Author: April Laughlin

In honor of Women’s History Month, United Way is excited to celebrate Melanie Jones, a local gamechanger who is making a lasting impact in multiple ways.

Melanie has volunteered with United Way for over 10 years, and is the current chair of United Way’s Women United (WU) Affinity Group.

WU is focused on inspiring women to lead community-wide change that ends local poverty, and many group events and volunteering activities highlight United Way’s efforts to provide pathways to employment.

Melanie, who serves as Executive Director of Guilford Metro 911 is no stranger to community need and says she volunteers with WU because she has a passion for “empowering women in our community and helping them achieve goals that they think are unachievable.”

Melanie says she was initially drawn to United Way’s work after learning that far too many local children are living in poverty. Currently, 67% of Guilford County Schools students are living in poverty. Melanie believes WU’s efforts to help local mothers is critical in supporting the many needs of children living in poverty.

Melanie says she hopes to continue inspiring others to get involved as she strives to do her part to help United Way reach its Bold Goal of helping 3,000 households leave poverty by 2030.

“I hope we achieve our Bold Goal with United Way of Greater Greensboro, more than most understand! I want us to be the leader in the country for moving families out of poverty.”

It’s evident that Melanie is committed to United Way’s work, and she makes it a point to LIVE UNITED on a daily basis.

“We could learn a lot from crayons; some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors…but they all have to learn to live in the same box.”

If you’d like to learn more about United Way’s WU Affinity Group, visit: https://www.unitedwaygso.org/women-united/

“One of my favorite sayings is derived from the scripture Luke 12:48: ‘To whom much is given, much is required’ – it is a constant reminder that I am responsible for using my God-given talents, skills, and abilities to benefit others, said Rashanda Harris.

There is no doubt Rashanda has used her gifts in amazing ways to support United Way’s efforts to help the local community for over 19 years.

While working at Lincoln Financial Group, Rashanda has supported and chaired many functions of fundraising activities through her company campaign, volunteered during Days of Caring, hosted a trunk during Trunk-or-Treat, and been a member of Young Leaders Affinity Group.

And that’s not all…

As the nation celebrates Black History month throughout February, Rashanda’s latest volunteer role seems even more timely and impactful. Last month Rashanda began chairing United Way’s African American Leadership (AAL) Affinity Group.

“I am passionate about equality, representation, disrupting stereotypes and being an advocate for others and the work that United Way does allows me to mobilize my energy and enhance my commitment.”

AAL is focused on empowering and inspiring communities of color to lead community-wide change that ENDs poverty.

Rashanda says she volunteers with AAL because she “believes in the adage that it takes a village – collective effort matters!” She went on to say, “volunteering allows me to hold myself accountable for being a member of the village that supports and drives initiatives such as the African American Male Initiative for those in our community.”

She hopes to continue partnering with community leaders to turn United Way’s vision into reality by focusing on initiatives that lead to ending generational poverty.

And with Rashanda as the leader of AAL, that hope is fueled by a local leader with nearly two decades of United Way experience.

“I hope that we continue building resilience. Be the change we want to see by not only learning but living compassionately, promoting, and supporting equality, continuing to use our voices and remaining committed to giving and volunteering so that our community thrives.”

If you’d like to learn more about United Way’s AAL Affinity Group, visit: https://www.unitedwaygso.org/african-american-leadership/

Funding secured by Congresswoman Kathy Manning will be used for job counseling, career training, and supportive services to help local people leave poverty   

GREENSBORO, NC (January 11, 2023) – United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) is receiving a $1,000,000 federal grant to support job counseling, career training, and supportive services offered through the organization’s Guilford Success Network. The funding was included in a recently approved bipartisan omnibus bill which included funding for community projects in North Carolina’s Sixth District introduced by Congresswoman Kathy Manning (NC-06).  

UWGG’s Guilford Success Network is a community-inspired, research-based system that leverages technology to deliver coordinated support services for low-income residents – empowering them to achieve their economic goals and attain sustainable economic stability. The success of the project is achieved through three central objectives:  

1. Build a coordinated community of practice and services, supported by a technology-based platform to establish a virtual network.
2. Engage residents as participants in the Guilford Success Network, paired with live coaches and coordinators, to develop customized household plans for transitioning out of poverty that include connections to the integrated services provided through the Guilford Success Network.
3. Deliver, measure, and report outcomes for participants as they achieve their goals for long-term economic stability.  

UWGG creates, connects, and leads community partnerships that equip and empower people to leave poverty. According to Khari Garvin, UWGG President and CEO, the Guilford Success Network is part of the organization’s multi-faceted strategy to address local poverty. 

“Everything we do is aimed at helping local children, adults, and families leave poverty. Our approach is research-based, and our funded partnerships either help place people on pathways out of poverty, or they help people leave poverty altogether. The Guilford Success Network will help people find their pathway out of poverty, leading them to living wage employment,” said Garvin.   

“On behalf of the people whose lives will be positively affected by the services provided by this funding, we are tremendously grateful for Congresswoman Manning’s ongoing support of our efforts to serve local households impacted by generational poverty,” added Garvin.  

The grant funding was included in a bipartisan omnibus bill which included Congresswoman Manning’s request for $25.56 million for 15 Community Funding Projects in North Carolina’s Sixth District.  

“I’m proud to secure federal funding for the United Way of Greater Greensboro to implement job counseling and career training services to empower community members to get and retain good-paying jobs,” said Congresswoman Manning (NC-06).  

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END LOCAL POVERTY: United Way of Greater Greensboro creates, connects, and leads community partnerships that equip and empower people to leave poverty. More than 57,000 people are living in poverty in the greater Greensboro area. In the City of Greensboro, one out of every four children, lives in poverty. Our strategy builds pathways out of poverty by: Helping youth transition from cradle to career, Helping adults land jobs and increase income, Providing access to basic needs and healthcare, and Bundling services that eliminate barriers at our nationally recognized Family Success Centers and innovative Guilford Success Network. With the community’s support, we will achieve our BOLD GOAL: As a community united in equity and lasting solutions, 3,000 households will leave generational poverty by 2030. The federal government defines poverty as a family of four earning $27,750 per year. According to local self-sufficiency standards many four-member households need to earn around $60,000 to meet basic needs without subsidized assistance. www.UnitedWayGSO.org