The Story Behind the 2010 United Way Inclusion Conference

United Way Inclusion Council

The Story Behind the 2010 United Way Inclusion Conference

The news ticker flashed across the TV screen with a simple statement … “United Way says financial crisis has passed.” Such a complex story summed up in one phrase…

As many Tucsonans know, several nonprofit organizations - including United Way - have struggled to manage the repercussions of the financial storm that has swept our country. The crisis has significantly impacted American spending and giving habits, as well as the viability of thousands of businesses. In spite of the challenges it faced, United Way of Tucson proactively engaged its community, partners and stakeholders as well as painstakingly reorganized its own operations to address this financial crisis. They say, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” However, in this particular situation, the “tough” were able to count on “a little help from their friends,” to borrow from the popular Beatles song. Many of United Way’s partners and supporters are continuing to provide donations and sponsorships that enable United Way to maintain its commitments to educate, enrich, and enable those who depend on United Way’s support.

This dedication is perhaps best illustrated by the effort to execute the 27th Annual United Way Inclusion Conference (formerly the Multi-Cultural Leadership Development Program). Community leaders like Richard Miranda (Deputy City Manager), Daisy Jenkins (Sr. VP for HR at Carondelet Health Services), and Clarence Boykins (President of the Tucson Black Chamber of Commerce), along with more than 600 other alumni, have participated in this event over the years. Through this curriculum, these leaders have developed inclusive and diverse community leadership skills.

This year’s event was faced with the prospect of postponement due to funding challenges. When members of United Way and the United Way Inclusion Council learned of this situation, they decided to take action. They reached out to dedicated sponsors like La Frontera, Raytheon and the Debe Campos-Fleenor Allstate Insurance Agency for a renewal of their financial support. They also asked for in-kind donations from Country Inn & Suites, El Charro, Pizza Hut and the Tucson Urban League to sustain the momentum of this community leadership development conference. These partners, along with volunteer instructors and event coordinators, all have willingly provided their support to enable the continuance of this annual conference. Because of their generosity, 20 or more Tucsonans will receive an opportunity to further develop their diversity and community leadership skills at this year’s event, which will be held May 19 – 21.

The United Way Inclusion Council consists of individuals who represent the broad tapestry of the community where we all live and work. UWIC believes there is tremendous strength in our collective differences and that diversity is a business imperative and an ethical and social responsibility. Their objective to expand inclusive leadership capabilities and to promote inherent feelings of appreciation, fairness, value, respect, accountability and engagement.

Through their signature event, the United Way Inclusion Conference, as well as other social events and volunteer opportunities, UWIC members enjoy the following benefits:

• Instruction on board governance and operations,
• Professional and social networking,
• Awareness of the great value of diversity and inclusion,
• Opportunities to be contributing board members on community organizations.

The UWIC is working at infusing the community with diverse leaders in the hopes of creating a community in southern Arizona where each human gift will find a fitting place. The effort of the UWIC and its community partners to not let this conference fade away is a lesson on how to navigate through these difficult times … a lighthouse to guide us though the financial difficulties that challenge our ability to forge out new frontiers for our communities. The simple phrase delivered by news ticker could use a little more detail to describe the wonder of it all … it could have been better said as… “United Way says financial crisis is passed … and together we are smarter, stronger, and still UNITED.”

Best,

Raul Almazan
Manager, HR Learning & Talent Management at Raytheon Missile Systems
United Way Inclusion Council Communications Advocate

2010 United Way Inclusion Conference is Right Around the Corner!

Are you thinking about attending the 2010 United Way Inclusion Conference, but not quite sure if it is the kind of leadership training you are looking for? Check out some testimonials from last year's conference.

United Way Inclusion Conference Gets Local Nonprofit Going in the Right Direction

As the President/Founder of a new nonprofit, Single Parents Are Not Alone (SPANA), the time to learn was now — not later!

So, when a UWIC steering committee member recommended that I attend the UWIC Conference, I realized this was just what I needed!

As an African-American female with a Japanese first name and a French last name, I thought I knew just about everything there was to know about diversity! After the UWIC Diversity training, I learned I had a LOT to learn still in this area. I realized there are other factors to consider about diversity; including economic classes, power/influential groups and political/religious groups…the list goes on and on. We can end up "struggling" on a daily basis to exist among all of these group and classes of people, if we don't recognize and appreciate those differences.

The UWIC conference was eye-opening to me, simply because I truly realized that it’s not just black or white when it comes to dealing with people. This conference is one of those life-changing experiences that you cherish and value. I cherish it not only because of what I learned, but because of the people I met and the relationships developed from it. Thanks UWIC for influencing my life for the better!

