Their success is our success: Together we’re helping kids succeed

By Paul Krieger, Intern for United Way

I remember my dad telling me stories about growing up in poverty. Of the hot summer sun in the San Joaquin Valley where he and his younger brother picked cotton for less than five cents a pound. Of the small, two room bungalow where the brothers lived with their mother, step-father and two sisters. Of sleeping on the kitchen floor during winters and on the porch during summers and of the dirty well water they used to wash and bathe themselves. Through it all my father maintained a strong determination and spirit that manifested itself in a youthful desire to become a preacher.

Yet without the intervention of a caring aunt and the excellent support and belief of his local school, he almost certainly would have fallen into the same generational poverty that marked his family. With their support, however, my father was able to be the first in his family to go to college, then on to graduate school and afterward, a rewarding career in public service. Because there were critical supports — concerned school counselors and teachers, a supportive faith community and a mentoring family member — he was able to prevail in the belief that if he worked hard enough, he could find a place in the world for himself and his family.

Yet not all children are as fortunate as my father. Many are unable to escape poverty’s downward pull. During my father’s college years, poverty steadily declined for all Americans, reaching 11.3 percent in 1973 according to the National Poverty Center. Today, however, childhood poverty is worse than ever, especially since the onset of the 2008 recession. According to UNICEF, the U.S. now has a childhood poverty rate of 23 percent, among the worst of the industrialized world. For comparison, our rate is slightly lower than Romania’s but higher than Spain or Latvia. This rate is even higher for minorities like African Americans and Native Americans, groups who suffer the worst during periods of recession such as our current one.

The situation for children in poverty in Oregon is particularly alarming when compared to the national situation. According to a report by Children First for Oregon, in 2011, 44 percent of children lived in poverty or in low-income families, with 24 percent at poverty level — an amount that is the 14th worst in the country and above the national average. Over half of Oregon students are now eligible for free or reduced lunches. As noted in this OregonLive article, the economy is not creating jobs fast enough to reduce the demand on public assistance. Many Oregonians are exhausting their unemployment benefits and turning to cash welfare, the number of which has more than doubled since 2006.

 According to the American Psychological Association, the stress poverty places on families negatively impacts the ability of children to learn. The emotional toll leads to depression in children, lower attention spans and lower academic performance. This is a time when children learn to form friendships and adapt to the demands of school and their outside environment. Parents overwhelmed by financial stress are less able to meet the caregiving needs of their children and this in turn negatively impacts the educational readiness of the child — the largest single indicator of their future success and the biggest determinant for breaking the cycle of generational poverty.

To meet this crisis of our region’s children, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette is adopting a new strategic focus that seeks to help end this problem within a generation — a strategy that will involve a shift in the way we engage with the community: we will become an engaged organizer and partner of the community rather than simply the fundraising organization we have been known for being in the past. Our new focus will involve effecting outcomes in three key areas: successful kids, stable families and connected communities.

Not having a high school diploma effectively dooms a child to a life of poverty so we will strategically invest in and work with partners that support student success at all grade levels including preschool, high school graduation and college/career transition after high school. Recognizing that children live in families, we will also support programs that promote family health and stability. Finally, we believe that some of the best solutions grow out of communities themselves; we will therefore be making long-term investments in and work with a cohort of strong community partners.

To help kids succeed, we fund organizations that implement programs that support students all the way from preschool to high school graduation (the biggest determinate of overall life earning potential). For instance, Self-Enhancement, Inc. has a strong mentorship program concentrating on the needs of students both in and outside of class. I Have a Dream’s The Dreamer School Project, builds long-term relationships, academic and social support services and creates a “culture of college” within school. Or the Youth Advocacy Program at the  Native American Youth and Family Center which provides intensive educational and culturally specific community services for Native youth, focusing on developing strong peer relations and collaborative problem-solving. Funded projects like these will help young students receive the supports they need both in class and without in order to maximize their chances of academic success.

So many years ago, my father was fortunate enough to receive the kind of supports he needed to overcome the obstacles that would have condemned him and his family to a life of poverty. Because of the support he received, he and his family were able to realize their dreams and build a middle-class life. The contributions you make to United Way can similarly help children from low-income families break the cycle of generational poverty, not only helping them reach their dreams but also ensuring our entire community becomes healthier and economically stronger.

Learn more about how we help kids succeed. If you’re with a local organization that supports successful kids, stable families or connected communities, you may be interested in our funding opportunities.

