IN THIS ISSUE Diversity Leadership Society Emerging Leaders LINC (Lead. Impact. Network. Change.) Retire United Technology United Women United

United Way's Diversity Leadership Society is leading an initiative to reduce barriers to employment and advancement for local, diverse individuals.

The Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement initiative will be spotlighted during United Way's 2020 Community Campaign.

On June 18, 2020, United Way's Board of Directors approved grants to three local nonprofit agency programs fighting to reduce barriers to employment and advancement:

• Employ Milwaukee, Inc.
  Program Name: HITCH
• Milwaukee Community Business Collaborative, Inc.
  Program name: Pathways to Healthcare Careers
• Metro GO, Inc.
  Program name: Workforce Connections Pilot

Click here to learn more about these funded partners.

Additionally, a percentage of the funds from this initiative have been earmarked as future support for programs responding directly to COVID-19 related unemployment issues.

If you'd like to make a donation to support our ongoing efforts, please consider giving through your workplace's fall United Way campaign. If your workplace does not run a campaign, donate online today.

Thank you to our sponsor, ManpowerGroup!

Join the Emerging Leaders for this year's virtual Philanthropic 5 Awards on Wednesday, August 12. These awards recognize five community leaders in their 20s, 30s, and 40s and one outstanding youth leader that have made extraordinary commitments of leadership, volunteerism, mentoring, and philanthropy.

5:30 p.m. “Network” with fellow attendees via online chat
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Program

Winner announcement coming soon!

Register to Attend.

Thank you to our long time event sponsor, BMO Harris Bank, and media sponsor, Milwaukee Business Journal.

Emerging Leaders and LINC partnered on United Way's Day of Action June 19 - 21. While volunteers were not be able to gather in person like in years past, they still made a big impact in our community.

Over 125 volunteers participated in a variety of volunteer opportunities.

More than 6,000 masks were assembled, dozens of people donated blood, and over 100 books were purchased for children served by COA Youth & Family Centers.

Retire United also provide grocery gift cards and notes of encouragement for isolated older adults served by Eras Senior Network.

United Way has launched a new collective impact initiative in collaboration with Technology United, called Techquity, which seeks to bridge the digital divide throughout our community. Techquity connects stakeholders from our business, education, and social sector to promote digital equity and inclusion via three strategies:

1. Access: Ensuring all families have digital devices and internet access in their homes
2. Education: Fostering digital literacy and career pathways in technology
3. Innovation: Leveraging technology to accelerate innovation in the social sector

Techquity’s tactics include: 1) Facilitation of hardware donation drives; 2) Community-led programmatic investments in digital equity and access; 3) Skill-based volunteer experiences, and 4) Policy and systems change action. Priority populations include households with school-aged children, persons seeking employment, and vulnerable populations such as those experiencing domestic violence or homelessness.

Please contact Mimi Laflin with any questions, at mlaflin@unitedwaygmwc.org or 414.263.8136.

As we continue to navigate the impact of COVID-19 on communities and families, one issue that has been top of mind is child abuse and the impact that both the increased stress and an absence of mandated reporters have on many of the most vulnerable.

Reports of child abuse to Milwaukee Child Protective Services have gone down significantly. While this might at first seem like something to celebrate, it is, in fact, quite concerning: because children being maltreated are not in school or youth programs and therefore less visible. During "typical" times, educators and youth service workers have more access to students than most other professionals. They are often the first reporters of suspected abuse and neglect because they know these children -- they see them. They understand when something isn't right. Without them to bear witness, children are at increased risk of not getting the help they need.

United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County and our Women United network are asking United Way's partners to review and, if necessary, strengthen, mandated reporting requirements for 2020-21, as they may be the only professionals to see a young person and get them the help they need this summer. We are grateful for our agency partners for all that they do, including keeping the safety of youth and families top of mind.

Everyone, everywhere has been affected in some way by COVID-19, including our aging parents. Retire United recently held a virtual town hall to hear from local eldercare experts about the necessary changes taking place in community settings, the impact of isolation, what's being done now, and what the future holds.

Watch the recording here.

Thank you to our program sponsor, Vesta Senior Network!