Speak United

An appreciation for the effect of the unexpected

Guest Blogger — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:57:15 -0500

The following is a guest post by Lisa Palin, an attorney at Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky, and Popeo, P.C. On September 15, Lisa participated in a United Way Poverty Simulation. The United Way Poverty Simulation aims to provide participants with a closer view into in the life of a family living at or near the poverty level in Massachusetts. Each participant takes on the role of a family member and are assigned tasks to accomplish to sustain their families – work, grocery shop, go to school, sign up for needed services, etc.

The experience is simulated, but participants get a sense of the real-life constraints, such as transportation, work and time, that many families face in trying to attain financial stability. In her guest post, Lisa walks us through her "role" in the simulation and what was going through her mind during and after the experience. read more »

Photos from Community Care Day

Meghan Keaney — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:27:38 -0500

Last week more than 1,300 Massachusetts employees took to the community to participate in United Way's 18th Annual Community Care Day, an effort to better the region through single-day projects while fostering long-term volunteer engagement. The following photos are just a few from the day. Have a story from Community Care Day that you'd like to share? Leave it in the comment box below, or contact me to be a guest blogger. read more »

Financial Stability Center Launch Photos

Meghan Keaney — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:53:30 -0500

Tuesday, in the belly of what was once a Union Street Bank, United Way and Serving People in Need (SPIN) launched an innovative center to move people beyond safety nets into permanent financial stabiliy and economic empowerment. Located at 270 Union St in Lynn, The United Way Financial Stability Center, powered by SPIN aims to help families climb out of poverty through an integrated plan of Financial Education, Credit Counseling, Basic Banking, Free Tax Preparation/ EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit), Computer and job-related skills (ESOL, ABE, GED), Financial Aid Application Assistance, Mat read more »

Today on Live United TV

Meghan Keaney — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:56:01 -0500

Today on Live United TV... the story of a man who has been donating for 75 years.

Ten Things You Need to Know to End Homelessness

Meghan Keaney — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:56:03 -0500

I've always considered top ten lists to be the lazy man's answer to writer's block. Late night TV shows, blogs, major media outlets on slow august weekends -- we're all guilty of it. This morning though, I found a top ten list that broke through my previous perceptions and struck me as both incredibly interesting and exceptionally important.

Last week, The Nation an online and print magazine on politics and national affairs printed an editorial by read more »

The Workers Pathways to Self-Sufficiency Act

Meghan Keaney — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:49:04 -0500

Today, the Boston Business Journal ran an article on legislation that aims to address the need for expanded state investments in the education and training of low-income workers. The legislation, initiated by United Way partner agency Crittenton Women’s Union, is called The Workers Pathways to Self-Sufficiency Act of 2009 and it includes: read more »

How We Learn

Meghan Keaney — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:09:21 -0500

Outside of my office window a young girl is jumping in and out of brightly colored squares painted on the sidewalk. Her mother points to each of the squares and asks how many are there. It takes only a moment over the course of their stroll to Boston Children's Museum, but this stop will help lay the foundation for the little girl's developing math and motor skills. It will join a flurry of other experiences, observations and interactions that will prepare the toddler to enter school ready to learn. read more »

Remembering Father Bill

Elizabeth Curtis — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:36:54 -0500

I saw in the Boston Globe this morning that Father Bill, a local champion for ending homelessness, passed away late last week. While I didn't know Father Bill personally, his work is something I have tremendous respect for. He served as the priest at St. John's in Quincy for 18 years, and while there experienced more and more people coming to him for help finding housing. read more »

Before a Child's First Birthday

Meghan Keaney — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:35:05 -0500

In 2001, Child Trends, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center that studies the development of children began a long-term study which took a look at infants from multiple socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Their primary research question? When does poverty begin to impact a child's development? When does the achievement gap first manifest. read more »

New Data on National Homelessness

Meghan Keaney — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:41:50 -0500

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development just released its Annual Homeless Assessment Report. According to HUD, the report is the first to "provide year-to-year trend information that explores read more »