Archive for September 2020
IMPACT! 2-1-1 Answers The Call During Pandemic
Jackson County’s essential workers—from health care providers and first responders to retail and service sectors, educators and nonprofit volunteers—have been celebrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and rightly so. There’s another essential group that deserves kudos, too: the professionals staffing the 2-1-1 call center. According to Melissa Ladd Patnode, 2-1-1 Program Supervisor at Lifeways Community Mental…
Read MoreVirtual Dialogue Tackles ALICE Needs
Families struggling to make ends meet have a tough time under any circumstances. COVID-19 has made it a whole lot tougher. That’s the realization that sparked a virtual community conversation, “ALICE In The Workplace,” sponsored by United Way BCKR and MichiganWorks! Southwest. Around 40 people from the region’s businesses, education and nonprofits gathered online to…
Read MoreAre You Up for the Challenge?
Equity is a journey, not a destination. It’s a sentiment often voiced at United Way BCKR, where the journey toward becoming an anti-racist organization has lasted the better part of a decade and continues to be integral to our vision of a vibrant community where all people realize their full potential. The journey has involved…
Read MoreIMPACT! Child Care Network Puts Families FIRST
Any way you slice it, childcare is costly and hard to find. It’s also one of the biggest barriers to consistent employment for ALICE families. With support from United Way, Child Care Network provides scholarships through its FIRST Family program to families in need. Here’s one example of how this support makes a difference: Sergio…
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