Measuring Up: Assessing Ourselves on Equity

In May, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette staff completed an internal assessment to gauge how well we are doing in creating equal opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds within our organization. The assessment (called the Tool for Organizational Self-Assessment and Shared Accountability) was done as part of our partnership with All Hands Raised.   

The overarching goal of the tool is to help promote improved outcomes for children and youth in Multnomah County schools especially around the areas of racial education equality and social justice. United Way volunteered to pilot the tool along with All Hands Raised.

The assessment took 76 hours to complete and consisted of 72 questions on topics such as organizational and leadership commitment, policies and practices, culture and communications and other areas impacting our practices vis-à-vis diversity. The assessment process included extensive discussion and data collection and was conducted by the culture committee and Maria Rubio, the former vice president of equity and engagement (Rubio stepped down from her role in June). I had the opportunity to speak with Rubio, before she left,  regarding the assessment and what it revealed about United Way’s own situation.  

I first would like to ask you about the difference between the words equity and equality. I think equality is the word most of us are familiar with and learned about in civics classes. This is probably the word most people think of when we think about the American social contract.
Equality means treating everyone the same - food, money, time, etc. Equity recognizes that everyone doesn’t come from the same place. Equality doesn’t recognize the barriers others often face in reaching the same outcomes - for example, the barriers created by discrimination or the challenges faced by a person with a disability.

At this point Rubio referred me to an image featured in the Equity Tool Report: 

Note: This image was adapted by the City of Portland
Office of Equity and Human Rights from the original graphic:
http://indianfunnypicture.com/img/2013/01/Equality-Doesnt-Means-Justice-Facebook-Pics.jpg

The image shows three boys of varying heights standing on boxes, trying to view a baseball game over a fence.  The left panel, titled “Equality,” shows how by being given equal resources, the boys do not achieve equal outcomes, while the right panel, titled “Equity,” shows that when resources are shifted to account for differences, the result is equal outcomes.  This principle is actually recognized by our judicial system and Rubio referred to a quote from a study of equity and bias in the Oregon Justice System that states:   “equal treatment of un-equals, constitutes unequal treatment” (paraphrased).  As the Portland Plan defines it, equity is when everyone has access to the opportunities necessary to satisfy their essential needs, advance their well being and achieve their full potential.

What is the importance of the assessment tool and what do you hope to accomplish by using it?

The tool will help organizations like local government and school districts assess how their organization and cultures might be creating disparities in their service delivery and/or their student success. The tool also spurs conversation and discussion about equity that rarely happens in the workplace.

So what did the assessment tool reveal about our own commitment to equity?
Our chief strength is our commitment and our courage and willingness to discuss and examine these sensitive issues. This is a role that an organization’s leadership must play and here at United Way, Keith Thomajan (United Way of the Columbia-Willamette CEO and president) has really been a driving force for creating our own culture of equity.

Maria Rubio goes over the assessment results with United Way staff

What are some of our other strengths?
We have a strong community sense and an existing equity policy that focuses on populations that are the most disadvantaged and disenfranchised in our region.  We also have an equity lens designed to help keep equity front and center in our organization. Lastly, we have a strong and diverse culture committee. This committee serves as advisors to the leadership team on issues that impact culture and morale. Committee members serve as ambassadors who model and incorporate the guiding principles that demonstrate the culture we want to have here at United Way.

Where are some areas where we fall short?
An obvious gap in our equity work is that we don’t incorporate it into our workplace giving campaign messaging. We need to engage and educate our donors about how inequities affect learning outcomes in schools, individual health, and individual and community economic stability. By improving education, health and economic conditions for the most vulnerable in our society, we all benefit by higher incomes, a better educated workforce and healthy people.

Dannon Raith, Hands On Greater Portland Program Coordinator, and Carol Frye, Chief Operating Officer, listen to the assessment results

The equity lens was identified as one of United Way’s strengths. What can you tell me about the lens?

The equity lens is a way of keeping equity front and center and to keep the dialogue open. It is a way of keeping track of equity - how it will impact people thinking about diversity and how it impacts us.  It offers us a way to look at where we can impact this process.  The lens creates more commitment to equity and with it, a greater commitment of resources as well.

How often should organizations like United Way conduct an equity assessment?
We should conduct the assessment at least once a year and measure the progress from the previous year’s goals. It should be conducted by a diverse, cross section of employees and organization leaders.

