Friday, May 17, 2013

A deeper look at our Affinity Groups

 
 
Young United Professionals
Young professionals have long been supporting the mission of United Way of Delaware (UWD). This affinity group was one of the first created, though under a different name, in 2008. This group of energetic professionals volunteered throughout the state, building and maintaining Born Learning Trails. They also had networking mixers, social events, and met with local CEOs and Executive Directors to learn about different paths to professional and
civic fulfillment. This group has officially re-launched as the Young United Professionals (YUP for short). Led by Emeka Igwe from his own law office and Michael MacFarland, Regional VP, State of Delaware Market for TD Bank, the group is quickly gaining momentum.
 
UWD is rebuilding the YUP committee, which is composed of professionals from across sectors, from entities that currently include Christiana Care Health System, the Delaware Art Museum, M&T Bank, Delaware State University, the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition and more. The group is focused on supporting UWD's mission by creating a network of action-oriented young professionals and providing them with volunteering, professional development, and networking opportunities. The se opportunities will be focused on creating impact in the areas of Education, Income and Health.
 
YUP invites interested members to join them for a recruitment and networking social on Monday, June 24th at World Café Live at the Queen! We will have light food and drinks, an open mic, raffles, and more! Ten percent of the proceeds will benefit UWD. For more information about YUP and about the June 24th event, please contact Sarah Kenney at (302) 573-3751 or skenney@uwde.org.
 


PRIDE
In early April, presidents of Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) throughout Delaware came together to host the 2013 "Spring in Paradise" Fashion Show at the Baby Grand in Wilmington. The event showcased the hard work and leadership of local teens, who literally "ran the show!"  


The fashion show was sponsored by United Way of Delaware's Pride Council, which
leverages community resources to improve the lives of the LGBT youth and adults in Delaware.
The event, which was youth directed, was the first of its kind for the Pride Council and proved to be a huge success. More than 200 people attended the event, and more than 100 teens participated, including more than 30 models, and additional dancers, singers, and a live band. Many GSAs were involved, including those from William Penn High School, Howard High School and Conrad School of Science.

The Pride Council will be hosting its next event on May 18. It will be a Movie and Pizza night, to be held at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Newark from 6 to 9 PM. Middle and high school students and their parents are encouraged to attend. In addition, the second annual Anti-Bullying GSA Conference is scheduled for October 26 at Appoquinimink High School. More details will be forthcoming. For more information the Pride Council and how you can get involved, contact Bob Martz at (302) 573-3738 or
bmartz@uwde.org.

 

Revive The Village
Only 47 percent of African-American males in Delaware are graduating from high school, according to The Urgency of Now, a report recently produced by the Schott Foundation. Revive The Village: Back to the Basics, an African-American initiative led by United Way of Delaware (UWD), is focused on changing that statistic and more with its 2013 initiative, called "Saving our Sons."
 

This initiative is being led by two newly appointed co-chairs: Myron Neal, Assistant Vice President at Bank of America, and Toni Bush-Neal, Executive Advisor to the Executive Director of an agency in Washington, D.C.  Most immediately, the group is seeking 100 African-American male mentors to be paired with mentees through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware. Currently, this agency has approximately 100 African-American adolescent boys who are on a wait-list for their mentoring program.
 
"We are seeking 100 ambassadors to join us in this movement. We are putting together a plan that will address the inequities in academics, health, employment, policies and practices. A plan that will focus on solutions, outcomes and measurable results," said Bush-Neal.
The "Saving our Sons" initiative will officially launch at a community breakfast to be held on Saturday, June 15 (Father's Day) at Stubbs Elementary in Wilmington. The breakfast, which will be from 7:50 to 9:15 AM, will immediately precede another community event -- "Me and My Dad Got Game" - a basketball tournament coordinated by Robert Moore and Team Crossover Elite.
"We as African Americans have a very rich and diverse history which gives us a strong foundation to draw from and build upon," said Myron Neal. "It is important for everyone in Delaware to recognize the need for a strategic focus on young African American men.  There are huge disparities involving employment, economic advancement, education, and health factors, just to name a few, for African-American men versus those measured in similar data pools of other ethnic groups."
 
Latinos Unidos
Making up nearly 17 percent of the American population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Latinos are the largest minority group in the country and second largest in Delaware, with more than eight percent of the population being of Hispanic or Latino origin.
 
With these statistics, it's no surprise that the newest affinity group at United Way of Delaware (UWD) is United Latinos, headed up internally by Wanda Lopez, Associate Director of Community Impact with external leadership from UWD Board Member Tabatha Castro of The Castro Firm and Jacqueline Ortiz of Christiana Care Health System. This group just had its second official meeting and is beginning to organize around its mission of supporting community initiatives in the Hispanic community with a strategic focus in Education, Income and Health.
 
"We're exploring ways to be most effective as a group.  Many of us wear multiple hats to ensure representation at decision-making events that impact our community.  The discussion is focused on how to support and enhance Hispanic serving organizations and programs while avoiding duplication of efforts," says Lopez. This inclusive group is comprised of statewide leaders and representatives from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors of the Delaware community.
 
"Our focus is rooted in establishing a unique impact," says Latinos Unidos member Natalie Torres, Program Manager at Delaware Technical Community College. " I strongly believe this group will develop a unified voice for Latinos subsequently that will positively impact all Delawareans."
If you are interested in learning more about United Latinos, please e-mail Wanda Lopez at wlopez@uwde.org or reach her by phone at (302) 573-3761.
 
Women's Leadership Council
United Way of Delaware (UWD) is one of the most recent United Ways across the globe to create a special Women's Leadership Council (WLC). UWD's WLC is a vibrant community of women leaders from across the state. The group is focused on making a making a positive impact on the lives of Delawareans through strategic collaborations. They are in the process of adopting a signature program aimed at empowering women in the early learning profession.
 
"Early care and education is critically important to making sure our children are academically and socially prepared to enter school," said Michelle A. Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer of UWD. "Therefore, supporting the professionals who care for these young children is key to building strong communities."
 
In addition, the WLC is overseeing the Muriel E. Gilman Women in Action Mentoring Program - the only mentoring program in the state in which professional women mentor other professional women, to help them achieve their business and community impact goals, while building longterm fulfilling relationships. Twenty-two pairs recently completed the mentoring program, with more than 10 causes supported and 200 volunteer hours completed. Twenty-eight new pairs just started on May 9 and will soon announce their community impact projects. For more information and to get involved with WLC, contact Jamee Boone at (302) 573-3795.

 

 

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