UWLC Blog
Community Benefits from United Way Participation at the Center for Creative Leadership
Over the past few years, United Way’s work has become more complex and multidimensional in both how we approach community issues and in the recruitment of partners to help us advance the common good. Oftentimes, our work requires building and participating in community coalitions to deeply understand and move the needle on community problems.
As such, United Way of Lane County applied to participate in the internationally recognized Center for Creative Leadership’s Community Coalition Leadership Program. Last week we were notified that we were selected to participate in the CCL training beginning with an onsite visit in Greensboro, NC the week of July 15 – 19th and followed with on-going coaching and technical assistance.
This program is custom designed in partnership and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and will provide our team of staff and community partners with a unique opportunity to integrate boundary spanning leadership capabilities into our coalition’s work.
While the application was submitted on behalf of our Financial Stability Partnership, this training has implications and connection to all aspects of our impact agenda which is focused on education, income and heatlh – the building blocks for a good quality of life.
It’s Senior Corps Week!
United Way of Lane County appreciates all the work Senior Corps volunteers do to make a difference in our communities. Especially the over 500 RSVP of Lane County volunteers, Thank You!
Senior Corps Week 2013 is celebrated this year from May 6-10 to align with Older Americans Month. We take this time to celebrate, recognize, and highlight the extraordinary contributions that Foster Grandparents RSVP, and Senior Companion volunteers make through service in their communities each and every day.
Senior Corps taps the skills, talents, and experience of more than 330,000 Americans age 55 and over to meet a wide range of community challenges through three programs — RSVP, the Foster Grandparent Program, and the Senior Companion Program. RSVP volunteers recruit and manage other volunteers, participate in environmental projects, mentor and tutor children, and respond to natural disasters, among many other activities. Foster Grandparents serve one-on-one as tutors and mentors to young people with special needs. Senior Companions help frail seniors and other adults maintain independence primarily in the clients’ own homes.
Health care reform is coming, health care reform is coming!
And you might be wondering, what does that mean for me? Will I finally have health insurance? Will my health insurance coverage change? Will it cost me more? Will it cost me less?
I encourage you to visit the Cover Oregon website to learn more. Cover Oregon is a central marketplace where individuals and employers will be able to shop for health insurance plans and access financial assistance to help pay for coverage.
Starting in October of this year, Cover Oregon will be a one-stop resource, intended to make it easy to find the coverage that is right for you.
Visit www.coveroregon.com, sign up for email notifications, or check the calculator which starts to give you an idea of financial assistance you may be eligible for.
Virtual Conferencing
"We can’t wait for opportunity to knock. We have to open the door and drag opportunity in with us!” – Stacey Stewart, President, United Way USA
The fun thing about modern technology is that you never know when you're going find yourself in the midst of a virtual conference. Last week I had the honor of attending the United Way Staff Leaders Conference. Quickly after arriving, I found my twitter feed had exploded with United Way content using the “hashtag” #UWSLC.
A few words about Twitter – I joined the ranks of the twittersphere in 2010, mostly out of curiosity and fascination. It was like watching a foreign movie with no subtitles. I didn’t understand why people would subject themselves to microblogging 140 characters as a form of communication. Then I experience my first virtual conference and my view changed. I was able to gather conference information – great nuggets, articles and new connections – all from the comfort of my home. It was real time feedback and no travel required.
Last week United Way engaged many of their conference participants in a similar fashion, through their organizational and personal twitter accounts. We joined staff across the country to share the message of how we LIVE UNITED. Speakers like Stacey Stewart, President of United Way USA, spoke about it being the time for our communities to take action and grab opportunity by the lapels and drag it along with us. Below are a few of the messages we heard, but I invite you to take a peek at the content by searching for the twitter hashtag - #UWSLC or follow us - @unitedwaylane
- “Excellent teachers move ordinary children to do extraordinary things” – Salome Thomas-EL
- “We don’t work at @UnitedWay for a job. We work here to change the world” – Stacey Stewart
- “Millennials are sometimes called “Gen Why”, but the questions they ask nonprofits are good to check our assumptions.”
Eugene Mayor proclaims April 9th as “Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service”
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Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy has proclaimed April 9, 2013 as “Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service” recognizing the positive impact made to our community by hundreds of local AmeriCorps and Senior Corps volunteers. These volunteers address immediate challenges facing our local citizens.
Mayors across the nation are turning to national service and volunteerism as a cost-effective strategy to meet city needs. Volunteers serve in more than 70,000 locations across the country, supporting organizations that are vital to economic and social well-being. National service represents a partnership that invests in community solutions and leverages resources to strengthen impact and increase the return on taxpayer dollars.
The Corporation for National and Community Service and mayors nationwide share in the priority to engage citizens, improve lives, and strengthen communities.
