Monthly News from United Way of Northeast Louisiana

June 2024 Edition

2024 COMMUNITY REPORT

Working with our volunteers and community partners, United Way of Northeast Louisiana's response in the community is constantly shifting to meet new and pressing needs. We're excited to announce the release of our 2024 Community Report, which gives an overview of our current and new work in the community. The 2024 Campaign Cabinet begins sharing its content with our existing workplace campaign CEOs this month.

Today, we are excited to share the 2024 Community Report with all of YOU. Click the button below to download.

To get involved with United Way of Northeast Louisiana, contact us today!

View Full Report Here

CAMPAIGN CABINET ORIENTATION

We're gearing up for a brand new Campaign Year! Participants of the cabinet were eager to discuss the plan for the campaign year, brainstorming innovative strategies to engage our community and surpass our goals.

Special thanks to William Smart with the Monroe Housing Authority, our 2024 Campaign Chair.

If your company is interested in running a workplace campaign, contact Laura Maddox below!

Contact Laura

Special thank you to Amy Stegall with the City of Ruston, our 2024 Lincoln, Union, and Jackson Parishes Campaign Chair.

If your company is interested in running a workplace campaign, contact Tiffany White below!

Contact Tiffany

CAMPAIGN UPDATES

We sincerely appreciate the generous donation from Atmos Energy Corporation, which will greatly benefit our community!

Special thanks goes to Allie Brasher, Public Affairs Specialist at Atmos Energy, for presenting this check.

We are deeply grateful to First Horizon Bank for their generous donation!

Special thanks to Brenda Johnson for presenting this check. We extend our appreciation to all First Horizon Bank employees for their steadfast support!

Together, we're making a real difference. To stay updated on other campaign updates, be sure to follow us on Facebook by clicking the button below!

COMMUNITY IMPACT

BANK ON NELA:

Saving

We are hosting a BankOn NELA Saving Workshop on Thursday, July 18.

Participants will leave knowing the importance of an emergency fund, short-term and long-term goals, and making their money make THEIR money.

The workshop will be held at the Miller Roy Building, located at 1001 Desiard Street from 12 to 1 p.m. There will also be a Zoom option available. Register below!

VOLUNTEER UNITED

JULY:

Christmas in July

Date: July 25 | 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Location: Monroe Civic Center (401 Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway | Monroe)

Garden Days

Date: Every Friday and Saturday | 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Location: Lincoln Prep School Garden (1453 W Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue | Grambling)

Discover these volunteer opportunities and more on our website. Follow the link below to explore what's currently available!

View Our Volunteer Opportunities

WEST MONROE-WEST OUACHITA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Chamber Opens Enrollment for 2024 Future Entrepreneur Academy - July 12, 15-19

Free six-day academy open to area high school students

WEST MONROE – The West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the opening of enrollment in the 2024 Future Entrepreneur Academy, designed to teach area high school students the basics of owning and operating a small business.

The Future Entrepreneur Academy is presented by the WMWO Chamber of Commerce and Ouachita Parish School System and is sponsored by Johnny’s Pizza House.

The Academy is a free, six-day learning opportunity for area high school students. The academy will take place on July 12, 15-19 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Ouachita Parish School Board Office on North 7^th Street, West Monroe.

The purpose of the Future Entrepreneur Academy is to help high school students understand what it means to be an entrepreneur and what it takes to become one. Students will be taught skills and hear directly from local entrepreneurs on the basics of starting and running their own business.

“This academy is an opportunity for us to foster entrepreneurship right here in our own community through our youth,” said Kristopher Kelley, Executive Director of the Chamber. “Through the years, we’ve been able to bring youth together to innovate and ideate brilliant business and invention opportunities that our community is in the demand for.”

The Academy is free, but limited seats are available. To learn more, please contact the West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce at (318) 325-1961 or by email at info@westmonroechamber.org.

INFORMATION & RESOURCES

Ready4K: Support Newcomer Parent Support

If I were to ask every educator in the U.S. if they have ever worked with a newcomer student, I suspect that nearly all would respond with “YES.”

Though some states may serve more refugee or immigrant families than others, there can be no doubt that there are many families and children in our education system who are, or once were, brand-new to the U.S.

In fact, in 2022, over 46.2 million immigrants lived in the United States — the most ever in our country’s recent history.

For educators, there is so much that we can learn from families arriving from other countries and making a new home within our own. At the same time, we must recognize the necessary needs of these members of our school communities. And one of the most effective ways to support them is through caregiver and parent engagement.

Take a closer look at what strategies are effective to drive parental involvement newcomer families both appreciate and need by clicking the link below!