COMMUNITY SCHOOL LEARNING EXCHANGE

Donna Douglass has been a strong advocate of United Way’s mission to crush poverty and ensure all students succeed and all families thrive.

As incoming board chair for United Way of Erie County, I’ve seen firsthand the fantastic work accomplished by the local social impact organization. They envision a collaborative community where all students succeed, and all families thrive.

District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz emphasizes these three goals when she addresses youth violence in our community. She is a strong advocate of United Way Community Schools because she has experienced first-hand how they are an essential partner in the DA’s work in keeping our young people on a positive path to a brighter future.

The 16 United Way Community Schools in Erie County all have a basic needs and supply closets—Community Closets, which serve as an invaluable resource for students and families.

We recently connected with Paul Wotus, PA 211 Northwest Database Coordinator, to discuss his role and the impact 211 is making across the region.

Earlier this week, a group of community leaders toured Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary to learn more about how United Way community schools, a data-driven, evidence-based public education model, bring a wide-range of resources into schools to remove barriers to learning, providing children the support they need to achieve academic success.

One very effective way United Way of Erie County is helping to bolster family stability is through Erie FREE Taxes. Through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), Erie FREE Taxes provides free tax preparation service to Erie County tax filers and ensures every eligible filer claims the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC, one of our county’s most effective anti-poverty tools, lifts more than 8 million adults and children above the poverty line. To those eligible, it provides a cash credit that boosts incomes of low-to-moderate income workers, helping them meet their basic needs. For those who receive the credit, it may enable them to save for emergencies, pay down debt or put a down payment on a home.

United Way of Erie County utilizes American Community Survey data from the US Census Bureau to analyze poverty rates for Erie County. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, estimates for 2020 were only released on a state-wide basis.

This past Monday, the United States honored the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the young preacher who devoted his life to freedom, equality and justice for all. His famous speech, I Have a Dream, that was delivered on August 28, 1963 became one of the defining moments of the civil rights movements and one of the most iconic speeches in American history.  

Now that winter is upon us and the second half of the school year has started, it's a good time to remember thousands of students are walking to school every day --- no matter the weather --- and they need to arrive safely. Student walking safety is a critical issue facing our community.

Winter is officially here and United Way extends wishes for a joyous holiday season. May your heart be warmed by these examples of ways United Way funding through the Community Schools Model has impacted the lives of students and their families during the month of December.

Even though the official start of winter is one week away, cold weather has set in, and snow has already blanketed many parts of Pennsylvania. Winter is especially challenging and dangerous for the most vulnerable families and their children as they seek out basic needs.

The power of partnerships between United Way of Erie County and companies like Wegmans, are creating real change in our mission to Crush Poverty!

The results are in. Students at community schools are proving United Way's Community Schools Model is working.

A free book-a-month program for all children living in Erie County from birth to age five. That’s the Imagination Library! Launched by United Way of Erie County in 2013, the Imagination Library for Erie County will celebrate a historic milestone during the month of December… hitting the ONE MILLION books mailed mark.

United Way of Erie County is partnering with Erie Contemporary Ballet Theater (ECBT) for their performances of The Nutcracker on November 26 at 7 p.m. and November 27 at 2 p.m.

United Way of Erie County and Erie’s Public Schools officials will announce the corporate partner for JoAnna Connell Elementary at a press conference on Thursday, November 15 at 10:00 AM.

An enthusiastic and creative crowd filled the Ada Lawrence Community Room on November 10 in the Wayne Building to celebrate the installation of the first 13 transformational placemaking murals along five of United Way’s Safer Walking Routes to school pathways.   

“We are so impressed by United Way of Erie County and the work you all are doing with 16 Community Schools.”  

United Way recently partnered with the Jefferson Educational Society to host a panel of experts as part of the 2022 Global Summit. The session, entitled Community Schools: A Model Locally, A Model Nationally was moderated by Ben Speggen and led by José Muñoz, Director of the Coalition for Community Schools, American University Professor Reuben Jacobson and Erie's Public Schools Superintendent Brian Polito.