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United Way of Greater Greensboro Community Impact Manager Justin Williams-Blackwell Named in Inaugural “20 in their 20s” Awards

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

Greensboro, NC (November 19, 2020) – United Way of Greater Greensboro Community Impact Manager for Health and Basic Needs Justin Williams-Blackwell was named in the Triad Business Journal’s inaugural 20 in their 20s awards. 

According to the Triad Business Journal, their newest awards program recognizes the region’s young talent — those that have made significant contributions to their workplaces and communities before they turn 30. 

“I’m humbled to be selected as one of the Triad Business Journal’s 20 in their 20s award winners. Congratulations to all of the talented young professionals recognized. This honor was made possible by the amazing individuals that I’ve worked alongside and served through my work. I’m eternally grateful for them and look forward to continuing to make a difference in my community for many years to come,” said Williams-Blackwell.  

Williams-Blackwell joined United Way of Greater Greensboro in 2018. He is a graduate of Guilford College and the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG). For nearly nine years, Williams-Blackwell has worked in the Greensboro nonprofit community working to eliminate poverty, ensure adequate housing, decrease health disparities and dismantle systemic racism. He was named a 2017 National Rising Star by the American Society of Public Administration. Williams-Blackwell is an active volunteer in the Greensboro community, serving on the UNCG Masters in Public Affairs Alumni Advisory Council, Piedmont Triad Regional Food Council, United Way Young Leaders Cabinet and more. 

Triad Business Journal will celebrate the honorees in a special print publication out Dec. 6, in addition to online and social media coverage. 

Public Invited to Attend United Way’s 13th Annual Conversations with Community Leaders hosted by African American Leadership, Dec. 8

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

Greensboro, NC (November 13, 2020) – The public is invited to attend United Way of Greater Greensboro’s 13th Annual Conversations with Community Leaders hosted by African American Leadership on December 8, 2020 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

Hosted on Zoom, this free event is open to the public and will feature a panel discussion. This year’s event topic is “Working Your Way out of Poverty: Addressing Workforce Development Through Equity and Reentry”. Attendees will be empowered to create collaborative solutions. To RSVP, visit unitedwaygso.org/convo.

Presenters include:

  • Edward Williams, Reentry Director, Guilford County Sheriff’s Department
  • Chris Rivera, Director of Workforce Development, City of Greensboro
  • Love Jones, Director Human Rights, City of Greensboro
  • Lynch Hunt, Owner, AWOL Fitness

Special thanks to event sponsors:

  • American National Bank
  • Cone Health Foundation 
  • Cone Health System
  • Greensboro Housing Authority
  • Lincoln Financial Group

Public Invited to Attend Virtually, End Poverty: The Lunch and Learn Series Hosted by United Way Young Leaders, Nov. 12

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

Greensboro, NC (November 11, 2020) – The public is invited to attend End Poverty: The Lunch and Learn Series hosted by United Way of Greater Greensboro Young Leaders. Hosted on Zoom, the session will take place on November 12, 12- 1 p.m. 

Attendees will learn from local leaders about COVID-19’s impact on local education, health and housing issues. This series is free and open to the public. 

Featured speakers include: 

  • Dr. Jamie King, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning and Professional Development at Guilford County School 
  • Jamilla Pinder, Assistant Director Healthy Communities at Cone Health 
  • Justin Williams-Blackwell, Community Impact Manager for Health and Basic Needs at United Way of Greater Greensboro 

“In the wake of the pandemic, we’re all wondering where we go from here and how we can help. This session of End Poverty: The Lunch and Learn Series provides a great opportunity to learn about how COVID-19 is still impacting our community and what we can all do to make a difference. Our incredible speakers will definitely educate and inspire attendees to take action,” said Lauren Forbis, Marketing and Communications Manager at United Way of Greater Greensboro. 

To register, visit www.unitedwaygso.org/learn. 

United Way Issues 2019-20 Annual Report, Celebrates Community Impact

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

Greensboro, NC (November 6, 2020) – United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) is pleased to announce the release of its 2019-20 Annual Report.

In the 2019-20 fiscal year, United Way created 30 partnerships that supported 59 holistic programs and initiatives that are working together to end local poverty. Over the year, more than 56,000 people were helped in greater Greensboro and volunteers gave 25,951 hours of their time.

