Advocate

Meghan Keaney
Wed, 11/19/2008

On a Search for Local Heroes

Comment below to nominate yours

When I was younger and hooked on the idea of writing a great American novel, my father used to advise me to take a look at the lives of ordinary people. People who go through their days, happily and purposefully, but without much attention or celebration. Look at these people, he said, and the extraordinary will start to reveal itself. And, of course, it did. I started noticing people who had made great sacrifices for the future of their children, their communities, even for strangers. In essence, my father taught me to seekout the unsung heroes in our society.

For the next four weeks, SpeakUnited will be taking on a search of its own. We will be looking for local heroes, individuals who have made a significant difference in the lives of the people and communities around them. Help us, by nominating a local hero via the comment form.  read more »

Meghan Keaney
Mon, 11/17/2008

LIVE UNITED flash mob in DC

Footage from YouTube

Looks like about a hundred people "froze" in the middle of Union Station in DC to make a statement about Live United.
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Meghan Keaney
Wed, 11/12/2008

Link Round-Up

Stories from the world around us
  • When the Cupboard Is Bare: A New York Times article documents increases in food insecurity, "In the four months since June, demand for food aid has risen 20 percent in areas of the country with the healthiest economies and more than 40 percent in areas with the weakest, leaders of nonprofit food-distribution organizations say." Definitely take a look at the photoessay that accompanies the article and listen to the reporter podcast.
  • CNN to name Nation's "Heroes" on Thanksgiving night. United Way of America has partnered with CNN for the program. Ten citizens who have made a difference through extraordinary deeds will be honored.
 read more »
Sarah McNeely
Tue, 11/11/2008

Downtown Crossing: A Shopping Center or Local Youth Hangout?

I recently read an article in the Boston Globe about how plans to revitalize Downtown Crossing through the construction of new office buildings, retail stores and high-end lofts and condominiums are causing many youths in the city to seek alternate “hang-out” spots.  read more »

Meghan Keaney
Wed, 11/05/2008

Martha Coakley sparks a conversation

AGO launches blog on Heat and Utilitites

This fall, the Attorney General’s Office hosted a series of Winter Heating & Energy Roundtables to address issues of heat and utilities particularly in anticipation for the coming winter and growing cost of living. As it turns out, the resulting conversation overflowed the 4 part series and the Attorney General's Office having no more curvilinear furniture, decided to do the next best thing: They launched a blog.  read more »

Meghan Keaney
Thu, 10/30/2008

Unprecedented Need: Unprecedented United Response

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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Erin Sunderland
Wed, 10/29/2008

Powerlifting his support for United Way

How to GIVE in active ways

Last Friday morning found me in a strange and unfamiliar location for that time of day: a large spacious gym on Church Street in Lowell, MA.  read more »

Meghan Keaney
Wed, 10/29/2008

Hunger: Another reason to get out the vote

Help us with an election day food drive and information drop

Next Tuesday after you submit your vote for president, please help us garner support for another important campaign, one that we can all agree on. On Tuesday, November 4th, United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley and the City of Boston are looking for volunteers to help collect canned goods and distribute information about the Community Support Fund at polling places throughout the city. Whether you vote in Boston or not, you can help us bring food and basic needs to families who have been hit particularly hard by this year's uncertain economy.  read more »

Elizabeth Curtis
Wed, 10/15/2008

Blog Action Day: Where do we stand on this day?

Some personal thoughts on the state of the state.

Today is Blog Action Day wherein people all over are joining together to think and write about poverty. It's a big task to undertake, and quite frankly, I'm not completely sure where to start. As I sit writing this I am thinking about the state budget cuts that are set to be announced later today. And, of course, I can't help but think every day about the larger economic crisis facing our country and the globe.  read more »

Donna Stiglmeier
Wed, 10/15/2008

A Tale of Two States: Child Poverty in Massachusetts

a Post for Blog Action Day on Poverty

Massachusetts has one of the highest median family incomes in the nation, yet its percentage of children who are poor has hovered for years at 13%, even in better economic times.   read more »