of United Way in our community and to Ask for participation in a company campaign where you work…WOW that’s hot!
• Serving as a volunteer Employee Coordinator for a United Way campaign and recruiting some co-worker friends to join you and help make it a success…sizzlin’!
• Sharing stories about your personal experience with United Way or how someone you work with whose life has been touched (meet someone you have helped here)
• Identifying the root causes of problems and providing solutions and support so that people can avoid some problems in the first-place…yep, it’s HOT
• Partnering with schools, service providers and community groups to improve high school graduation rates
• Saying YES when you are invited to join the United Way campaign and following up your giving by volunteering to get closer to the work you make possible and the lives you touch
Did you hear fire trucks?
• Being able to laugh at yourself and have fun while helping create opportunities for a brighter tomorrow
NOT HOT:
• There are nearly 9,000 children in JCPS who are homeless
• There are senior citizens in our community who live in fear of going outside or don’t have enough income for prescriptions and food…so they make choices
• Ice storms, wind storms, flash flooding that destroys peoples property and depletes their savings ( sign up with our volunteer center)
• An increase of nearly 40% of first time callers to 2-1-1 for assistance with basic human needs for food, clothing, shelter and necessities…a term I am hearing called “new poor” in our community
• Too many employees feel like United Way only comes around once a year when it’s time to ask for a donation. That’s not hot. There are endless possibilities and creative fun ways you can stay involved, thank loyal donors and contributors in your work and help employees understand they are making a difference 365 days a year
• Not planning ahead, setting goals or stretching yourself to do better in all that you do. Because if you don’t aim for something then you can’t be surprised when you miss the mark
• Seeing your coworkers dress up like Elvis and sing Viva Las Vegas… not hot…but a great way we added some fun to our employee campaign at Metro United Way and we are all looking forward to see who on our executive team will be donning a polyester jumpsuit next

Tried to keep it short…what’s hot where you work and what’s not?

Advocacy, Education, General, Giving, Health, Income, Volunteering campaign, Common good, community service, how to, recovery, Success By 6

By: Kerri Cokeley

As I was sitting in the donation chair today at the American Red Cross of Clark County, I realized that donating blood is one of the most immediately gratifying volunteer activities I perform throughout the year. All I give is one hour a month, six times a year and – volia – I’m saving lives!

In casual conversation I’m always surprised by the number of people who are eligible to give, but don’t.  I’m sure that many of the excuses I hear as to why individuals can’t donate are warranted… but I think that there are others out there who are just afraid to try it. (Kinda like kids who say they don’t like a certain food, even though you know they have never tried it…)

Anyway, I’m proud to be a blood donor and know many of you out there are too.  To celebrate being a donor, I’ve created my own Top 5 Reasons for Giving the Gift of Life. Drum roll please!

5. I love to visit Little Debbie Land (That’s what I call the table of goodies that I visit immediately after my donation so I can rehydrate and get a little something on my stomach.)

4. Karma points (I sure hope that if I ever need blood, there will be enough in supply to save to me.)

3. Lower bar bill (I know, you should not indulge in alcoholic beverages for at least 48 hours after your donation… however, the light headed effect stays with me for at least 60 hours J)

2. Getting out of work to give (I gave my first blood donation when I was 17 because I got out of school early… Now, any of us could start a donation day at our workplace and use it as a great excuse to step away from our computers for a while.)

1. Being considered a hero (There are not many opportunities we have in life to save another’s life, so I make sure to keep my donations on the calendar for every 56 days.)

So, there they are! Are there reasons that you like to give that I haven’t listed here? I would love to hear from you.  If you have never given a donation of blood and would like to learn more, you can visit www.givelife.org.

Giving, Health, Volunteering American Red Cross, Giving

by Cindy Lehnert

I have a friend whose family seems to be in a constant state of turmoil.  Old wounds run deep and any current disagreement reopens the deepest wounds.  As an outsider looking in, it would seem that the foundation of the family structure is in danger of collapsing and needs to be repaired.

We all have our issues and arguments to be sure.  The key to survival as a family is to not let the tiny repairable cracks turn into foundation-threatening fissures.  Family disagreements hurt not only the parties involved, but other members of the family who feel torn between their loved ones.  When the feud is so bitter that one person stops communication altogether, it is particularly painful because the family members not directly involved lose contact with that person as well.

