Building Healthier Families

Set back in the Corn Hill neighborhood in an old school building is the Mt. Hope Family Center. It was a place I never knew existed, yet it is one that is really helping to support people in our community who need it most.

Last year, MHFC served about 700 kids, most of which had been abused. Not only do the kids suffer physical effects from being abused - it affects all aspects of their lives. Fifty percent have trouble in school, drug use is 33% more likely, and 68% of kids have anxiety or depression. Those are just some of major issues that MHFC tackles.

The Building Healthy Children program at MHFC is supported through the United Way Community fund. The program focuses on the prevention of child abuse and neglect in young families. This program is home based but also offers programs for mothers to interact with once another so that they aren’t isolated.

All of the work that Mt. Hope does is evidence based and is backed by research. And research shows that intervention makes a great improvement in the lives of abuse victims, especially if they catch it early.
To learn more about the work that Mt. Hope Family Center does, click here

Cleaning up the Neighborhood

Do you ever notice how graffiti changes the look of a neighborhood? It brings the whole perception of the neighborhood down. This is why the South Wedge Planning Committee teamed up with the City of Rochester to clean up their neighborhood this week. It was the first time that the two have joined forces- the City provided all the supplies and SWPC provided the volunteers.
This was a bigger project then just removing the graffiti from more than 75 buildings. The City came in to inspect to see if any of the graffiti was gang related, good thing, it wasn’t. The City has played a huge part in trying to cut down destructive behavior. They have enforced IMPACT and have instated the County wide curfew. They are hopeful that it will get people off the streets after hours and cut down on gang related activity. SWPC has also been researching graffiti and its effects. A common theme was that if the neighborhood cleaned up the graffiti and kept on top of it, the people who were tagging buildings would get annoyed and move on. That is exactly what SWPC wanted for their culturally diverse neighborhood. It is very common in these neighborhoods that the residents and business owners team up to beautify the neighborhood- it benefits everyone.
Witnessing a neighborhood come together like they did this week really shows how they are trying to stabilize neighborhoods. The South Wedge takes pride in their neighborhood and they wanted to show whoever was damaging the building that they weren’t going to put up with- they were taking back the neighborhood.
The team made up of volunteers were planning on going to several neighborhoods to clean up the city. If you are interested in helping, check out OneCity Connection which list all different volunteer projects. Make it your New Years Resolution, volunteer today!

Here's a New Year's resolution you can keep!

Did you make a resolution for this new year? Many of us did. If yours included relieving stress, spending more time with family and friends, or helping others who are less fortunate – you’ve came to the right place! In as little as an hour a month, you can make a difference. It’s all possible when you volunteer.

United Way’s Volunteer Connection has literally hundreds of opportunities that you can do – by yourself or with your friends and family. The possibilities are endless! Take a few minutes to check out Volunteer Connection. I know you’ll find something you’ll enjoy. Or, if you are a college student looking for opportunities – check out Campus Connection. It’s a volunteer hub designed to match students with opportunities – and offers grants to cover any out-of-pocket expenses associated with those volunteer projects!

PS - January is National Mentor Month – a great time to make a new friend. Search Volunteer Connection – keyword mentor for opportunities!

Do you want to make a difference?

You may have heard on the news or read in the paper today that United Way and the City of Rochester have teamed up on a new volunteer initiative called OneCity Connection. We officially launched it yesterday at a media event with Mayor Duffy and Peter Carpino – the president of United Way of Gr. Rochester.

This collaboration is about linking people with volunteer projects. OneCityConnection.org is basically a virtual “hub” that people can go to learn more about what volunteer opportunities are available in the Rochester area. I just checked out the site and saw there are about 400 projects - so you won’t have a problem finding something you would like to do!

If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, click here to check out the site. It’s a great way to feel better about yourself -- and help make a difference in our city at the same time!

