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SpeakUnited, a United Way Blog

We began these blogs because we wanted to start a conversation. The posts on this blog are the personal perspectives of individual staff, volunteers and guest bloggers, they do not necessarily reflect the views of the organization. We encourage response and conversation. We just ask you to keep it respectful. We'd love to hear it. It's a conversation, after all, we hope you'll add to it. Want to be a guest blogger? Email us

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Guest Blogger

Fri, 07/15/2011

Pushing for Early Childhood Investments

Hundreds of Virginia business leaders make their voices heard

Guest blogger Scott L. Hippert of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation shares how Virginia pushes for early childhood investment with a message of keeping the state economically competitive. read more »

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Guest Blogger

Thu, 07/14/2011

What Can We Learn from Alabama's Early Childhood Investments?

How a pre-k program received a national citation

With the 2011 National Business Leader Summit on Early Childhood Investment right around the corner, I wanted to share with you Alabama's story of how business leader involvement made a difference by advocating for level spending in early childhood investments. read more »

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Donna Stiglmeier

Tue, 07/12/2011

Are Your Clients Losing Sleep Over Money Problems?

A quick reference guide for community organizations and practitioners

Understand high-cost financial s, products, and mainstream banking alternatives. read more »

Brian Adams

Mon, 07/11/2011

Innovation Schools: New Methods, New Options, New Confusion

Navigating the education marketplace

I consider myself lucky that I am not a parent for one simple reason: how do you choose a school for your kid when there are so many options? I say this from experience. I am a deer-in-the-headlights shopper, frozen stiff by options, upgrades, sales, and outside opinion. read more »

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Michael Durkin

Mon, 07/11/2011

Predatory Lenders Lure Poor Into Risky Decisions

A Boston Sunday Globe Letter to the Editor

Low-income families are lured by predatory lending practices to tread murky financial waters for much of their lifetime. As a community it is possible to weed out this misinformation and help low-income families become financially stable. read more »

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Michael Durkin

Fri, 11/30/2012

'Tis the Season! Mike Durkin talks #GivingTuesday and making your gift count

By Mike Durkin

This week's inaugural launch of "Giving Tuesday", which unofficially kicked off the holiday season of giving, started me thinking about the similar onslaught of holiday appeals that will be taking place over the next month. Don't get me wrong; one of the unique characteristics of our American spirit is that desire to pitch in and help our neighbor. But when giving a gift, it is just as important to support people's immediate needs as it is to consider how our gifts help create lasting change for those who most need our help. read more »

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Kate Ward

Tue, 09/18/2012

UW’s Jeff Hayward attends White House Summit on Urban Innovation

United Way gets kudos from federal government and partners for innovative programs

No one can say that the federal government isn't working hard to find innovative solutions to some of our nation's most nagging and persistent social challenges including education, joblessness, homelessness and poverty in general. This effort was front and center recently at the White House Summit on Urban Innovation, where an array of federal agencies were gathered together with 100 of the more innovative public, private and not-for-profit organizations. read more »

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Howard Kang

Thu, 06/14/2012

2012 Non-Profit Summit

The Non-Profit Summit is an annual event co-hosted by Deloitte and United Way that works alongside Deloitte’s Impact Day activities. With Education as a large priority for Massachusetts, Deloitte, and United Way, this year’s summit focused on “Moving from Issues to Impact in Education.” read more »

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Erin Lee

Fri, 07/08/2011

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Lives United

Housewarming Baskets Volunteer Project

Last week, the Corporate Communications team from Vertex Pharmaceuticals came to United Way's office in Southie to do a volunteer project and take a look around their soon-to-be neighborhood. Click here to read more about Vertex's move to Fan Pier and their recent groundbreaking ceremony. read more »

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Donna Stiglmeier

Tue, 05/31/2011

Microfinance/Microenterprise:

Panacea to Poverty?

Last week, I attended the Microfinance Conference 2011 in New York. Being in a room with hundreds of people who are following their dream, taking and managing risks for that dream, and assisting others along this path (for many, a path out of poverty) was FABULOUS! read more »