~ Miyoka Broussard

Need Board Members? Get UWIC!

As President of StrengthBuilding Partners (SBP), I know how important it is to have an active and diverse board. Last spring, SBP found itself in need of a few new board members. Wanting to find talented and diverse professionals who would share our passion for “making a difference in the lives of children,” SBP turned to UWIC for assistance. The SBP board believes that graduates of the UWIC conference would make perfect candidates for our board. UWIC contacted all the graduates of the conference and provided information about the duties of an SBP board member. SBP received communication from several prospective board members and we are excited about the quality of these applicants. I am certain that our board will soon grow in size with the needed expertise to help our organization continue to respond to the needs of our clients.

~ Pamela Clark-Raines

2010 United Way Inclusion Council Conference
CULTIVATE * LEADERSHIP * DIVERSITY

Learn about...
*Cultural Diversity
*Board Governance Skills
*Committee Participation
*Robert's Rules of Order
*Fundamentals of Fundraising
*Leadership and more!

The United Way Inclusion Council Conference will cover many topics, including sessions about cultural diversity, board governance skills, committee participation, Robert's Rules of Order, fundamentals of fundraising, leadership and financial skills for board membership.

Cost: $300.00.

The conference fee includes breakfast, lunch and all conference materials.

For more information, contact Candace McIntosh at 520.903.3915 or CMcIntosh@unitedwaytucson.org.

Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics

On Saturday, February 27, 2010, Special Olympics Arizona and the Arizona Law Enforcement Torch Run hosted Tucson's 2nd Annual Polar Plunge at Breakers Water Park in Marana.

Polar bears from all walks of life (including Special Olympics athletes, families, friends and fans) plunged into the freezing cold water, all to support Special Olympics programs and athletes.

The Breakers pool was filled with 1,000 pounds of ice so the plungers could experience the "thrill of the chill" while raising money for a great cause.

Team LIVE UNITED (Alisa Arce, Holly Bullard, Stephanie Pendrys & Daniel Schmidt) donned their LIVE UNITED shirts and jumped in the icy waters. Team LIVE UNITED secured more than $500.00 in donations for Special Olympics Arizona.














Injuries and ailments were minor; sinus infection for me (Steph) and a scraped knee for Alisa. In total, the polar bears raised $25,778 for Special Olympics Arizona.

The mission of Special Olympics Arizona is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

"Bah Humbug” They Exclaimed…Not at Pima Health System!

by Lisa-Kay Caswell,
ECAP Steering Committee Secretary and PHS Employee

Pima Health System employees banded together throughout the holiday season not just to bring joy and cheer to all, but also food, diapers and toys. Led by their ECAP co-coordinators Josh Devor and Pam Johnson, employees raised more than $600 in cash and more than 500 pounds of non-perishable food items and diapers that were donated to the Tucson Community Food Bank between September and the end of December.

Josh and Pam organized a fundraiser in October to raise money for the food bank. They sold popcorn, Subway cookies and EEGEES drinks and also held a silent auction of items that Josh solicited from local businesses. In addition to Subway and EEGEES, donations came from Chili's, On the Border, Boston Market, Sweet Tomatoes, Casa del Rio, Macaroni Grill, the Fountain Center, Pottery Blow Out, Red Lobster and Supercuts. Employees brought in other new or gently used items that were added to the auction. All of the funds were directed through ECAP as a direct donation to the food bank.

Employees also worked hard to gather toys for the Marine’s Toys for Tots program. Boxes were placed throughout PHS for employees to donate toys, bikes, books, movies and games. The toys were delivered to our neighborhood Fire Station #10 on Ajo and Park. Jo Ann Siemsen, Business Continuity Planning Coordinator, said “it was a very happy moment to see the reaction of the fire fighters when they saw a truck full of bikes and the PHS Blazer filled with two big boxes of toys and more bikes! They were amazed with everyone’s generosity and shared an enthusiastic thank you!”

PHS employees joined many other county workers to donate gifts for the residents of the Posada del Sol nursing facility. This is an annual tradition where residents create a small personal wish list of very practical items. This giving tradition is a small gesture of love and kindness that brings big smiles to the residents, many of which have no family and would otherwise have no presents under the tree.

Pima Health System’s mission is “To improve the quality of life for the community and the people we serve through an integrated system of health and social services.” PHS employees take this motto very seriously and feel it is important to give to our community and to help those who are struggling in this challenging economy.