The report additionally highlights the tremendous impact generous donors and community members make possible by highlighting specific outcomes, success stories, and financial updates. 

To view the annual report, please visit unitedwaygso.org/annualreport.

Historic United Way Vote Amends Bylaws to Address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Posted on by admin

United Way of Greater Greensboro bylaw amendment ensures diversity, equity and inclusion are integrated into all business operations – Additionally, the organization has released an updated diversity, equity, and inclusion statement of principle

Greensboro, NC (October 28, 2020) – During a special called meeting on October 27, the membership of United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) voted unanimously to amend its organizational bylaws to more specifically address diversity, equity and inclusion  Additionally, the organization has released an updated diversity, equity, and inclusion statement of principle. 

“Ninety-eight years into our history, we have inked the importance of equity. When the United Way started, there was segregation in our great nation. There were laws that excluded people purely on the basis of the color of their skin. Today, we are suggesting that we have made progress, and we are going to document it. And we’re not going to be general about it – we’re going to be specific,” said Michelle Gethers-Clark, President and CEO, UWGG. 

The amendment creates a monumental mark in UWGG’s 98-year history and ensures diversity, equity and inclusion are moral and business imperatives required for the organization to grow, advance the common good in local communities, and achieve its efforts of ending local poverty. 

Specifically, the amendment ensures the organization will: 

  • Create and publicly post a diversity, equity, and inclusion statement 
  • Recruit volunteers and staff that reflect the diversity of the community it serves 
  • Provide annual racial equity training to board members and staff 
  • Incorporate racial equity criteria when making community investment decisions. 

A section of UWGG’s updated diversity, equity and inclusion statement reads, “We are resolved, in all that we do, to respect, appreciate, value and not discriminate against the following but not limited to race, religion, skin color, gender, nationality, language differences, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, socioeconomic status, work and behavioral styles, parental status, differing perspectives, lived experiences, as well as physical, mental and developmental abilities.” 

Read the entire diversity, equity, and inclusion statement here: 
https://www.unitedwaygso.org/about-us/diversity-and-inclusion

View the entire special called meeting here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cub1b7632lc&feature=youtu.be 

For more on United Way of Greater Greensboro’s response to racial equity, visit: 
https://www.unitedwaygso.org/equity 

United Way of Greater Greensboro Young Leaders Host Kits for Kids Drive in Place of Annual Trunk or Treat, Entire Community Invited to Volunteer

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

Greensboro, NC (October 16, 2020) –  In place of their annual Trunk or Treat event, United Way of Greater Greensboro Young Leaders is inviting everyone in the community to host a “Kits for Kids” drive. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Young Leaders reimagined their annual in-person event to create a fun, impactful volunteer opportunity.

“While we certainly wish we could gather together, we are confident the Kits for Kids drive will continue the legacy of this beloved event in a safe, impactful way,” said Lauren Forbis, Marketing and Communications Manager at United Way of Greater Greensboro.

Everyone is invited to host a “Kit for Kids” drive with their family and friends, neighborhood, office or place of worship. Simply assemble your kits and drop them off at United Way during the week of Oct. 19. Kits will be delivered to community partners— including United Way’s Family Success Centers, three Greensboro Public Library branches, and the African American Male Initiative mentoring program— for distribution to local kids. 

Kits will be available for the public to pick up at the following Greensboro Public Library branches: Vance H. Chavis, Glenwood and Hemphill.

To sign up to host a drive, visit unitedwaygso.org/trunk2020. A toolkit of helpful tips along with a listing of needed items is available on the same web page.

Young Leaders are a donor affinity group of United Way of Greater Greensboro. Cone Health is a generous sponsor of this event.

Tidal Wave Auto Spa Hosts 12th Annual Charity Day Benefitting United Way of Greater Greensboro’s Efforts to End Poverty, Sept. 18

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

Greensboro, NC (September 17, 2020) – Giving back to the communities they call home is a core value for Tidal Wave Auto Spa. Tidal Wave’s 12th Annual Charity Day will be held Friday, September 18, 2020 and will benefit United Way of Greater Greensboro.

