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families

Guest Blogger
Tue, 09/29/2009

An appreciation for the effect of the unexpected

reflections on United Way's Poverty Simulation

The following is a guest post by Lisa Palin, an attorney at Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky, and Popeo, P.C. On September 15, Lisa participated in a United Way Poverty Simulation. The United Way Poverty Simulation aims to provide participants with a closer view into in the life of a family living at or near the poverty level in Massachusetts. Each participant takes on the role of a family member and are assigned tasks to accomplish to sustain their families – work, grocery shop, go to school, sign up for needed services, etc.

The experience is simulated, but participants get a sense of the real-life constraints, such as transportation, work and time, that many families face in trying to attain financial stability. In her guest post, Lisa walks us through her "role" in the simulation and what was going through her mind during and after the experience.  read more »

Meghan Keaney Anderson
Tue, 12/15/2009

Boston's Homeless Census

Monday, United Way volunteers joined crowds of others in the City of Boston's annual Homeless census. The Homeless Census aims to shine a light on the numbers of individuals and families living without permanent homes in the city. The Boston Globe coverage included a photo of United Way staff alumna (and current executive director of the interagency council on housing and homelessness) Liz Curtis leading a set of volunteers as part of the census.  read more »

Meghan Keaney Anderson
Fri, 09/25/2009

Financial Stability Center Launch Photos

Tuesday, in the belly of what was once a Union Street Bank, United Way and Serving People in Need (SPIN) launched an innovative center to move people beyond safety nets into permanent financial stabiliy and economic empowerment.  Located at 270 Union St in Lynn, The United Way Financial Stability Center, powered by SPIN aims to help families climb out of poverty through an integrated plan of Financial Education, Credit Counseling, Basic Banking, Free Tax Preparation/ EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit), Computer and job-related skills (ESOL, ABE, GED), Financial Aid Application Assistance, Mat  read more »

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