Advocate for Uncategorized

Tipping Point - the threshold at which a movement becomes irreversible. Today, this afternoon actually, 18 United Ways from across the Commonwealth announced that they are responding to the growing number of families in financial crisis by uniting for a new statewide drive to provide emergency assistance for basic needs this winter. The emergency appeal, called the Community Support Fund, will leverage the support of residents from all corners of the Commonwealth to create a safety net for individuals and families in crisis. Here's United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley president, Michael Durkin, on the effort:

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Tuesday

Old Wessex for breakfast. Rice, beans, and kale for lunch.

Tuesday night I went to a software gathering in Harvard square. Afterwards, I did end up going out for dinner and spending an entire week's allowance on a biryani and a beer. If it is any consolation, I had to take the Red, Green, and Blue lines to get home, and they were all broken.

Wednesday

Old Wessex for breakfast. I had the day off, so didn't eat breakfast until late, around 10 or so. I ended up skipping lunch.  read more »

The participants have started an e-mail chain and I’ve been reading it with fascination and humor. I grew up on food stamps and hunger was a thing we rarely dealt with in part because food was the option often selected over heat, rent, and entertainment. Another option we had which is available to the crew is going to food banks and churches which is what many food stamp recipients do - there you can find basics such as proteins (beans) and unfortunately poor carbs (white rice) and mac and cheese. I believe as simulated food stamp recipients we have that option.

It was not so much the poor food options and choices and the ego-deflating look received when using a food stamp but the harsh realty of being a second class person, a labeled person, a hopeless person that wore away much at my parents.  read more »

As government purse-strings are tightening in the midst of economic uncertainty, the Partnership for America's Economic Success recently gathered to propose focusing our national and local investments in children.

As Weekend America Public Radio reports: "Hedge fund managers, CEOs and chamber of commerce presidents may not seem like obvious advocates for the expansion of social programs, but they've become perhaps the most enthusiastic and effective supporters of preschool.  read more »

Gustav officially made landfall today in Louisiana. A group of volunteers has already created a wiki to centralize information about the storm, available resources and ways to help. MSNBC has posted a really good map of the storm's path and United Way's 211 hotlines have already received 500-1500 calls a day per center. By Wednesday morning, residents are expecing 6-12 inches of rain over portions of Louisiana, Southern Mississippi and Arkansas, with up to 20 inches in some locations. I thought I'd pass along an update that I recieved today about United Way's expectations and response to Gustav. If new information comes in as the storm progresses, I'll let you know. The following is an update we've received from Erin Sammons, United Way of America Director of Crisis Preparedness, Response and Recovery:

"The Coordinated National Response Core Crisis Team at United Way of America has been mobilized to help local United Ways and people throughout the region:  read more »