Posts Tagged ‘Olmsted County’

Community Support Equals Community Success

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

By now, many of you have met the 2011 Live United Campaign Chair, Scott Heck,  and his alter ego, Scotty Idol. As he showed you a different side of his personality, he asked that everyone do something different FOR someone this year: mentor a child, speak up for education, check on an elderly neighbor, or make a contribution.

Many of us have hopes and dreams; dreams as extravagant as becoming a sports star or as simple as learning a new hobby. Some dreams are more urgent, such as urgent as being able to feed your family and buy warm clothes for a Minnesota winter. Along the way to those dreams, we have met people who have inspired and influenced our path. We have met people who have mentored and guided us along the way.

For many in our community, they are still looking for that inspiration or that mentor; someone who can provide encouragement to a person when they are the most overwhelmed by doubt. Doubt that creeps in at the end of the month, when some parents have to choose between food and warm clothes for their children. Doubt lurking in the classroom, where a student faces obstacles and wonders if they can pass this class, let alone graduate or go to college.

Doubt cripples hopes. Doubt kills dreams. And the only known cure is support; from family, from friends, and from the community.

This is where the United Way and partner organizations step in. Living United, we can conquer doubt, revive dreams, and make tomorrow a better place.

What will YOU differently this year to make a difference in someone’s life?

Who knows. Through helping someone else, you might find the life you change…is your own.

 

Join the United Way at Taste of Rochester this weekend. If you have not yet done so, read Scott Heck’s campaign kick-off letter. Visit the Be the 1 blog for other inspiring stories.

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Join the Live United tribe.

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

Low lights flickered off the scarfs and pictures on the wall as group of belly dancers weaved onto the stage. The dancers took turns choosing what motions the entire group would do. First, one dancer would step forward to lead. The rest of the dancers mimic her motions, supporting her through dance. This leader would then step back and another dancer would come up to replace her. All dancers had the opportunity to be in the spot light and the transfer of “power” took place seamlessly on the stage.

This style of dance is referred to as “tribal dance.” The word “tribal” really supported the image I was witnessing on the stage. Each dancer supported the others through movement. It was a communal experience and one which communities of all types could learn from.

Within the realm of volunteerism, too few people step up to take that lead role.  But within a volunteer community, you are not alone. Those around you do not want you to fail. There is a wide support network to help you as you help others.

Think of how much we could accomplish if we all took our chance in the spotlight. You could grow as an individual and also help the community grow as a whole.

Locally, there are plenty of opportunities to take that role. If you want to start small, two or three hours would help Running Start for School distribute backpacks to students August 23, 24, and 25.  With a larger leap, you could apply to the Emerging Leaders in Giving as a Design Team members. Take the volunteer pledge.

Together, we can help support each other and our community. Join the Live United tribe.

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You Have Super Powers

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

As a kid, did you ever want to be Superman with the ability to fly? Or Batman, a regular guy who had all sorts of cool skills and gadgets? My personal favorites were Wonder Woman and the Flash; I loved that both had the power of speed.

Some days, as we go from one life crisis to another, it seems like super powers would be a great addition to our lives. We get caught up in a mental cycle telling ourselves we are too busy or not important enough to really make a difference. Having super powers would solve all that.

But with these excuses, we sell ourselves short.  You don’t need Bruce Wayne’s money or Superman’s fame.  Simple, everyday moments can be enough to make a big difference in someone else’s life.

We have super powers; each and every one of else.

A friend of mine posted on Facebook about a recent trip through drive-thru with two lanes. He and another car both started to pull forward at the same time. He stopped and let the other car go first. When he reached the window to pay, he found out the other car had paid his bill. That story sprouted wings and not only made his day better, it made mine and a lot of other people’s days a bit brighter.

You never know how far your actions will go. From the person who takes a coffee to a co-worker who is having a bad day to the neighbor who helps out when daycare falls through. No matter how small a gesture we make, we have the super power of making a difference in the lives around us.

How’s that for super powers? You can read about the difference one person can make on Danielle Teal’s blog Bethe1. You can learn how to make a difference in a child’s life through mentoring. Help out a neighbor. Read a book to a child.  Join the Olmsted County United Way and the  local community at the Stuff the Bus Finale and Running with Angels Benefit this Saturday at the Wicked Moose.