Patricia Alvarez Hurley, PHS Director, said, “I am very proud of the efforts and generosity of the staff at Pima Health System. The ECAP, silent auction, raffles, food bank donations, Posada del Sol and the Toys for Tots efforts are all appreciated. All of these donations are voluntary and given the continued economic crisis, it is heartwarming to reflect on how giving many of you are and that you recognize the less fortunate. There were a total of 13 new bicycles in various sizes and boxes full of toys. I want to thank Josh Devor and Pam Johnson, who were generous with their personal time and pocketbooks in making these events successful. Their sincere dedication is outstanding.”

For information about ECAP, visit the ECAP website.

Meet Our AmeriCorps NCCC's!

Today's featured NCCC team member is Jenna Nystrom.

Jenna Nystrom
Hometown: Hoffman Estates, IL

1. What does LIVE UNITED mean to you?
‘LIVE UNITED’ means that we should all work together to build stronger, more self-sufficient communities.

2. What are you passionate about?
I’m passionate about helping people, making a difference in someone’s life and hearing the stories of other people.

3. When did you start volunteering and/or giving back to your community?
I started volunteering when I was 13-14 years old. I did service projects in impoverished communities like community cleanups and serving at a soup kitchen.

4. How are you involved in the community?
I have been volunteering in my community for 8-9 years.

5. What have you learned from volunteering and being a part of your community?
That one person can make a difference, no matter how small.

6. What community issues are you most concerned about?
Shelter, education

7. Why do you think it is important to give back to your community?
Because we are in the community and it’s important to take care of it.

8. Do you have any particular memory from giving back to the community or volunteering?
I have volunteered with the Appalachia Service Project (ASP) each summer for nine years and I have met so many new people and touched so many lives by fixing up their homes and spending time with them.

Meet Our AmeriCorps NCCC's!

Today's featured NCCC team member is Derek Burkhardt.

Derek Burkhardt
Hometown: Manchester, NH

1. What does LIVE UNITED mean to you?
As a community we need to work together to improve our environment, other lives, as well as ourselves.

2. What are you passionate about?
Family, music, sports, teaching, kids, and the environment.

3. When did you start volunteering and/or giving back to your community?
I have been involved in community service since I was little. My parents and my church both encouraged me to volunteer in my community.

4. How are you involved in the community?
Volunteer

5. What have you learned from volunteering and being a part of your community?
I have learned that the preservation of one’s community and one’s environment is in turn the preservation of oneself. Helping others is helping yourself.

6. What community issues are you most concerned about?
Education

7. Why do you think it is important to give back to your community?
Service is the best way to support, liven and keep a community healthy. It encourages others to take the right steps.

8. Do you have any particular memory from giving back to the community or volunteering?
We helped a lady who was a Katrina victim rebuild her house from the ground up. Seeing her press on after losing everything was an example of great strength and perseverance to me.

They’re Back!

United Way is excited to, once again, be hosting a team of 11 young volunteers from the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). Team Water 4 will be with us for eight weeks (January 11 through March 5), providing a big boost to our local VITA efforts!

AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) is a full-time, team-based residential program for men and women age 18–24. Team Water 4 is based out of the NCCC Southwest Region Campus in Denver. The teams’ 11 members hail from across the United States, including California, Arizona, New Hampshire, Illinois, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York and Texas.

In keeping with their mission of strengthening communities through direct, team-based service, the team will primarily be staffing the mobile VITA site and reaching out to some of the hardest-to-contact populations in Pima County. They will be filing taxes at work sites, residential facilities for the elderly and/or handicapped, refugee centers, as well as remote rural areas of the county. They will also connect families and individuals to other financial stability resources (public benefits, financial education, banking, workforce development opportunities). Last year’s NCCC team prepared more than 500 returns and put $781,829 in federal refunds and credits back in the pockets of Pima County residents.

Welcome to Tucson, Team Water 4!

Meet the NCCC’s!

Each team member was asked to share their thoughts about volunteering and what it means to LIVE UNITED. Meet Ashley!

Ashley (Team Leader)
Hometown: San Diego, CA

1. What does LIVE UNITED mean to you?
I think that LIVE UNITED means working together for the common good.

2. What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about service in all aspects: health, animals, kids and the environment.

3. When did you start volunteering and/or giving back to your community?
I have been volunteering since I was very young. My parents were very involved in service while I was growing up.

4. How are you involved in the community?
I am involved by volunteering with AmeriCorps NCCC for the past year and a half.

5. What have you learned from volunteering and being a part of your community?
I have learned that I want to continue volunteering for the rest of my life.

6. What community issues are you most concerned about?
I am very concerned about the environment, health and education.

7. Why do you think it is important to give back to your community?
“Because if not you, then whom?” ~ Team Water 4 member Dave Zack

8. Do you have any particular memory from giving back to the community or volunteering?
I was recently sent to America Samoa with the Red Cross to help with the disaster efforts there. It was a surreal experience and it will stay with me forever.