Greater Twin Cities United Way

Education is one of the most powerful tools in building prosperity and equity, but due to inflation, and the rising cost of living, not every child has the same opportunity to do well in school. You can make a difference. Sign up to purchase, assemble and donate school supply packs to be distributed to local students. https://bit.ly/3VwSj67 🖍️ ✂️✏️ Let’s #LevelThePlayingField to ensure children in our community have the supplies they need this school year. Thank you Bremer Bank — our volunteer at home partner — for hosting drop off locations!

Our senior donor advisor Todd Western III was recently featured on Science Friday! In a conversation recorded earlier this year, Todd discusses his background as a sixth-generation farmer, his work promoting racial equity for farmers of color and the impact of climate change on agriculture today. Give it a listen!

📢Exciting Opportunity! Greater Twin Cities United Way is seeking community members aged 16+ within our 9-county region to serve as reviewers for our Community Investments grant program. If selected, you’ll contribute 15–20 hours from October to December 2024, reviewing grant applications and participating in trainings.  Apply by August 2nd at 5pm: https://bit.ly/3VG49v2

"United Way has taken a holistic approach, supporting 33 Minneapolis-area nonprofits working on housing stability, leading initiatives addressing the problem, including programs designed to prevent homelessness for youth leaving foster care or prison, and Home For Good, which supports families transitioning from homelessness to stable housing." An important piece from our colleagues at United Way Worldwide, exploring how Greater Twin Cities United Way – alongside local United Ways nationwide – is working to ensure that all families have a stable, affordable place to call home.

Did you know that each year more than 100,000 K-12 students in our community return to school without school supplies? A $12 gift provides a local child with a brand-new backpack full of school supplies, so they are ready to learn this school year! 🎒Give now: https://bit.ly/3zm62pf Action Day 2024 is presented by Target.

Next week! Our #CareerAcademies program officer Liz Williams will be presenting at the OnRamp Education & Workforce Innovation Conference on July 10 at Target Field. There's still time to register, and attendance is free! Learn more and sign up at https://lnkd.in/g2qWQDnu

United Way 211 is available to assist households who have been affected by the devastating flooding occurring across Minnesota. United Way 211 can connect residents to available community resources and services, connect households to clean-up assistance and/or financial assistance that may become available. All services are free, and dependent on availability due to the overwhelming need. Greater Twin Cities United Way 211 is available 24/7. Simply dial 2-1-1 on your phone or text your zip code to 898-211. A toll-free number is also available at 1-800-543-7709. Visit our website at https://lnkd.in/gJHhYbWb for more information.

Nearly half of young LGBTQI+ Americans have thought seriously about suicide. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides access to LGBTQI+ trained crisis counselors for youth and young adults. Call, text, and chat. #988Lifeline #Pride Come say hi to Greater Twin Cities United Way and our 988 team at Twin Cities Pride this weekend! We'll be tabling Saturday and Sunday to help raise awareness of 988 and 211. We hope to see you there. If you or someone you know needs crisis support now, please call or text 988, or visit https://988lifeline.org/ for free, confidential help 24/7.

Statement from Greater Twin Cities United Way on this morning's Supreme Court ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson: The Supreme Court's ruling in the case of Grants Pass v. Johnson is counter-productive to our collective goal of ending homelessness. Criminalizing homelessness only makes it more difficult for people to access and maintain stable housing. This approach is not only inhumane – it’s ineffective. Homelessness represents a failure of our public systems – in the ways that affordable housing is funded, built and maintained. The top cause of homelessness in the U.S. is the lack of affordable housing; in Minnesota there are only 42 affordable homes for every 100 households with low income. Our cities, counties and state government must prioritize policies that take a compassionate approach with our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness. Greater Twin Cities United Way continues to support our nonprofit partners who are providing affordable housing and trauma-informed, culturally responsive supportive services for individuals who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness; and to help communities access housing resources through our 211 resource helpline. We are also continuing our efforts to develop new policy solutions through our Pathways Home initiative, and through our ongoing advocacy at the Minnesota State Capitol. Greater Twin Cities United Way will continue to monitor the effects of this ruling and work with our nonprofit partners to ensure that all of our neighbors can have a safe, secure place to live. We partner with organizations who prevent and end homelessness through legal services, shelter, supportive housing, and holistic support services. Our partners in this work include: Connections to Independence (C2i) Al-Maa'uun Ujamaa Place MERRICK COMMUNITY SERVICES Solid Ground MN Emma Norton Services Model Cities of St Paul Inc CAPI USA - Immigrant Opportunity Center Avenues for Youth Ain Dah Yung Center Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center American Indian Family Center The Bridge for Youth Clare Housing Esperanza United YouthLink MN YWCA St. Paul AMERICAN INDIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center Simpson Housing Services Tubman The Link Minnesota CLUES Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc. Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid Project for Pride in Living (PPL) Amherst H. Wilder Foundation RS EDEN Encouraging Leaders mn Foster Advocates Rebound, Inc. 180 Degrees, Inc.

Across Minnesota, our #CareerAcademies initiative is building partnerships to create new pathways for students to explore purposeful, in-demand career opportunities. In a recent op-ed in the Duluth News Tribune, Jennifer Byers of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce discusses how our partnerships with local chambers are helping build brighter futures for our state's young people.