Soothing the hurt and repairing the damage done takes work and the first step is to make the decision to put forth the effort.  Healing a family requires a commitment.  This is especially true if the issue has not been fully resolved.  You need to find a way to see and understand the other’s point of view.  You don’t have to agree with it, but you do need to try to understand it.  Then find a connection and communicate.

Lack of communication allows cracks to open wider and foundations to begin to crumble.  Listening and hearing are vitally important.  We can talk all we want, but if no one is listening, there is no communication.  If face to face communication is too difficult, try talking on the phone, by email or letter.  Attend family functions and share good news and heartbreaks.  It is important to minimize the cracks and maintain as many good relationships as possible.

The goal is to attain a level of reconciliation, not resolve old wounds.  For this process you will need to have realistic expectations.  Resolution will take time and effort.  You will have small wins, like spending Thanksgiving dinner peacefully or spending an hour or two chatting about nothing in particular.

Learn from your experiences and make sure that things don’t get out of hand again.  If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask.  It is never too late.  Call Metro United Way 2-1-1 and let them know what you need.  They and many other Metro United Way supported agencies are there to help people just like you.

Photo Credit: vtbrak

General, Health 2-1-1, Agencies, Family

by Kelly Hutchinson, Donor Relations

I would like to take a moment today and congratulate all the fine people who have made the switch from analog to digital. Once again, we as Americans have survived another important milestone. It seems if we ban together we can accomplish anything!

I laughed out loud recently at this FB post made by a friend. I also quickly thought about a deeper message that entered my mind. I thought to myself, so the big day finally arrived, passed and went unnoticed. Sort of like the Y2k bug that never really reared a pesty head but the hype leading up caused such a stir.

Then, I thought a little bit more….One of the real challenges we have in our work at Metro United Way is in getting the message of our work out into our community. If you are a volunteer, donor or both then I would want to say THANK YOU as that is always a most important message. I know have along the way learned the value of lending your time, talents and treasure the United Way.

However, if you are in the pool of people who aren’t quite sure about the value of United Way, what we do, or the opportunities created, well then you need to know more.

Our goal is to advance the common good and share opportunities to give, advocate and volunteer for vital health and human services that will impact education, income and health in our community. At Metro United Way, we change the lives of those who walk by us everyday and we can change what we see in our world.

Stay with me on this… Think about it…What a difference it would make if the same dedicated messaging, and urgency -I recall for at least a year no less watching the scrolls, commercials and reminders to be ready for the impending switch from analog to digital TV- could be applied to helping our community.

Hmmm…I wonder what would happen for our neighbors, friends, and community if the same effort and level of importance this constant messaging created in citizens could be used to advance the common good and inspire people to get involved, and prepare to create some community change?

We would see progress toward bold goals and we would help make things better for all of us. Because we all win when families are financially stable, when children succeed in school and when we enjoy good health.

You too can share the good news, spread an important message and create a ground swell of awareness and support. You can also join with me in an easy, affordable way to make a big difference today by joining the Give 5 Now virtual campaign for Metro United Way. Check it out, share the message and Thanks!

Advocacy, Education, General, Giving, Health, Income advocate, Common good, community change, give, Give 5 Now, United Way, Volunteer

By Cori Gadansky

Last week was a big one for Success By 6. After months of hard work, we announced that a new developmental screening tool is available for any parents in our region to use with their children who are ages birth to five. Click here to request an Ages & Stages Questionnaire for your child. This tool will help parents know if their children are on the right track for success. If children are developing typically parents will receive some basic parenting information from our Born Learning material and other community resources. If there are indications that a parent should seek further evaluation for their children we will make sure that families are connected to existing community services.

Providing parents with a tool to see how their children are doing and connecting them to existing community resources are two of the major components of Help Me Grow a system that was originally implemented statewide in Connecticut and is now being replicated by a handful of other communities across the country.

Metro United Way Success By 6 was selected as one of only five replication sites for Help Me Grow. Last week also marked the visit of the Technical Assistance team from Connecticut. Many community partners came together to learn from Connecticut and to consider our own local strengths and challenges in implementing this system.

Throughout the course of the visit the TA team spoke of the many parents that they connect with through their system. They talked about the single mom who calls to ask questions about services, unsure of where to turn because she has concerns about her child’s development. They spoke about immigrant families who are trying to adjust to a new culture and do the best for their children, but don’t know how to navigate through the human services system. They spoke of countless other families that they help across their state, across income levels, of different races and ethnicities, all with the common goal of helping their children succeed.