Beating the Odds

Whether or not I like to admit it, AIDS has been a taboo subject for many.
This week, I made a stop to visit AIDS Rochester, as part of my agency tour.
I had a chance to learn about some of the programs and even sit down with several clients to hear their courageous stories.
Curtis has been living with HIV since 1985. He has the biggest smile and personality of anyone I have ever met. He holds his head high and never wants anyone to treat him differently because of his disease. Curtis loves telling his story, so that people can learn more about HIV and AIDS, and not be so afraid. That’s his picture to the left.
He is actually doing very well these days. He is down to taking only 5 pills a day compared to the 10 he used to take. For the past three years, Curtis has felt so good that he says he feels like he doesn’t even have the disease anymore.
Treatments have come a long way. The medications that are available in the United States are amazing these days and are really helping people live longer, normal lives.
I learned, on my visit, that poverty and mental illness still plays a huge factor in battling this disease- which leads to more obstacles like homelessness, drug addiction, and criminal activity.
Many people used to assume that it was only gay men who carried HIV. Now, the trend that doctors see is heterosexual white men are the carriers, and they are passing it along to their women partners.
In the 8 counties that AIDS Rochester reaches out to, they have about 650 people they serve.
One of the main programs at AIDS Rochester, which United Way funds, is a wellness program. It supports clients with case workers, and offers classes/lectures on the disease. Clients are able to learn a little bit more about what is happening to their bodies and about how important it is to take their medications.
There is hope for those with this terminal disease. A cure may not be here for some time—but until that day comes, I’m so thankful to know that AIDS Rochester is here to help clients live their lives as fully as possible.

The shelters are close to full

I'm really not a 'snow' lover. Well, maybe it's just the cold - that's probably more the case. But, when my three-year old looked up at me with those big brown eyes, and pleaded with me to go outside into the winter wonderland with him... how could I refuse?

Sure, it was 6:30 at night, and dark outside. But, maybe... I thought... this might make for one of those golden moments he'd cherish forever, as we made a snowman who glistened in the light of the nearby garage?

It didn't really work out like that, but he had a blast, and we headed inside to warm up.

Sadly, it's not that simple for everyone. In fact, every night in our community, it's estimated 600 people are homeless. Many of them are children... because they (and their moms) have escaped the perils of domestic abuse.

I thought about this, over and over again, as my son ran around the backyard. For him, the snow was a fun - and temporary - experience. Knowing you could run inside to escape the frost was never doubted.

It broke my heart, imagining what it must be like to not have that option.

We checked in with our funded shelters today... most are close to being filled at capacity.

I'm so thankful United Way focuses on helping families in crisis. Over the past year, our funding has helped more than 2,200 people with emergency food, shelter, and counseling. Even more, our network of providers follow up with people to make sure they stay on their feet.

There are a lot of reasons for homelessness, and it scares me... knowing it can happen to any one of us at any time. It's comforting, though, to also know our partners are running shelters to help those in need... turning homelessness into hope.

Give Thanks

As we gather around the Thanksgiving table, on this classic American holiday, families and friends celebrate with a bounty of food and laughter, and give thanks for all they have.

But as we celebrate in our homes, know that an estimated 600 people, nearly half of them children, are homeless in our community tonight. Can you imagine?

Can you imagine a small child crying as she leaves her neighborhood community center on a Friday evening because she knows she will not have anything to eat until she returns to the center on Monday?

Can you imagine a senior, who is struggling to remain independent, faced with the choice of which one of his lifesaving prescriptions to refill when there is only enough money for one of them?

Can you imagine not feeling safe enough in your own neighborhood to let your child walk three blocks to school?

Sadly, these are all realities for so many of our neighbors. They’re just a few of the stories I heard about recently when United Way met with human service professionals to explore issues which deeply affect and challenge our community.

When you hear about stories like these and know that there are so many more like them happening, it’s hard at times to feel hopeful, yet alone thankful.

And, yet, I am. Our community is one of the most generous in the nation. We have a remarkable legacy of giving which remains strong despite large economic shifts. As tragic as it is that hundreds of children here are homeless, there is a glimmer of hope.

I’m thankful there are tremendously dedicated human service providers in our community who are listening intently to those who they serve and advocating on their behalf to ensure a brighter future for them. The men and women who work every day on the “frontlines,” tirelessly working to address some of our community’s toughest challenges, are nothing short of amazing.

Their continued commitment to our community, and the people they serve, is remarkable – and something to be truly thankful for. But their message is clear – we have some deep and complex challenges to deal with. We need to do more. They can’t do it alone.

As you gather around the Thanksgiving table today, when you turn your thoughts to those who are in need, know that there are so many simple ways to help. Whether it is the gift of time by volunteering, or a charitable gift of support, every bit will make a tremendous difference to ensure happier Thanksgivings—for all—down the road.

