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Day 4: Talking About Race & Racism
“Oftentimes people of color are asked to educate white people on issues that the person of color has lived with and thought about for their entire lives. That can be very psychologically and emotionally exhausting for a person to then have to care about the white person’s feelings and to take those extra efforts so…
Read MoreTime For Taxes! VITA Offers Free Tax Prep
Doing tax returns isn’t usually much fun. For households that can’t afford to hire an expert, it can be a missed opportunity to get the full refund they’re owed. That’s where United Way of South Central Michigan’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program can make a vital difference. VITA provides free tax preparation to low- and…
Read MoreCelebrating Black History Month at UWSCMI
Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. February commemorates the impactful Black leaders of our past and shines a spotlight on our everyday…
Read MoreDay 3: What is Privilege
“For those of us called white, whiteness simply is. Whiteness becomes, for us, the unspoken, interrogated norm, taken for granted, much as water can be taken for granted by a fish.” ― Tim Wise, White Like Me Privilege is the unearned social, political, economic, and psychological benefits of membership in a group that has institutional…
Read MoreDay 2: Understanding and Reflecting on Bias
“Worse than being less than you, is if you are perceived as a threat” John A. Powell, Othering & Belonging Institute, UC-Berkeley We all have biases. Bias is a preference in favor of or against a person, group of people,idea or thing that affects our understanding, actions and decisions. But often we’re notaware of our…
Read MoreNominations open for Capital Area Volunteer of the Year
Annually, the United Way of South Central Michigan-Capital Area Volunteer Center recognizes community volunteers for their significant impact on nonprofits in the Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties through their gifts of time and talent. These awards recognize individuals who provide valuable volunteerism to our community through their dedication and hard work, making a difference in…
Read MoreStabenow Support Lifts ALICE Initiative
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) successfully championed a $257,000 federal budget appropriation to support UWSCMI’s workplace initiative sustaining ALICE employees. United for ALICE@Work in Michigan is a business education and certification effort to help small- and medium-sized businesses better understand the needs of low-wage workers below the ALICE threshold. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained…
Read MoreA message from our Chief Equity Officer
Thank you to those who have joined us for the 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge. Over the next 21 days, you’ll join many colleagues, neighbors, friends, and family as we examine the history and impacts of racism in our community. You’re taking the first step by signing up for this challenge, and now the real work…
Read MorePartner Spotlight: One Center, One Community, Many Services
LANSING – Since 1968, Cristo Rey Community Center has played an important role in providing vital services to the Capital Area community, particularly the Latino community. The Center takes a holistic, hands-on approach to care for the whole person, including their mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. They achieve this through an array of services that support…
Read MoreCreating Healthy Communities in Northwest Lansing
LANSING – With its dedicated team of staff members and volunteers, Northwest Initiative supports the communities bordering the Grand River in Lansing with an array of services that range from food distribution to prison diversion programs. NWI is a currently funded partner of United Way of South Central Michigan. The organization’s work around nutrition is…
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