Do you have any final thoughts you would like to share?
Other collaborative member agencies worry about putting themselves out there by undertaking this assessment work.  At United Way, we have been very open with our findings, even when it’s hard to hear.  Because of this, we now have a benchmark for our future work and we will only get better.

Open Hearts, Open Minds: A Glimpse into the Success of Mount Scott Learning Centers

Watch a video about MSLC

On a Tuesday morning visit to Mt. Scott Learning Centers (MSLC), there was a palpable sense of community. One of the first things I noticed - besides the bright purple façade of the building - was that the administrative and dean’s offices had full-window walls, creating an open environment. As we toured the school, students approached our tour guide, MSLC Transitions Manager Joshua Mead, asking to speak with him later. In the lunchroom, students and teachers talked animatedly in small groups. Voices of teachers starting class spilled out of classroom doors left ajar. Students en route to class bustled past us with quick smiles to Mead. The hallways were lined with framed photographs documenting graduations, school events and sports teams. If I could sum up my first impression in three words it would be: energy, enthusiasm and warmth.

MSLC has become a known leader in the Portland community for providing accredited alternative education for at-risk youth. A majority of students who attend MSLC are categorized as “academic priority,” meaning they had poor attendance records, low benchmark scores on the Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, or were failing core courses and in danger of not graduating high school. More than 70 percent are low-income.  Yet, if you dig deeper into why these students are at-risk, it becomes clear that many different roads led to this path. For varying reasons these students were all struggling in a conventional schooling environment and needed more one-on-one attention and a more flexible approach.

An unprecedented number of students graduated from MSLC this year!

MSLC has been able to transform chronically disengaged students by establishing positive adult relationships. Class sizes are at a maximum of 20 students, allowing a richer curriculum and closer student-teacher relationships. The school’s core teachers hold weekly small group advisory sessions for students. From the time I spent there, it was clear that the staff’s dedication to their students extended far beyond programming.  Likewise, the students possess a strong loyalty to the school because they selected MSLC and are choosing to make the effort to graduate high school. This paralleled commitment fuels the staff’s desire to constantly improve the organization’s ability to serve the needs of its students.

MSLC received a $97,000 grant from United Way of the Columbia-Willamette’s 2012-13 grant cycle because MSLC’s goals for improving its school were closely aligned with United Way’s education impact areas of high school completion and students’ successful transition to continuing education. MSLC used the grant money to enhance the Transitions Program and to develop the Career Foundations class. These classes directly address the growing need to help students prepare for their transition post-graduation and that some students need personalized assistance in planning their credits for high school completion.

The Career Foundations class, an elective targeted for younger students, is designed to give students the tools, analytical skills and encouragement to plan for their future career options.  The course supplements the Transitions Program, a class designed for seniors’ transition out of high school, and gives the students a comprehensive plan of action for their future. Students conduct market research on their top career choice and backup career choice. At the end of the quarter, every student presents the research conducted on their top two career choices.

The grant also assisted in the development of intensive case management services for 25 students within the Transitions Program. The students receive support to identify credits needed for graduation and get referrals for credit retrieval. They also attend career classes, receive support in career planning and personalized mentorship. All 15 seniors in United Way’s case management program will successfully graduate and receive their diploma June 2013.

Many students of MSLC are the first in their family to consider college. Thus, another emphasis at MSLC is to increase awareness and knowledge of college. In January, the school hosted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Night for students and their families to get information and assistance in filling out FAFSA applications. Mead spearheaded this idea when he realized that many families do not have the resources to complete the complicated application; thus students were missing out on an opportunity to receive funding for post-secondary education. The event proved hugely successful with around 30 families attending. Most notably, there was a significant increase in the number of students receiving scholarships. A huge part of this can be attributed to the development of the case management program, new opportunities for career explorative classes and family outreach events such as FAFSA night. To highlight the success of such programs, all 15 case managed youth applied for FAFSA and will receive a Pell Grant and 10 of the 15 won additional scholarships.

In the past, MSLC graduated 17-19 students each year. This year, the number of students who are graduating has almost doubled to 31 students. MSLC credits a large part of this success to the support provided by the Transitions Program case management’s increased focus on ensuring that students attain the credits they need to graduate and the Career Foundations class’ emphasis on planning early for the future. These services are clearly spilling over to other students as reflected by the increased graduation rates.

“The most rewarding aspect of my job has always been watching our students graduate,” said Mead.  “I can now add that seeing my students realize college is an accessible option is another extremely rewarding part of my work. Their sense of accomplishment and pride is very moving.”  

