United Way launches online platform to engage public in advocating for change, announces success of year’s first advocacy effort
UWSM wants to help you make your voice heard! Sign up to advocate for causes that impact our community. Go to uwsm.org/advocate to receive Advocacy Action Alerts and easy ways to tell our elected officials what YOU think.
United Way of Southwest Michigan launched its powerful new collaborative platform for advocacy, giving the people of Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties the ability to learn about advocacy opportunities and act on them with easy-to-use communication tools that let politicians know what their constituents want.
United Way is also proud to announce its first advocacy success this year. UWSM and its advocates called on state legislators to support the proposal to expand funding for the Great Start Readiness Program. On June 30, the school aid budget passed the Michigan House and Senate that includes expanded funding for the GSRP, putting 22,000 left-out kids into high-quality preschool.
The new advocacy platform is incorporated into the UWSM website at uwsm.org/advocate. The provider is the world’s leading technology company for civic participation and stakeholder engagement and has empowered millions of advocates to make over 27 million connections with elected officials.
The premise of the platform is simple. Everyday citizens don’t know who their elected officials are, how to contact them, or even what crucial decisions are being made. This system is a mobile- and social-centric platform that allows people to speak up on issues important to them in order to effect change. Through the system, individuals can email or tweet their support of public policy to their representatives. They also have the ability to learn of and share real-life stories, told by UWSM, of people in our community who experience first-hand the impact of those policies.
UWSM launched its advocacy department in 2020 with Heather Cole, Director of Advocacy and Public Innovation, as its head.
“We’re so excited to create more ways for all of our neighbors to advocate for change in our community,” Cole said. “Our goal is to help connect our community’s voices and stories to the policy decisions that affect us all and make it easier for people to raise awareness about causes they care about.”
UWSM strives to be a catalyst for change by mobilizing the power of communities. Through public-policy advocacy, the nonprofit is working to achieve systems-level change in the areas of health, education, and financial stability—with focus on ALICE households (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties.
For more information about UWSM’s advocacy agenda or to sign up for Advocacy Action Alerts, visit uwsm.org/advocate.
UWSM’S 2021 ADVOCACY AGENDA
United Way’s Advocacy Agenda this year focuses on recovering, reimagining, and rebuilding systems that address inequities in education and economic opportunity that disproportionately affect those living below the ALICE threshold and other marginalized communities. In United Way of Southwest Michigan’s service area, about 37% of households are working hard, but still struggling to afford necessities, either living below the federal poverty level or earning slightly more while still unable to cover the basic cost of living.
- Address Michigan’s skills gap and help ALICE gain the job skills needed to increase their household income by removing barriers to credential and degree attainment.
How can we accomplish this? Include funding for the Michigan Reconnect Economic Growth/Workforce Development Program and necessary wraparound services in the state budget & Promote Career Technical Education opportunities for K-12 students.
- Strengthen the state Earned Income Tax Credit so that ALICE can keep working and put money back into local communities.
How can we accomplish this? Restore the state Earned Income Tax Credit to 20% of the federal credit, up from the current level of 6%.
- Ensure more children have access to high-quality preschool programs that prepare them for kindergarten.
How DID we accomplish this? Increase the per-pupil allocation for the Great Start Readiness Program in the state budget.
THANK LEGISLATORS FOR PASSING FUNDING!
ABOUT UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN
United Way of Southwest Michigan fights for the Health, Education, and Financial Stability of every person in every community. We have the influence and relationships to make sustainable change a reality. By harnessing resources from corporate, nonprofit, and public partners, we provide immediate assistance to our most vulnerable populations while addressing the root causes of our community’s longstanding challenges and changing lives for the better. To join the fight—through giving, advocacy, and volunteering—visit www.uwsm.org.
