Speak United

2-1-1 Update

Meghan Keaney — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:41:20 -0600

Yesterday, we had reports that calls made through landline phones to Mass2-1-1, our free health and human service referral line, unable through to our call center. Testing yesterday revealed that we had a "landline switching problem". We are working with Verizon and Paytec to ensure that this will be repaired as quickly as possible. Calling 2-1-1 via cell phone should work fine. Until the problem is completely resolved, individuals can call our toll free number: 877.211.6277 to be connected to help.

Thanks to United Way of of Tri- County for the update! read more »

Happy New Year

Meghan Keaney — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 08:52:19 -0600

It's a quiet day here around the offices of United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley. Hard to believe that we launched this blog a little less than a year ago. Thought you might be interested in a "Wordle" of our recent blog posts, created at http://www.wordle.net/. A wordle is a visual display of our content. The word cloud gives greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. I liked this one because of the two largest words: "People" and "United". Have a happy New Year, and if you have ideas for how to make SpeakUnited better, please let me know in a comment below!

Boston Homeless Census 2008

Meghan Keaney — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:17:50 -0600

A few photos from the Boston Homeless Census. Where you there this year? What was your experience like? Leave a comment below and let us know.

Homeless Census 2008

Live United Hero: Jessica Dahlquist

Danielle Strong — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:57:50 -0600

I can honestly say I never met anyone who experienced homelessness until I began working at the United Way. This fall I had the pleasure of meeting Jessica Dahlquist, a mother and client from one of our venture agencies Homes for Families, and while our time together was brief, her story will always stay with me. read more »

Linking Homeless People to People-less Housing?

Elizabeth Curtis — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:11:03 -0600

In the December 2nd issue of the Boston Globe there was an intriguing article that caught my attention. In Miami there is a homeless advocate who has started helping homeless individuals and families locate empty foreclosed homes in which they can squat. In case you're unfamiilar with the practice, squatting is when one illegally stays in an empty or abandoned property. read more »

A Message from United Way President Michael Durkin

Michael Durkin — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:22:01 -0600

Yesterday, we had to undertake the difficult task of laying off nine of our colleagues here at United Way. Each of these were people committed to United Way and to our community. I am thankful that we were able to provide them with out placement support and other benefits intended to help ease the burden this reality brings

Live United Heroes: Tom Simons and Todd Baird

Meghan Keaney — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:44:05 -0600

In early October, you didn’t need to be a social scientist to know, beyond a doubt, that something had changed in the latest economic swandive. The calls and emails coming into United Way for help not only came with greater frequency, they had a different tenor. I remember clearly sitting across the table from Tom Simons and Todd Baird of PARTNERS+simons on October 6th and trying to find the words to explain the situation growing in front of us. read more »

Live United Hero: Scott Stolze

Sharon Brewster — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:58:41 -0600

Scott has convened volunteers and organizations to help provide families in New Orleans with donated furniture to make their house a furnished home.

Live United Hero: David Weinberg

Elizabeth Curtis — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:46:53 -0600

I am excited to nominate David Weinberg as our first Live United Hero! I have gotten to know David over the last several years through his relationship with United Way, but after speaking with him today about being a Live United Hero I have an even greater respect for him. I am nominating David today for the remarkable photographic work he has volunteered in support of both United Way and one of our partners in ending homelessness, Heading Home, Inc. More specifically, David is a Live United Hero because his support is just a way of life. read more »

On a Search for Local Heroes

Meghan Keaney — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:00:17 -0600

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 »