To learn more about Mt. Scott Learning Centers, visit: http://www.mtscottlearningcenters.org/

United Way supporters honored at April 11 event

We honored our supporters at the Thursday, April 11 Celebration of Caring event at Castaway in NW Portland. During the event, we announced that our donors gave $23,686,521 in the 2012-13 local United Way campaign. This represents a 7.6 percent increase over last year’s fundraising total and sets a new record for funds raised by and for our community. Funds will go to projects in the four-county metro area that help connect people in need with education, financial stability and health services, as well as to nonprofits selected by individual donors.

“At United Way, we believe each of us has something to share and that, together, we’ve got what it takes to make our home the best possible community, for everybody,” said Keith Thomajan, president and CEO. “This year’s results demonstrate that and reinforce the continued generosity of our community.”

The campaign total includes a one-time $2 million bequest from a long-time United Way donor. These funds will be endowed and will have a lasting impact on the community. Additional successes include a $200,000 increase in overall employee giving and a 200% increase in new business and partnerships. 

The 2012 Fundraising Committee Chair was Andy Frazier, managing partner of Frazier Hunnicutt Financial, and the Honorary Co-Chair was Portland Timbers defender David Horst. During the event, Carol Mangan, Oregon Market president at Sterling Bank, was announced as the 2013 Fundraising Committee chair. Members of the Fundraising Committee actively help raise funds by meeting with other executives, running top campaigns in their own companies and personally giving time and money to support giving efforts.

AWARDS EARNED

Thousands of individuals and hundreds of businesses and organizations partnered with United Way to give back to the community this year. Their efforts were recognized and awarded at the Celebration of Caring.

INTEL AMAZES

Intel Oregon employees and retirees, along with a match from the Intel foundation, donated more than $6.8 million to the Intel United Way Community Giving Campaign in 2012. This puts Intel Oregon’s giving total since 2003 at $51.1 million. During those ten years, 6,025 employees and retirees contributed to the campaign. In recognition of this generosity, Intel Corporation received the “$50 Million in 10 Years” award.

WELLS FARGO EMPLOYEES MAKE IT HAPPEN

During the 2012 campaign Wells Fargo became the second company ever in the history of the local United Way to raise more than $1 million solely by the employees—specifically, donations have now reached a total of $1,062,000. Wells Fargo received the “Thanks-A-Million” award.

Other companies recognized during the Celebration included the following:

CAMPAIGN CHAIR’S AWARDS

Large Company: UPS

Medium Company: Enterprise Holdings

Small Company: Cascade Corporation

EMPLOYEE CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR OF THE YEAR

Large: Laura Bain, Intel

Medium: Laura Coon, Ron Tonkin Family of Dealerships

Small: Julie Strand, Pendleton Woolen Mills

BEST OF TRADE

Architectural, Engineering and Construction: Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

Education: David Douglas School District

Finance & Accounting: Sterling Bank

Government & Grantors: Clark County

Heath Care & Social Services: Providence Health & Services

Insurance: Cambia Health Solutions

Legal & Real Estate Services: Melvin Mark Companies

Materials & Machinery Manufacturing: Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Product & Device Manufacturing: Benson Industries LLC

Retail, Trade & Accommodations: Costco Wholesale, Inc.

Utilities, Transportation & Warehousing: Pacific Power

Wholesale Trade: Alaska Copper & Brass Company

BEST OF COUNTY

Clackamas: Bi-Mart Molalla

Clark: City of Vancouver

Multnomah: ESCO Corporation

Washington: Gaylord Industries

INNOVATION AWARD

Eaton Corporation

BEST NEW CAMPAIGN

NW Equity Holdings LLC

LABOR PARTNER OF THE YEAR

IAMAW Willamette Lodge #63

MEDIA PARTNER OF THE YEAR

The Oregonian

CAMPAIGN PERFORMANCE AWARDS

211info

Adalis Corporation

Banner Bank

Benson Industries LLC

Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Deloitte

ESCO Corporation

Fred Meyer Stores

Homestreet Bank

Intel

Parametrix, Inc.

Sterling Bank

Stoel Rives LLP

Keeping families together: Stepping Stones project

Your gift helped furnish this room
 for a family like Melanie and Bill's

Melanie and Bill are a young married couple with three beautiful children. But addiction, at one point, tore their family apart. Their family was separated when Melanie and Bill’s heroin addiction made the caretaking of their children too difficult. The parents lost custody and were estranged from their children. The judge presiding over their case sentenced them to an outpatient treatment program. Their road to recovery included a very structured and demanding program, but both showed much success. 