“We chose to focus our 12th annual Charity Day on United Way of Greater Greensboro for the third year in a row because we know their efforts to end poverty are working. We are looking forward to another successful year raising dollars and awareness for United Way,” said Jennifer Rogers, Marketing Manager for Tidal Wave Auto Spa.

United Way of Greater Greensboro is kicking off its 98th annual campaign this month. Prior to the pandemic, there were more than 57,000 people in greater Greensboro living in poverty, making community member support more important than ever before.

Tidal Wave donates proceeds from all sales made each Charity Day to a charity or non-profit in the local community. Across all its locations in the Midwest and Southeast, a total of $500,000 has been raised from Charity Day donations alone.

Tidal Wave Auto Spa of Greensboro is located at 3745 Battleground Ave, Greensboro, NC 27410 and is open from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

United Way of Greater Greensboro Continues 98th Year Celebration With Free Virtual Concert featuring J. Timber, Sept. 22

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

Greensboro, NC (September 16, 2020) –  United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) is continuing to celebrate its 98th year and invites everyone in the community to join the fun. On Sept. 22, 5:30-6:30 p.m., UWGG is hosting a free virtual concert with live music by local artist J. Timber.

J. Timber is a longtime supporter of UWGG’s efforts to end poverty. He was featured on UWGG’s Artists United to End Poverty benefit album, produced in partnership with The Culture Pushers. He has also performed at multiple UWGG events including Young Leader’s volunteer game nights at UWGG’s Family Success Centers.

“I care about the work United Way is doing. I believe in it, and I want to use my platform to them end local poverty,” said J. Timber. 

Everyone is invited to virtually attend the concert to learn about UWGG’s efforts to end poverty and enjoy the family-friendly concert.

UWGG is asking 10,000 people to donate $100 this year. During the event, attendees will be invited to text IND100 to 41444 to give and become one of the 10,000 people joining the movement to end local poverty.

Visit www.UnitedWayGSO.org/Concert to register and watch via Zoom. Alternatively, watch the Facebook livestream at www.facebook.com/unitedwaygso.  

United Way of Greater Greensboro Named One of the Triad’s Best Places to Work

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

Greensboro, NC (September 11, 2020) – As United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) kicks off its 98th year, it is pleased to announce it was recently named one of the 2020 Best Places to Work in the Triad. The list of “Best Places to Work” is created annually by the Triad Business Journal. 

This award program was designed to identify, recognize, and honor the best places of employment in the Triad. To determine the Best Places to Work, Triad Business Journal solicited nominations and those companies were surveyed by an independent research firm. 

Employees of these companies decide who is awarded using the survey to evaluate their respective companies on six key engagement categories– personal engagement, trust in leadership, manager effectiveness, individual needs, team dynamics, and communication and resources. 

“It is an honor to again be named a best place to work in the Triad for the second year in a row. Our team works incredibly hard to serve our community and the donors who make our work to end poverty possible. We’re thrilled to be recognized in this meaningful way,” said Brian Graham, Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer at UWGG.

The finalists are divided by size category based on the number of employees working in the Triad. Categories include micro (10-24 employees), small (25-49), medium (50-99), large (100-299) and x-large (300+). UWGG was named a finalist in the small category.

The Triad Business Journal will honor and announce the top-ranked businesses in each of the size categories during a virtual awards ceremony on October 8.

Greensboro Virus Relief Fund Accepting Grant Applications

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

Greensboro, NC (September 8, 2020) – The Greensboro Virus Relief Taskforce is pleased to announce it is accepting applications from nonprofits providing services to people impacted by the Coronavirus. The Taskforce will award five grants up to $25,000 to organizations addressing the priority areas of Employment Reductions and Housing Vulnerabilities.   

Funds will be allocated from the Greensboro Virus Relief Fund which was established by United Way of Greater Greensboro, City of Greensboro, and Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro. 

The Taskforce is co-chaired by Larry Davis, Assistant City Manager, and Frank McCain, Vice President, Community Impact and Investment, United Way and comprised of leaders from Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, Guilford County and leaders representing six priority areas. 

Interested nonprofits can learn more and submit applications by visiting www.UnitedWayGSO.org/Virus