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Introduction to the LGBTQIA+ Community
Introduction to the LGBTQIA+ Community Welcome to the 21-Day Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) Equity Challenge, and to the start of LGBTQ History Month! We celebrate LGBTQ History Month every October to commemorate the first March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1979 as well as National Coming Out…
Read MoreTeens in Jackson develop leadership skills while mentoring youth
JACKSON COUNTY – During a summer photo shoot atop a Jackson rooftop, the teen members of DRIP laughed with each other, perfected TikTok dances, and just genuinely enjoyed being together. They are a tight-knit, inclusive and enthusiastic group making a positive impact with the relationships they’re building in the community and with each other. DRIP…
Read MorePerspective: Recovery Tide Isn’t Lifting All Boats
Editor’s Note: On this Labor Day, President & CEO Chris Sargent offers insights on the economic struggles of ALICE households – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. Sadly, there are two starkly different economic realities in America. There’s one in which middle- and high-wage workers saw savings and wealth increase throughout the pandemic. And there’s another…
Read MoreBuilding through Reading: Kalamazoo Literacy Council
At its core, Kalamazoo Literacy Council works to enhance the lives of adults by improving their reading, writing, spelling, and comprehension skills. The organization achieves this in a number of ways, one of which is their adult learning plan, which helps students set goals and overcome educational barriers. The impact carries far beyond each individual…
Read MoreHow Gun Violence Affects The Whole Community
KALAMAZOO — Many people think gun violence is something that happens “elsewhere” — some other community, some other school, some other neighborhood. So they pay it little mind, convinced it doesn’t affect them. That view can keep gun violence from being a widely shared priority. It’s also completely wrong. “Gun violence costs all of us,”…
Read MoreAnalysis: Cost of Essentials Outstrips Inflation, Making Things Even Tougher for ALICE
The cost of six household essentials in Michigan has risen at a faster clip than inflation, leaving low-wage workers priced out of affording the basics. That’s the latest analysis from United Way and its research partner, United For ALICE. Over the course of 15 years, low-wage jobs didn’t keep up with the increased cost of…
Read MoreSargent Named Communicator of the Year
M&C Wins Silver Award Chris Sargent, President and CEO for United Way of South Central Michigan, earned honors from the West Michigan Public Relations Society of America as the region’s Communicator of the Year. The annual award goes to a person in west Michigan who is an exceptional communicator and isn’t in the marketing or…
Read MoreUWSCMI Announces Federal Grants for Food, Shelter, Utilities
United Way of South Central Michigan (UWSCMI) facilitated a grant process that provided $460,437 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…
Read MoreJuneteenth in UWSCMI 2023
We all know what July 4 means to this country, but did you know about our nation’s other day of independence? On June 19, 1865, institutionalized slavery of Black Americans was ended in Texas, the last state where it remained in practice, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. That date is now known as…
Read MoreThe Power of Financial Literacy: Lily Missions Center
JACKSON – An essential part of being financially stable involves learning to manage a budget. That’s a skill that isn’t always understood. Our partnership with Lily Missions Center does two things: it provides an after-school program for kids, and it offers money management skills for parents. “Monica” is a single mother of five living in…
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