As Melanie’s recovery progressed, she was referred to a United Way funded project, Stepping Stones, and was given the opportunity to reunite with her children as she continued her treatment program. She and her children were provided safe and affordable housing through the Stepping Stones project. For nine months she learned parenting and employment skills as she continued her journey to recovery. While living there, one of her children became very ill. Melanie persevered and stayed focused, obtained a job and paid rent at the home despite the added stress. Last summer, she and Bill graduated from their outpatient programs and have since transitioned their entire family into affordable permanent housing.

CODA’s Stepping Stones project provides women and their children with safe and affordable housing as they complete their outpatient treatment programs. Women learn the skills they need to successfully manage their addictions, seek employment, and parent their children through this project. An on-site monitor assists with coordination and support to these women and their families as they rebuild their lives so they can move on through recovery to permanent housing.

Dreamer and Doer: Frances Wisebart Jacobs, “Mother of Charities”

March is National Women’s History Month. And at United Way, we have an especially strong connection to the powerful work of women in history. We wouldn't be here today without Frances Wisebart Jacobs, a woman who helped found the organization that became United Way.

Born in 1843 in Kentucky, Jacobs immigrated with her husband to Denver to open a clothing store. She quickly saw the needs in her new home and moved to take action. One of her big, early initiatives was helping tuberculosis (TB) patients get the care they needed.  Hundreds of TB patients moved to Colorado each year for its clean, unpolluted air. But the state didn't have the services to care for them and many ended up homeless, with no choice but to “roam the city coughing and hemorrhaging.”

Jacobs started a volunteer organization that helped them and later advocated for a free TB hospital in Denver. Her passion for change inspired others. The hospital’s research contributed to ending TB as an epidemic.

TB was only one of the issues that Jacobs worked on. She also founded a free kindergarten and a relief society that focused on women in need. In a time when people in poverty were often blamed for their condition or even considered to be a lesser order of human being, Jacobs saw them with empathy and compassion. She understood the connections between the various challenges in her community, saying “God never made a pauper in the world, children come into the world and conditions and surroundings make them either princes or paupers.”

In 1887, Jacobs joined with interfaith Denver leaders to start the Charity Organization Society, which brought together twenty-three charities to coordinate their work. Eventually the organization went nationwide and became United Way and our local branch was founded in 1920.

France Wisebart Jacobs was just one person but her work had a ripple effect that we can still feel today. Many women in our community are creating change and making history. In honor of Women’s History Month, thank you from all of us at United Way.

Sources: Wikipedia, unitedway.org, National Women’s Hall of Fame. Image courtesy Wikipedia.

Donor Spotlight: Carole Bentley

After Carole Bentley survived cancer, she knew she wanted to give back to people who were going through what she had experienced. That passion for helping others drove her to volunteer with the American Cancer Society, where she has worked on events including their gala fundraiser. Fortunately for us, Bentley is also a firm advocate for United Way of the Columbia-Willamette and its mission for our community. She has been donating to United Way for her entire career, more than 35 years. She filled out a pledge form at her very first job at First National Bank, and still gives today as the senior vice president/Commercial Lending Center manager at Banner Bank in Lake Oswego.

Along with her co-workers, Bentley is involved in the United Way workplace giving campaign at Banner Bank. In 2012, Bentley’s branch had the best-ever results for any local Banner Bank — their campaign total more than tripled. That means more money going back to the community to create change. Her advice for anyone involved in running a United Way campaign is to focus on the human aspect and engage with employees. It’s important for potential donors to understand that “someone you know might have been helped by United Way.”

Having lived in the Portland area for many years, Bentley says that what she loves most about this community is that while it has all the resources of a major metropolitan area, it has a small-town feel where everyone knows and supports each other.

Bentley’s worked to make sure that her own values continue in the next generation. She has two sons and taught them from an early age that “when we’re lucky enough to not be hurting, we must help others who are. And, if you can’t give money you can give time.”

Bentley says that she gives to United Way because she loves the fact that 100 percent of her gift goes to help the community. “I like to know where the money goes and I’ve always felt confident that when I give to United Way the money will be used wisely.”

Thank you, Carole Bentley, for your 35 years of giving and creating change in our community. We can do what we do only because of donors like you.