Day 4: A Reflection on Identity

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Day 4: A Reflection on Identity How often do you think about your race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, dis/ability, or other social identities? Which identity/ies do you think about the most in your day-to-day? For many of us, the identities we are most aware of in ourselves are the ones that create challenges…

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Day 3: Caring for Yourself in Your Equity Journey

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Day 3: Caring for Yourself in Your Equity Journey As you go through these lessons, there are some that you might have a more personal connection to than others. There are some that might make you defensive, and some that might make you deflated. It’s important to check in with yourself to understand what emotions…

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Day 2: Why Equity?

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Day 2: Why Equity Equality means giving everyone the same resources. Equity means offering different resources to different people/groups with the goal of creating equal opportunity for success. In other words, equality is the goal we’re moving toward, equity is how we get there.  Let’s imagine that you are logging on to a virtual meeting…

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Day 1: Welcome

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Welcome to United Way of South Central Michigan’s 21-Day Equity Challenge!   We are so grateful you have decided to join us in this work. Every day at United Way, we look to partner with community members like you who are committed to a future where everyone can lead a flourishing life. To do this, we…

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Alyssa Stewart Reflects On UW Career

Alyssa Stewart sits in a chair and smiles.

After a decade as a driving force in United Way’s work, Alyssa Stewart is moving on to a new challenge – but she is still a United Way champion. Stewart, who has been UWSCMI’s Executive Impact Officer, is joining the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, where she will direct impact activities, grantmaking and scholarships. It’s a role…

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United Way of South Central Michigan Social Media Community Standards

Welcome to the United Way of South Central Michigan (Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn/YouTube) community! We invite you to learn more and inspire others to help create strong, caring communities where every person is valued, thriving and connected for the common good. To ensure a positive and respectful experience for all, please review and adhere to the following community…

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Data for Difference: The 2024 Kalamazoo Point-in-Time Count

KALAMAZOO- More than 20 volunteers fanned out across Kalamazoo County to participate in the unsheltered portion of the 2024 Kalamazoo Point-in-Time (PIT) Count. The PIT Count, organized by United Way of South Central Michigan’s Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care program, is a literal count of all the people experiencing homelessness in our community on a…

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Warming Centers for Winter Weather

It’s January in Michigan and cold and wintry weather is here. United Way of South Central Michigan is committed to working with area agencies to assist unhoused people during the cold and stormy days of winter. With temperatures dropping, high winds, and snow on its way, here are the following locations in our region whose…

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and Celebration: 2024

In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, designating the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service. Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as such. The MLK Day of Service calls for Americans…

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You See Me: Year in Review 2023

2023 was a year to remember for United Way of South Central Michigan. As we reach the end of this year, we reflect on our first full year as an organization and the accomplishments and impact we have made within our community. We have dedicated ourselves to fostering a positive change with programs and initiatives…

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