• We are advocating for allowing birthing centers in Kentucky to safely meet the needs of Kentucky parents and families. HB129 and SB67​. If you live in Kentucky, you can email your support for birthing centers to your State Representative and Senator using this link.
• We are also advocating for equitable access to state-issued IDs. HB21​ and for support from the state of Kentucky to address perinatal mental health. SB135​
• In Indiana, we continue to monitor the state’s budget process and work with other United Way’ across Indiana to ensure it meets the needs of all Hoosiers by ensuring equitable access to childcare, economic security, and health care.​
• Our Youth Success RFP available to youth-serving organizations in Jefferson, Bullitt, Oldham, and Shelby counties in Kentucky and Clark, Floyd, and Harrison counties in Indiana received 108 completed applications with a total of $7 million requested investments for year one. Our staff and volunteers are currently reviewing applications, scoring, and make recommendations to our Community Impact Cabinet and Board for investment recommendations by the end of March. We will notify all applicants whether receiving investments or not, in April.
• On February 27, MUW’s Ages and Stages (ASQ) team hosted a community conversation on Jefferson County’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative (OVEC) and Greater Louisville Head Start (GLHS) presented information on their programs to over 40 community partners. Registrants who could not attend, were provided with the slides and a link to the recording HERE.
• Registration for year three of Louisville Growing Readers is kicking off in March through our partnership with JCPS. All JCPS preschool children age four will be eligible to enroll in the program and receive 100 books mailed directly to their home because the mere presence of a home library increases children’s academic success, vocabulary development, attention, and job attainment.
• The Dolly Parton Imagination Library has expanded their reach and increased the number of Jefferson County zip codes that are eligible for the program. We will promote this program emailed all eligible families to let them know about the opportunity and how to register.
• We worked with the Kentucky Science Center to provide community memberships for families that qualify for WIC. These memberships will be offered to our strategic partner Play Cousins and the families they serve.
• Louisville Free Public Library hosted a Preschool Penguin party on Saturday, February 25 and our team was there distributing books, bubbles, and information on the Ages & Stages Questionnaires to over 400 attendees.
• We are participating and investing in Black Maternal Health Week which will be held April 11-April 17, 2023. More details to come.
• We are also participating in National Youth Violence Prevention Week and hosting a Youth Program Vendor Fair on Monday, March 27. More details to come.
• We’re working with our friends at Lou City and Racing Louisville to offer soccer to children in under-resourced neighborhoods in the spring.
• We’re planning our annual Annual Early Childhood Educators Celebration to celebrate early care and education leaders. It’s scheduled for Thursday, March 30. More details to come.

• Our first cohort of Black entrepreneurs through our new partnership with FundBLACKFounders launched. This initiative will include coaching and support to assist with training, capacity-building, raising capital, and identifying customers. Applications will remain open until Monday, March 6. 89 applications so far! Apply HERE.
• We are advocating for allowing birthing centers in Kentucky to safely meet the needs of Kentucky parents and families. HB129 and SB67​. If you live in Kentucky, you can email your support for birthing centers to your State Representative and Senator using this link.
• We are also advocating for equitable access to state-issued IDs. HB21​ and for support from the state of Kentucky to address perinatal mental health. SB135​
• In Indiana, we continue to monitor the state’s budget process and work with other United Way’ across Indiana to ensure it meets the needs of all Hoosiers by ensuring equitable access to childcare, economic security, and health care.​
• Our staff recently visited the exhibit of Take This! a Photovoice exhibition that empowered five young artists to capture what economic security and the prospect of guaranteed income means to them. Their moving photos are on display at The Social Practice Lab (1229 S. Shelby St) in Shelby Park. Artists: Katelyn Heun, Breanna Lovely, Kevryn Ramsey, Lawren Webb, and Lettuce. The Take This! Photovoice Exhibit is meant to complement our guaranteed income pilot, YALift!, providing 151 young adults with $500 a month. The public is invited to the exhibit’s closing reception on Friday, March 24, 5:00 – 8:00 pm.

  

• For the new American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Healthcare Workforce Innovation Coalition initiative, we will be serving in multiple roles: 1) leading the coordination of financial coaching support for individuals participating in workforce training; 2) connecting fundraising support to entrepreneurs from marginalized communities; and 3) coordinating consultation for employers to promote inviting workplaces for diverse populations. Read more about this $40 million investment in our community HERE.
• VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) sites are open for the tax season. Qualifying for one of the tax filing options is easy and simple! Visit this website for more information.
• Volunteer-supported tax preparation program returns that are prepared and electronically filed (In order to qualify, your household income should be $66,000 or less). Please view 2023 Tax Preparation Sites Brochure to find a location and hours of operation for all tax services. There is never a charge for any of the volunteer-supported services. There are also options for preparing yourself. The self-file options are free as long as you meet the income qualifications. More information can be found here.

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• We will be launching a Farmers Feeding Families RFP on Monday, March 13 to support food-related needs in Shelby County. More information HERE.

  

• We are also working on full-scale needs assessments in Shelby and Oldham Counties. More details available soon.
• The results from the first phase of our Housing Pilot in Southern Indiana are in!
  • 20 families enrolled​
  • 5 families in the process of setting SMART goals and creating a budget​
  • 5 families have been paired with a realtor​
  • 5 families have been paired with a lender​
  • 2 individuals in the process of obtaining their high school diploma or GED​
  • 2 individuals have obtained their high school diploma ​
  • 1 family has secured rent to own housing​
  • 1 individual is receiving employment assistance services
• We are advocating for allowing birthing centers in Kentucky to safely meet the needs of Kentucky parents and families. HB129 and SB67​. If you live in Kentucky, you can email your support for birthing centers to your State Representative and Senator using this link.
• We are also advocating for equitable access to state-issued IDs. HB21​ and for support from the state of Kentucky to address perinatal mental health. SB135​
• In Indiana, we continue to monitor the state’s budget process and work with other United Way’ across Indiana to ensure it meets the needs of all Hoosiers by ensuring equitable access to childcare, economic security, and health care.​
• 435 organizations are now currently using United Community with over 16,000 licensed users, including 124 organizations in Southern Indiana!
• This week will be the press conference for the 11^th annual Mayor’s Give A Day Celebration of Service which will be in April for National Volunteer Month. Organizations can add volunteer opportunities and individuals can sign-up to volunteer HERE.