Celebrating 25 Years of Leadership

On November 8th the Latino Leadership Development Program celebrated its 25th anniversary. This is the second year I have coordinated the program so planning this event seemed like a daunting task. With only a year and a few months of experience, I kept thinking, “how was I to capture in a meaningful way the 25 years of this program?”

What at first seemed like an overwhelming project, I can honestly say has ended up being such an enriching experience, one that has allowed me to see how important my role is beyond being simply LLDP Coordinator. I had the opportunity to really gain a better understanding of what the community looked liked for Latinos 25 years ago and how a program like LLDP has been one of the forces that has brought and continues to foster leadership among our diverse Latino population in Rochester, so that participants become effective members of boards and committees.

Being out in the community, it’s not surprising when I meet graduates of LLDP; maybe this is because in the past 25 years we have had over 500 graduates. When people now tell me stories how this program has also helped them to not only sit on boards and committees in the community, but have also grown personally, professionally and academically, it makes me feel really good that I am involved in carrying out a program rich in history and significance in the community.

If you would like to know more about the Latino Leadership Development Program, our website is www.uwrochester.org/lldp.

A Place of Hope for People with Addictions

One out of every eighteen people has been affected by an addiction in Monroe County. Chances are that you know at least one person who has faced an addiction at some point in their life. I personally have known several people that have faced an addiction.
DePaul is a place of hope for these people. Not only do they deal with drug addiction, but they also have programs for alcoholism, gambling addiction, eating disorders, and their addiction treatment center. DePaul offers an array of services including a medically supervised detoxification program, inpatient rehabilitation, a comprehensive outpatient clinic, community residences, and a supportive living program. Just last year alone, over 40,000 people went thru their drug treatment program. United Way funds DePaul’s addiction services. Check out their web site to learn more about the other programs.
In the last couple of years, gambling addiction has raised tremendously. There are several casinos in our surrounding areas and the poker tournaments are huge, especially on college campuses. Staff decided to take action, so they are going into the high schools to make students aware of this addiction. Prevention is really important.
I have seen several of my friends struggle with an addiction and I am thankful that they had a place to turn to. Addiction services are saving people’s lives. They work with the addict and their families to get them back on their feet.

2-1-1 Suicide Hotline

Did you happen to catch the news features on recently, soldiers who are returning home—only to sadly end up committing suicide? It’s a problem so many communities are facing. Here, at home, 2-1-1 has added a suicide hotline designated for soldiers who are in need of counseling. The Strong Health Medical Center Dept. of Psychiatry and the national Veteran’s Administration joined forces with 2-1-1 to create this suicide hotline. Our soldiers have given so much for our country. I’m thankful 2-1-1 is here around the clock to help them when they need it most.

If you haven’t already checked it out- read my other blog about a visit I made to the
2-1-1 Call Center to learn more about the other services they offer.

SWAN

The Southwest Area Neighborhood Association, or SWAN, has been an anchor in our community for the last 25 years. It was started by Willie Lightfoot, and his legacy is carried out in everything that SWAN does. United Way funds two programs, the Emergency Assistance Program and the Youth Development Program.
The Emergency Assistance program helps those in a time of crisis get the food they need can temporarily help out with utility bills, until they can get back on their feet again. Many of their neighborhood residents are working poor. They are single mothers who work several jobs to support their families. Many of them have to choose which bills to pay each month. They’re working hard to rebuild their lives, but like any of us would, they need some help along the way.
The Youth Development Program serves kids ages 6-16 who live in SWAN’s neighborhood. Basically, youth development is another term for an after-school program. SWAN hosts all sorts of activities to keep kids off the street, and help them find academic success. They even have things going on during Saturdays. SWAN encourages kids to seek a better way of life outside of the gangs.
SWAN works hand-in-hand with the entire neighborhood to really improve the environment they live in. It just goes to show that when people get together with a vision, they can move mountains. Congrats to SWAN on 25 years of incredible service to our community.

Halloween, United Way Style

Growing up, each Halloween promised a night of trick-or-treating and a bounty of candy. The reality, though, for a number of kids in our community isn’t the same. Not every neighborhood is safe to trick-or-treat in. Although we’re working hard to ensure neighborhood stability and change, it takes time.

