July 2024

Metro United Way Impact Tracker

This impact tracker is updated on a monthly basis to share highlights of the work that we do every day to help make our community better for everyone!

Metro United Way unites the Greater Louisville community to transform lives

We envision a community where our children thrive, strong households create pathways out of poverty to prosperity, and Greater Louisville is an equitable community where zip code doesn’t determine destiny.

Impact Tracker Sections

There’s nothing more important than making sure our community’s children have what they need to thrive. LEARN MORE

  • Several of our partners were recently involved in a community event emphasizing the importance of enrolling children in preschool. Backside Learning Center hosted the informational session and community event and Play Cousins Collective provided interactive games to entertain children, Fund for the Arts led arts activities, and the JCPS Office for Multilingual Learners sent a representative to answer questions from caregivers. This was the first in a series of community events focusing on early childhood development and kindergarten readiness for multilingual families in our community. This series is supported by our Ready for K Alliance in collaboration with La Casita Center and Americana World Community Center​.

  • MUW in partnership with Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C) and research staff at the Child Care Services Association (CCSA) we completed the 2023-2024 Louisville Early Learning Workforce study. Key points from the report include:
    • 30% of early learning teaching staff and 30% of family child care providers have a total family income of less than $30,000
    • 11% of teachers and 13% of assistant teachers, working full-time, said they must work another job to make ends meet
    • 47% of teachers left their center in the past year
    • 22% of teachers said they “probably will not” or “definitely will not” be in the field in three years
    • From WDRB: Study shows high turnover, not enough pay for Louisville early childhood teachers
  • Our Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) team attended a Baby Prom hosted by the Louisville Free Public Library, speaking with more than 100 families about our early childhood work. They also provided pediatric partners kindergarten readiness materials to distribute to families during wellness visits.
  • Earlier this month, young people from TECH-nique, a Youth Success Network partner, presented their engaging and interactive workshop entitled “Artificial Intelligence: What do WE need to know?” at Metro United Way to a group of community partners and staff members.

  • Additionally, young people from Book Works, another Youth Success Network partner, presented an update regarding their project.

  • In addition to the natural playground that we supported and that was completed last month at La Casita Center, there is another planned at Chickasaw Park. Learn more: https://www.wdrb.com/news/chickasaw-park-unveils-new-nature-play-area-in-louisville/article_028c213a-3d5b-11ef-80d2-bff1ffb21e93.html

View Stories around our Thriving Kids priority

When we have strong households, we are creating pathways out of poverty to prosperity, which is a win for us all. LEARN MORE

  • Our workforce financial coaching initiative is continuing to demonstrate results with the following impacts realized by program participants:
    • 23 individuals have increased their income by a median of $7,932
    • 73 have increased their savings by $641
    • 53 have raised their credit score by 23 points
    • 63 have decreased debt by $2,000. ​
  • We are delighted that the founders of the national Siemer Institute, Barbara and Al Siemer, have accepted an invitation to visit Louisville as we look to expand the number of families and children we serve. Last year, we exceeded community network averages by reaching:
    • 377 families with 778 children
    • 76% of families reached a level of income stability
    • 82% reached a level of housing stability
    • 98% reached a level of educational stability.   ​
  • We continue to develop resources in partnership with Kentuckiana Works and youth-serving organizations Goodwill Industries of Kentucky and YouthBuild to bridge meaningful conversations with employers who aim to diversify their workforces by attracting, retaining, and promoting young adults of color. More details soon!
  • Earlier this year as part of our Southern Indiana Housing Initiative, we launched a Housing Safety program in partnership with New Directions Housing Corp. To date, this effort has served four households in Clark and Floyd County, addressing roof, air conditioning, and a few minor miscellaneous repairs. Two additional homes are currently receiving repairs that include a wheelchair ramp and handrails, replacement doors and grab bars.  These repairs allow current homeowners to remain safely in their homes.​
  • The Homeownership component of our Housing Initiative has produced a total of four new homeowners and eight additional families receiving financing preapproval. This work is facing some challenges related to the availability of affordable homes. We are exploring opportunities with local landlords and builders.
  • We hosted a United Community Social Needs Think Tank on July 11 and have a Lunch and Learn planned for July 26 in Southern Indiana. To register and learn about United Community events, please visit: https://dev.metrounitedway.org/united-community-events/

View Stories around our Strong Households priority

We envision the Greater Louisville region as a place where zip code doesn’t determine destiny and everyone has the opportunity to live up to their full potential. LEARN MORE

  • Welcome to our team, Elliott Kelly! He will serve as our new Senior Manager, Equitable Community and will lead our Young Men United and United Neighborhoods programs among other things, advancing equity across our seven-county region.​
  • We are in the early phases of expanding our United Neighborhoods program to Southern Indiana.​ More details to come!
  • Our Black L.O.V.E. (Live, Own, Vote, Excel) Philanthropic Partnership cohort is preparing for an educational session on July 26th entitled “Board Governance & Fundraising 101.”

View Stories around our Equitable Community Priority

Upcoming Events

September, 2024

Day of Action

2024 Day of Action projects will take place in late September on multiple days and will support our local child care sector which as we know, is in crisis. More details to come. Learn more about a recent report around the early learning workforce here.

Learn More

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Beyond Buzzwords featuring Alejandra Campoverdi

author of First Gen

Tuesday, October 8, 2024
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Virtual Event

Register

Thursday, October 24, 2024

United Spirits Bourbon Fall Festival

On Thursday, October 24, Metro United Way will partner with Kentucky’s Original Black Bourbon Enthusiasts (KOBBE) to host its inaugural United Spirits Bourbon Fall Festival at one of Louisville’s newest and most unique venues, Progress Park. The night will be an elevated fair of bourbon brands, chef-prepared food, and unique experiences for the bourbon lover. The goal is to provide an experience that excites the guest about the brands we are partnered with and an evening they will brag to their friends about. We will auction off unique/rare bottles, bourbon experiences for the aficionado, and a special tasting experience.

Tickets available soon!

Learn More

This Impact Tracker covers the past month.
Previous versions:

  • June 2024

    View

  • May 2024

    View

  • April 2024

    VIEW

  • March 2024

    View

  • February 2024

    View

  • January 2024

    View

  • December 2023

    View

  • November 2023

    View

  • October 2023

    View

  • September 2023

    View

  • August 2023

    View

  • Week of
    July 24, 2023

    View

  • Week of
    June 12, 2023

    View

  • Week of
    May 29, 2023

    View

  • Week of
    May 15, 2023

    View

  • Week of
    May 1, 2023

    View

  • Week of
    April 17, 2023

    View

  • Week of
    April 3, 2023

    View

  • Week of
    March 20, 2023

    View

  • Week of
    March 6, 2023

    View

  • Week of
    February 20, 2023

    View

  • Week of
    February 6, 2023

    View

  • Week of
    January 23, 2023

    View

  • Week of
    January 9, 2023

    View

  • Week of
    December 19, 2022

    View

  • Week of
    December 1, 2022

    View

  • Week of
    November 7, 2022

    View

  • Week of
    October 24, 2022

    View

  • Week of
    October 10, 2022

    View

Sign up and find out about everything we’re doing for people in the community. Or how you can help us make a difference.