Voices United

SoftwareOne & Technology United Empower Employees to Give Back

SoftareOne employees at a recent volunteer event.

March 8, 2019

Written by Patty Ravencroft, director of people and culture, SoftwareOne

I often think about this quote from our late president and CEO Patrick Winter: “It’s not about work-life balance, it’s about work-life harmony.” Patrick knew that there isn’t a clean line between work and life, but a blending of the two. At SoftwareOne, we want to help our employees lead happy, fulfilling lives both in and out of the workplace.

This philosophy recently inspired a new strategy for our North American business called “Vision 2022.” Within this vision, our executive leadership board decided not only on three business-related pillars, but also on three pillars centered around our people. At SoftwareOne, we don’t make widgets; our entire business is about people. When we focus on our people - current employees, prospective employees, and clients - we become not only more successful in business, but a more successful community.

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Podcast: The Next Generation

February 26, 2019

Listen Now (00:28:33)

Jobs in the technology field are growing, but as these jobs continue to grow, the workforce skilled enough to take these jobs are decreasing. The same can be said for trade jobs.

So how do we build a workforce that is ready to take on these positions? What can we do today to support our next generation?

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Introducing Technology United!

February 15, 2019

Written by John Dunn, VP – Digital Supply Chain, GE Healthcare and Technology United Council Co-chair

It’s official: IT United, the United Way donor network of technology professionals making a difference in our community through giving, volunteerism, and advocacy, will now be known as Technology United.

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Three things I’ve learned about leadership

January 21, 2019

Leading the Way

The recipient of the 2018 Linda McFerrin Award for African American Nonprofit Leadership is Vincent Lyles. Vincent served as the president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee from 2011 to 2018. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee is the largest youth-serving organization in the city of Milwaukee, with more than 750 employees and over 2,000 volunteers.

Cory Nettles of Generation Growth Capital, Inc. and the Chairman of the Board of United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County announced the award on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

“Vincent Lyles has been among the strongest nonprofit leaders in our community. He did a great job scaling Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee impact in our community, particularly related to programming sites and especially related to the number of kids served each day. He is the perfect recipient of the Linda McFerrin Award for African American Leadership.”

Each year, a nonprofit leader will be selected by United Way’s Diversity Leadership Society and a $5,000 grant will be made by United Way to the organization they represent.

We asked Vincent to share some insights and ideas on being an effective leader.

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Sharing our Blessings through Year-End Giving

(From left) United Way President Amy Lindner, Board Chair Cory Nettles, and CEO Mary Lou Young.

December 20, 2018

Written by Cory Nettles, Founder and Managing Director of Generation Growth Capital, Inc. and Chairman of the Board for United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County.

At United Way, we often hear from our nonprofit partners that winter is a time of incredible need. Between the cold weather and the holidays, many individuals and families in our community could use a helping hand.

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Changes are Coming this Tax Season

November 29, 2018

Written by Crystal Monsivais, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site coordinator, La Casa de Esperanza

Ready or not, here comes tax season! Are you ready? There are new changes to our tax laws that may catch you unprepared. The IRS has a way for you to better prepare yourself and it’s by using their Withholding Calculator.

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We ate…we shopped…now we give back!

November 21, 2018

The Thanksgiving holiday has expanded to so much more than just good food and gratitude with family. Thanksgiving also ushers in the official start to the holiday season, when many people celebrate not only by purchasing gifts for friends and family, but by spreading love and cheer to those in need.

“Giving Tuesday,” the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is a great opportunity to kick off the season on a high note. While the word “giving” may bring a monetary donation to mind, there are lots of other ways to give (though if you’d like to make a donation to United Way this year, click here)!

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At Fill the Freezer, Food is Love

Rebecca Cook (R) and her daughter, Emma, at Fill the Freezer 2018.

October 29, 2018

Written by Katie Kuhn, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County

For Rebecca Cook, a senior attorney at ManpowerGroup, and her daughter Emma, volunteering is a part of life. For the past two years, they have taken part in a fun and delicious project with United Way and both agree it’s one of their all-time volunteering highlights. 

United Way’s Fill the Freezer is an annual event that brings professional chefs and community volunteers together to prepare and pack freezer meals for local families in need. All meals are prepared in one day at MATC’s commercial kitchen, then distributed to family-serving nonprofits like The Cathedral Center, Sojourner Family Peace Center, and others.

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DVAM: Hope and Healing

October 17, 2018

By Carmen Pitre, Sojourner President and CEO

“Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely. It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good.”
– Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Chances are high that you know someone who has been hurt by domestic violence.  A co-worker, friend, or family member who has been scarred by the hurt and harm that has been caused by someone who promised to love them. 

Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an opportunity for us all to understand what we can do to help those who have been hurt among us.  During the month of October, we take time to honor survivors, we work to elevate the community conversation about domestic violence and we strive to engage everyone in the hard work of ending violence in our community.  While it happens in our homes, domestic violence sets the stage for violence on our streets, in our neighborhood and in our city.

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Waukesha Teacher and Sons Team Up to Support Backpack Coalition

Kara Ecoff and her sons.

October 15, 2018

Written by Meghan Marsden Parsche, United Way volunteer blogger

School supply shopping is an exciting experience, as kids stock up on the essentials that will help them learn and grow in the upcoming school year. But the cost of seemingly simple items like pencils, notebooks, glue sticks and markers can add up quickly. For some students, back to school supplies simply don’t fit in their family’s budget.

As a second grade teacher with Waukesha Public Schools, Kara Ecoff has first-hand experience with the challenges facing students who cannot afford school supplies.

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Podcast: Navigating Senior Living and Care

Pam Foti (L) and Jenny Wagner of Vesta Senior Network

October 11, 2018

Produced by Katie Kuhn, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County

Listen Now (00:58:03)

There are certain subjects in life that we all need to deal with at one time or another, but are hard to think about and plan for. What to do when a spouse or a loved one needs extra help as they age is one of those topics. What makes this an even less fun conversation is the sheer mind-boggling complexity of the senior care landscape. Acronyms like RCAC, CBRF, ADL, SNF cause confusion, how to pay for senior care causes anxiety, and uncertainty about what a loved one wants and needs and when they will want and need it can result in choice paralysis.

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Mortenson is Building a Stronger Community!

Mortenson volunteers at various projects around the region.

October 4, 2018

Written by Susan Smieja, sr. account manager, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County

As United Way staff members, we get to attend many events at area businesses that support United Way. Some businesses go above and beyond to give their employees opportunities to help their community. Mortenson is one of those companies. They recently kicked off their annual United Way campaign by inviting all staff to breakfast to learn more about the campaign and shared a presentation either in-person or remotely.  Mortenson did a “stand down” for the campaign, so everyone – even those out in the field – could participate in the kickoff.

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Coordinators Appreciation Week: Failure is Not an Option at North Division High School

Lateff Alston (back row, third from left) with the Milwaukee Community School Coordinators team. 

September 28, 2018

Written by Lateff Alston, community school coordinator at North Division High School.

September 24-28 is Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week! Learn more about the Milwaukee Community Schools Partnership and check back here all week to learn more about the exciting projects going on at Milwaukee’s Community Schools.

I am Lateff Alston, the new community school coordinator at North Division High School.  I am employed though the Milwaukee Urban League and under the auspices of the United Way. Prior to this wonderful partnership, I worked for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin –Project Ujima as a community liaison for 12 years, serving youth survivors and families impacted by interpersonal violence. I also served as a health educator for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee-Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program for two years, teaching grades 6-12 in several MPS schools, and private schools including Messmer High School, my alma mater. This opportunity also afforded me the chance to teach at the Milwaukee House of Corrections working with their high school population.

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Coordinators Appreciation Week: Dismantling Barriers and Celebrating Growth at Browning Elementary School

September 24, 2018

Written by Malayia Roper, community school coordinator at Browning Elementary School

September 24-28 is Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week! Learn more about the Milwaukee Community Schools Partnership and check back here all week to learn more about the exciting projects going on at Milwaukee’s Community Schools.

Today, I give our communities and our schools permission to dismantle the barriers. To make it a point to approach, honor, and feel it all. Feel the highs, the lows, the newness, and even the areas of discomfort. To respect our school environments, to trust the process, yet still be bold enough to be transformative in our ideas. To identify community issues in a way that is relevant to all cultures that are represented. To challenge the system. To be intentional. To be willing. To be present.

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United Way Kicks Off 2018 Community Campaign!

From left: Cory Nettles, Mary Lou Young, Don Layden, David Gay, Amy Lindner, Mike Rowe, Cristy Garcia-Thomas, George Oliver, Mark Irgens, and Jay Magulski proudly announce United Way's 2018 Goals: $56 million fundraising and 40,000 volunteer hours!

August 31, 2018

Written by Katie Kuhn, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County

For the first time, United Way kicked off the annual Community Campaign right here at our Milwaukee office! More than 350 community members gathered to hear from our 2018 campaign co-chairs, celebrate our $56 million fundraising and 40,000 hour volunteer goals, and tour the brand-new Johnson Controls Volunteer Center.  

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