So, if some kids can’t go out trick-or-treating… we’ll find another way to have them still enjoy Halloween. This week, we were thrilled to host 40 preschoolers from the Maplewood and Southwest YMCAs. The kids were able to enjoy some goodies and trick or treat around the different offices. Not only was it fun for the kids, but our staff gets really into it (that’s me in the picture above!)

Click here to watch local news coverage of our day, on Channel 13 and Channel 8.

Wildfires in California

Imagine all of your material possessions – gone in a matter of minutes. Imagine being forced to leave your home – not knowing when you’ll return – or if you’ll have a home to return to. Fire, tragically, puts many families in that position in our community each year. And right now, that’s the sobering reality for so many Californians this week– as wildfires tore through hundreds of thousands of acres of land - reducing thousands of homes to rubble.

It’s times like this when we all count our blessings. We’re lucky in the fact that – in Rochester- we’ll hopefully not have to face the threat of wildfires to that extent. But we do have a terrific Red Cross chapter, which we help fund, that is there for people in times of crisis. And in times of need, United Way and its programs are there. Thanks to you.

Because of your support of United Way, people in our community have access to critical emergency services - like those provided through The Emergency Service Providers Collaborative (a group of eight agencies that includes the Salvation Army, Baden Street Settlement, the Ibero-American Action League, and the Community Place of Greater Rochester).

Rest assured that United Way’s in California are helping the people in their communities during this time of crisis. If you are interested in making a donation to the Southern California Wildfires Recovery fund, please click on the highlighted text.

(link to https://volunteer.united-e-way.org/united-way-ca-wildfires-fund/donate/)

The Mural Unveiled

Everyone who attended the unveiling commented on how perfect the day was. It was perfect because it was 75 and sunny in late September, but it was also perfect because we were there to celebrate the unveiling of a mural that a determined team of neighborhood kids (& a few adults) completed over the course of the summer. I was there because we were able to support the project with a grant through our United Way - Bank of America Neighborhood Mini Grant Fund.

Located in the Upper Monroe neighborhood, the mural pays homage to the neighborhood’s history (original home to Crosman Brothers Seeds), as well as to its future, the kids ages 2 ½ to 17 growing up in that neighborhood. According to Joseph Sorrentino, neighborhood leader & artist, the kids haven’t always seen eye-to-eye and the mural was a great way to get them to work with one another. They all had a hand in its development – it’s colorful and busy and each of the elements contributes something positive to the overall composition – a great analogy for a vital neighborhood.

If you have a chance, you really should swing by to check it out. It’s comprised of three panels, carefully spaced along the curve of Laburnum Terrace where it meets the 490 sound-wall. If you’re walking west on Monroe, look to the right, just before you get to Wilson Farms – it will put a smile on your face.

Developing the Youth

Puerto Rican Youth Development has been developing Rochester’s youth for 37 years. Just a little background, it was started by students who weren’t happy with what they were getting out of the schools. They wanted to have an impact within the community so they started several clubs within the school and it developed into Puerto Rican Youth Development.
PRYD has programs at Edison, Monroe, Franklin, Jefferson, and East High Schools. These programs vary from preventing substance abuse to after school programs where tutors come in. United Way actually funds two of their tutoring programs; the PODER-Bry Achievement Mentoring Program and the Hispanic Youth Tutorial Program. Both of these programs help students that are at risk of falling behind. Last year was Bry’s first year in the city. It helped 200 students in the 6 schools and it improved attendance and performance.
One of the stand out students was Essence Coleman. She was a student at Edison who was doomed for failure until her English teacher took her under her wing and told her about the Bry program. To learn more about Essence’s story check out www.youpreventviolence.com

Cleaning up the streets

Last Friday a group of United Way staffers hit the streets to clean up our neighborhood. We teamed up with 450 other fellow Clean Sweepers to join the first Corporate Clean Sweep. Maybe you drove by some of us – wearing our day-glow t-shirts! Mayor Bob Duffy kicked the event off in front of all the volunteers and then we dispersed to our different assignments around the city. Here is Mayor Duffy with some of our staffers at the kickoff.

The United Way team worked together to clean up the neighborhood surrounding our building on College Avenue. I was shocked to see just how much garbage we picked up.

