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FEMA Grants Bring $466K For Local Relief
UWSCMI facilitated a grant process that provided $466,232 in federal funds to local organizations providing food, shelter and utility assistance to people in high-need areas. The emergency funding was announced in February and provided through the Emergency Food And Shelter National Board Program (EFSP), administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency…
Read MoreThe Kalamazoo Community Foundation and United Way of South Central Michigan Partner in Support of Tornado Relief Efforts
Kalamazoo, Mich. – United Way of South Central Michigan (UWSCMI) and the Kalamazoo Community Foundation (KZCF) will join Kalamazoo County emergency response teams in providing support to those affected by the May 7 tornadoes via joint crisis funding. These emergency grants, distributed through UWSCMI’s Disaster Relief Fund and KZCF’s Community Urgent Relief Fund, will be…
Read MoreThe 2023/24 Volunteer of the Year Awards
LANSING – April brought National Volunteer Month, and United Way of South Central Michigan, in partnership with Fox 47 News and WLNS TV6 celebrated with the 2023 Capital Area Volunteer of the Year Awards. Nominees, nominators, and community members gathered April 24 at the Marshall Street Armory in Lansing to watch a previously recorded video…
Read MoreDriving Economic Success For Workers & Businesses
JACKSON – United Way of South Central Michigan is proud to serve the companies and employees of the Jackson region with JobSTAR (Support Talent and Retention). JobSTAR is a resource for employers to help employees overcome obstacles that may impede their ability to work. In this program, a Success Coach connects workers to services and…
Read MoreKellanova Volunteers Feed Battle Creek Kids, Community Spirit
BATTLE CREEK – When it comes to community caring, Kellanova employees lead by example. About 20 Kellanova employees from Battle Creek volunteered at the South Michigan Food Bank on April 4, packing more than 1,300 food packages in less than two hours. The packages will be shared with students at Battle Creek Public Schools who…
Read MoreRFPs Released for Kalamazoo County
KALAMAZOO – United Way of South Central Michigan has released two Requests for Proposals for American Rescue Plan grant funding in two areas: Violence Intervention and Community Health Worker Training. Eligible organizations may apply now online. The deadline for both grant applications is May 3 at noon. Learn more about eligibility criteria, activities and timeline…
Read MoreDay 8: Housing Access
Day 8: Housing Access The reality is that housing affordability and those who experience houselessness are largely influenced by our country’s history of oppression. Housing insecurity is an issue that disproportionately impacts people from various marginalized groups. It’s important to note that here and elsewhere, we use the language preferred by people directly impacted by…
Read MoreDay 7: Intersectionality
Day 7: Intersectionality “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” Audre Lorde – writer, professor, philosopher, intersectional feminist, poet and civil rights activist A discussion of privilege and oppression is not complete without a broader discussion of intersectionality, a concept that helps us…
Read MoreJackson Nonprofits Join JobSTAR Cohorts
JACKSON – Federal funds have made it possible for eight Jackson-area nonprofits to join JobSTAR, the business resource network led by UWSCMI. Launched in 2018, JobSTAR (Support, Talent And Retention) embeds Success Coaches Scott Walker and Kristy Warner at participating organizations, connecting employees to services and support programs so they can get beyond barriers to…
Read MoreDay 5: Understanding and Reflecting on Bias
Day 5: Understanding and Reflecting on Bias The topic of bias can sometimes be a difficult one. Most of us see ourselves, rightly so, as kind, caring individuals who try to do right by others. As we dive into this topic, I hope one thing is clear: all of us have bias. It often shows…
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