As the team shared this information, I was repeatedly struck by how fortunate I am to have such a strong support network. I have my family and my husband’s family in town. I have an amazing group of girlfriends to talk about “mom things” with and I have a circle of professional colleagues who are experts at this child development stuff. Yet sometimes I still feel lost and lonely as I try to be the best mom that I can to Luke. How would it feel to be in the role of mother without that support? Could I even do it? I know there are lots of moms and dads out there that do, but I just can’t begin to imagine how hard it is. If natural support groups of family, friends and colleagues don’t exist for some how can we help to create and connect parents to other supports?

What kind of support networks do you have? Is it one of family and friends? Have you found support from a church group of moms or the parents on your block? Are there programs and services that you and your family use?  As we build our Help Me Grow system we will look to both formal and informal community resources for families. I know that there is a lot out there for families in this community that very much cares about children and youth.

Photo Credit: snorp

Education, Health Ages & Stages, Help Me Grow, Success By 6

By Howard Mason

I spent last week at the Harwood Institute’s Public Innovators Lab in Detroit. It was a great experience that was shared by over 60 participants, including three from Metro United Way, five from United Way of America, a large group from Santa Fe, New Mexico, led by the United Way, and other United Way people from Detroit, Flint and Battle Creek, Michigan. United Way people made up almost a third of the group.

We all seemed to be asking the same questions. How do we become organizations that:

• Help our communities grow and accelerate their progress on the building blocks of Education, Health, Income?
• Engage people even when many have already retreated from public life?
• Be trusted and authentic public leaders in an environment when people are skeptical of their leaders?
• Generate pockets of change, and successfully spread those pockets?
• Transform negative stories about public life into ones of trust and genuine hope?

The Lab was about building a critical mass of authentic public leaders - public innovators - who will work on creating the conditions for change on our community’s most important human condition issues.

People become public innovators when they believe in the possibilities for change in public life and politics. They are confident in the ability of people to tap their own potential to make a difference and join together to work for the common good. Public innovators are both pragmatic and idealists - they have a deep understanding of their community and at the same time tirelessly use their imagination to see a path for a brighter future. Public innovators are determined to make progress, and they are risk-takers, when necessary. They have learned to innovate from within whatever structure they operate.

Public innovators also understand that real and sustainable change only happens in a community over time, as the effects of civic actions ripple out and eventually connect with one another. Their knowledge of the community guides their strategies and helps them figure out when it’s time to push ahead and when to be patient.

Public innovators hold no specific title, and there is no single mailing list or Web site to find them. Instead, public innovators can be found in a range of public, private and nonprofit organizations in a variety of roles.

Here are some points from the Lab that struck me as really important:

Learn the community’s aspirations - Not a wish list or a set of complaints, aspirations are what people hold dear and will fight for. The community’s aspirations should not be confused with our organizational goals or data from experts or records. We learn the community’s aspirations through engaging deeply enough that we understand the community’s aspirations from the community’s point of view. In Detroit, we went out into the streets to ask people what kind of community they wanted to live in.

Understand the rhythms of community life - These are five stages that communities go through as they change, according to Harwood. It takes engaging with the people in the community to figure out where a community is in the stages. Understanding what stage the community is in helps identify what efforts will work at that stage so progress can be accelerated.

Move from a consumer mindset to a civic mindset - Citizens are often viewed as consumers.  Consumers expect to be served, to receive exactly what they want all the time, at a low personal cost. In the place of a consumer model, we need to promote a citizen for common good model - asking and expecting one another to at times put the public interest before private consumption to further the common good.

Find the sweet spot of public life - This is a place where groups focus on the key issues of Education, Income and Health while simultaneously building community. Really successful initiatives focus on a specific issue and at the same time build relationships, leaders, networks, and norms that strengthen community.

To measurably improve critical indicators related to Education, Income and Health in our community, we need both to implement effective initiatives and create the conditions for their success.

To learn more, go to http://www.theharwoodinstitute.org/ and explore the material in blue box on the right of the page, Our Frameworks.

Image Source: theharwoodinstitute.org

Advocacy, Education, Health, Income, Volunteering Community, Conditions for change, Harwood Institute, Public Innovator