It feels pretty good to do something so simple for our community. So if you’re interested in having the same feeling, visit the city’s web site to learn about getting involved in the next clean sweep – www.cityofrochester.gov. You don’t have to live in the neighborhood to help out. If the City decides to have another Corporate Clean Sweep, I would definitely sign up….and not just for the awesome shirt!

The panels are up! Well, mostly.

Saturday was a big day for us. We began putting the mural panels up. There will be, when it's finished, three panels but Shawn was having trouble envisioning the third panel. He knows what he wants, just couldn't get it formulated. But I spoke with him today (Tuesday) and he's got it figured out. And to think we have four days to spare.

The panels look great and the comments have all been positive. Shika called it, "Mad hot" which I believe means she likes it. Two parents said they love it. It's cool to drive by and see people going up to the panels and pointing out stuff. It's been a lot of work but worth it.

After the panels were installed on Saturday, lunch was provided by Monroe Avenue Subway owner Andrew Hannan, which delighted everyone. Then, on Monday evening, after the kids put some finishing touches on the second panel, we retired to Corky's Craving Parlor where owner Mike Marrone gave everyone (about a dozen of us) free ice cream. He had promised ice cream when the mural was finished and came through in big way.

Now we're gearing up for Saturday. We're expecting a big crowd and are getting decorations, cookies, cake and soft drinks. Predictions are for near-perfect weather and I'm counting on the weatherman to be right this time.

A special gift to start the school year...

500 students at Rochester City School #22 are more prepared for school this week thanks to the generous support of our local labor unions. Last Friday, every student in the whole school received new backpacks full of school supplies.

I was among the staff members from United Way who went to the school to make the special delivery to the unsuspecting students. (Check out all the pictures!). Last year we had delivered backpacks to 200 kindergartners and first graders at Rochester City School #6 and #30. Again, this year’s backpack event wouldn’t have been made possible without generous donations from the Rochester Building Trades, Tops, and Wegmans.

It was so cool being a part of something so big. Just think about it: we gave 500 students the tools they need for a successful school year. For many of these kids, it was like Christmas came early – they were so excited! The event was even captured on camera, and ran on Channel 13 as the Bright Spot (click here to watch).

This really is one of my favorite events – it’s amazing how something that seems so simple can make such a difference.

Back to College

Last Thursday I got to go back to college. You may remember that I am not that far out of college, but it was still awesome to go back. My sidekick and I made an appearance at Roberts Weslyean College’s Volunteer Fair – to represent Campus Connection. (Check out the picture of our table... we gave away Frisbees and candy to students who stopped by – pretty cool!).

Ok, I should back up and tell you what Campus Connection is. We officially kicked it off Wednesday at East High School – where about 50 students and staff from nine area colleges teamed up to help clean up the Peace Garden and paint the boys locker room. (You can click here to see all the media coverage we received and to see more pictures).

Campus Connection is a new program that we’ve teamed up with Time Warner to make possible. Essentially, it’s a website that local college students visit to find volunteer projects. The coolest part of this program is that if students have a project that costs money to complete, they can apply for a grant to cover all costs (thanks to Time Warner!). We’re hoping that helps encourage more students to get involved in the community that they go to school in – and maybe it will encourage them to stay here after they graduate.

Tomorrow we’re heading to RIT’s volunteer fair – where we’ll hand out more candy, and more Frisbees, and continue to spread the word about Campus Connection. If you know a college student who should get connected, forward them the link to the site! Meanwhile, I think I could get used to this lifestyle all over again…. so look for me at a college near you soon!

Mural posts are in

It took a lot more work than we anticipated but we finally did get the posts in on Sunday. The NET Office coordinated with the Department of Special Services to dig the six holes we needed, which was great. Unfortunately, one day after those holes were dug we finally got the water line in (for the garden) and that eliminated three of the holes. That meant we had to re-dig them. Each hole had to be about four feet deep and there were some serious rocks in the soil. The kids were really enthusiastic but I'm not sure how much help they were in the end. Mostly they climbed on the dirt piles, sending cascades of dirt back into the holes. But, eventually, we got the poles in and the cement poured. The next step is this Saturday, when we attach the panels. We're really looking forward to that. And, of course, the official unveiling.