When I think about growing up in North Dakota I think often about how I saw my parents in the community.

My Dad travelled more than 1 million miles in his career across North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa and he continues to meet again friends and acquaintances from those travels - I think that says a lot about how he built relationships with people over the 33 years he was on the road in the agriculture business. 

My Dad also has always tended a garden with my Mom and although they are planting less zucchini and tomatoes than previous years (because there is ALWAYS too many of each by the end of the summer and you can only bake so many chocolate zucchini cakes!  ) my parents are always giving their extra produce to neighbors, friends, and family.

 Active in social and faith circles, relationships and helping others are just simply something that was part of growing up with my parents. They showed me early on and continue to show me what it means to Live United in a family, in a neighborhood, and in community and what it means to see yourself as part of something bigger than yourself. 

I’ve been thinking about LIVING UNITED in 2009.   How will I show up in real and tangible ways for my family, my work team, my friends, and our community that says you matter, and this issue matters. That says,  I am going to invest in you and in this so that we are all lifted up. That says, I will LIVE UNITED.  How we measure our organization’s success through our ends policies is clear:

Children are prepared to succeed in school.

Youth are prepared to succeed in the community.

People move toward financial independence.

People’s health improves through wellness and health care access.

People’s basic need of food, shelter, safety, and inclusivity are addressed

To deliver on these it will take all of us championing our work, not just some of us -boldly LIVING UNITED - saying yes to showing up and lending our voices, our time and our talents in ways that creatively solve the challenges in these complex issues.  I am convinced that in this time and in this place we can make these ends policies a reality. 

Karen Erlenbusch, President, United Way of Olmsted County