There are so many ways, so many places we can fit our skills and talents. If only we would take the time.

That’s the Challenge – Who will you use your super powers on? Who’s life will you make a difference in TODAY?

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Help Local Students Get a “Running Start” on School

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

Back-to-school excitement. The cool new backpacks, Trapper Keepers (remember those), and all sort of paper, pens, and pencils. Going shopping and picking things out really got me excited for the new school year.

Looking back now, I wonder how much of that excitement extended into the school year?  Did it also help me mentally feel present and ready to learn?

Many kids in our community don’t necessarily feel the same excitement. Back-to-school can bring stress to a family where school supplies and other needs pinch an already stretched budget. Working with community partners, the Olmsted County United Way has an annual “Running Start for School” campaign where eligible K-12 students receive the school supplies they need to be prepared that first day.

The goal this year is to register 3,094 students to receive school supplies. Any child in Olmsted County who receives free or reduced lunches is eligible to receive school supplies. Students at Longfellow must register by July 15. All other students must register by August 12. You can register a student by calling 507-287-1958.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Have some fun. Enjoy these pictures of back-to-school supplies from previous eras. Did you have any of these? What are your favorite back to school memories?

Trapper Keeper

Hot Air Balloon Trapper Keeper

Calculators

Little Professor Calculator

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Invest in Our Future Workforce

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

Even with the  recession and current unemployment numbers, studies estimate that we “will have one million fewer college graduates than will actually be needed to rebuild a strong economy for the future.1”

Early Childhood Development provides investment in human capital for future workers. When given support during years 0 – 5, a child will succeed in school and provide contributions to society. Without that support, a child is more likely to drop-out of school. Several studies show that investment in early childhood development pays off. The benefits received through early childhood development far exceed their cost.2

Education is in the best interest of our workforce, our economy and our future. But currently 68% of the nation’s 4th grade students are unable adequately read “…a devastating statistic when research confirms that a child who is reading poorly in 4th grade is unlikely to graduate from high school.3”

The seeds for future graduates start with early childhood education. The years 0-5 are crucial in the development of a child. Success in early childhood is a definite indicator of future success in grade school, high school, and college.

Learn more about the impacts early childhood education:

At the United Way, we are involved with early childhood development and school preparedness through our work with Imagination Library and Running Start for School, as well as working with local community partners such as:

  • Civic League Day Nursery
  • Good News Children’s Center
  • Child Care Resource and Referral
  • Tri Valley Opportunity Council
  • Byron Community Education

We invite you to join the movement. Share with us YOUR ideas on how we can impact our community through education of our future generations.


1Center for Study of Social Policy Policymakers’ Fact Sheet Series 2010-5 “Building a 21st Century Workforce to Strengthen State Economies”

2Rob Grunewald and Arthur Rolnick “A Proposal for Achieving High Returns on Early Childhood Development” March 2006

3Center for the Study of Social Policy Policymaker’s Face Sheet Series 2010-6 “Investing in Grade Level Reading Improves School Success and lays the Foundation for Economic Productivity”

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“How are the kids?”

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

   willowblog

   When children succeed, they are more likely to create successful futures for themselves, their families, and their communities. Because today’s children will become the next generation of workers, parents, and leaders, we can only create a prosperous future by giving them the developmental building blocks they need to succeed in those endeavors.
   The research points to what these “building blocks of success” are for children. They include nurturing families, early education, quality health care throughout childhood, nutrition, safe communities, and adequate housing. Successful children must have these building blocks as their foundation.
   Just as a house built on a faulty foundation cannot stand up to stress, children also suffer when their development is interrupted by the effects of poverty, unattended health problems, unsafe environments, or relationships that aren’t nurturing. These interruptions, known as “toxic stress” can permanently damage a child’s brain functioning and ability to fully develop.

  The Building Blocks for Successful Children

Access data on the status of Olmsted County children across key indicators in education; economic well-being; family and community; health; safety and risky behaviors at the Kids Count Data Center.

Download a copy of  The Building Blocks for Successful Children, the 2009 Minnesota  Kids Count data book.

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