Community Investment Volunteer Opportunity

We are looking for volunteers to help with our annual agency program application process!
 
Local volunteers, representing all segments of the community, determine how to invest dollars raised by United Way NELA. The recommendations for funding are reviewed and approved by the organization's volunteers annually.

If you are interested in volunteering for this process, please register below!
Miller-Roy Building Ribbon Cutting

The historic Miller-Roy building, once a vital part of African American culture in downtown Monroe, is officially reopened to the community!

We are pleased to announce that United Way of Northeast Louisiana opened a Financial Health Center located in this historic site! Our vision for the Financial Health Center is to provide critical financial education, coaching, and services for hardworking people to strengthen their ability to provide for themselves and their families. We know that so many hard-working people struggle to make ends meet. With the right tools and skills training, our hope is that more people will become financially strong.

Services will be offered in the Financial Health Center and across all 12 parishes in our region. Some of the services that will be offered include:
* Free tax preparation for those who meet IRS determined income requirements
* Assistance in homeownership
* Credit improvement services
* Financial coaching and education
* Access to affordable financial products

These services will address the following goals:
* Increase income
* Decrease debt
* Increase savings
* Gain and sustain assets

Another feature of our services is that when you enter the building, you’ll be greeted by a Community Connection Specialist from 211. This is a real, full-circle moment for us.
This person will be sitting in the front lobby near the plate glass window, the very place where Mrs. Corrine Bowie, Executive Director of Twin City Colored Community Welfare, greeted people needing assistance years ago.

In 1956, United Givers Fund of Ouachita Parish, now United Way of Northeast Louisiana, was founded. One of our original partner agencies was Twin City Colored Community Welfare (TCCCW). TCCCW was already an established agency in the community, originally founded by Rev. I. Garland Penn, Pastor of Martin Temple CME Church on Adams St. in the 1930s. Corrine and Abraham Bowie were the first Executive Directors and Ted Richard was the first Board Chair. All served the agency faithfully for many years.

We hope that when you visit the newly restored building, you’ll stop to see the original United Way logo and tribute to Twin City Community Welfare in the front lobby. We are so thankful to be a part of this continuing legacy of service.
UPDATE: The Heirship Project

The Heirship Project is a project aimed at educating and assisting residents who need help obtaining a clear property title. 

The Heirship Project has hosted five of seven scheduled events in our region from 2022 to date in 2023. Events have been held in Monroe, Bastrop and Ruston.  

There are two remaining events scheduled for Thursday, April 13 and Tuesday, June 13.
 
One hundred and twelve people have responded to the online registration to participate in The Heirship Project workshop for the 2022-2023 year. If you are interested in one of the remaining workshops, please register below.
Farewell to our AmeriCorps Volunteers!

Earlier this month we said goodbye to our AmeriCorps NCCC Southern Region (Official) team, which helped United Way of Northeast Louisiana with our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). We appreciate these bright young adults and the exceptional work they did in assisting with free tax preparation and e-filing services for individuals and families who meet the household income thresholds set by the IRS. THANK YOU, AmeriCorps NCCC!

Young adults interested in joining AmeriCorps NCCC this summer can learn more and apply below.
UPDATE: Early Ed Day

On Wednesday, February 15, local legislators and business leaders attended Early Learning Day for Northeast Louisiana hosted by United Way of Northeast Louisiana, the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana, and Claiborne Christian Pre-School as part of the annual 2023 Louisiana Early Ed Month happening throughout the month of February across Louisiana.

This event gathered local policymakers, business leaders and partners in the Northeast Louisiana community to place a spotlight on the critical and ongoing need to increase and improve access to quality early care and education for children, birth through age four, throughout the state. The event was held at Claiborne Christian Preschool, which enabled a tour of the center for a firsthand perspective of what high-quality early care and education look like, the challenges providers and families face, and the importance of supporting childcare providers provide for Louisiana’s working families.
reading to a classroom at Claiborne Christian Preschool.
State Representative Pat Moore reading to a classroom at Claiborne Christian Preschool.
reading to a classroom at Claiborne Christian Preschool.
Wes Martin with Bank of Oak Ridge
reading to a classroom at Claiborne Christian Preschool.
Young Leaders UNITED: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workshop

Join members of Young Leaders UNITED for a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion workshop, generously sponsored by Drax!

Alberta Brown Green, CEO of ABG Professional Development Solutions, will deliver a dynamic, three part presentation that will enhance your knowledge of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within your personal life, organization, company, and/or community. During this interactive training, you will be exposed to common barriers of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; how to create a diverse and inclusive personal, work, and community environment; and the Do’s and Don’ts of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This interactive presentation includes case studies as well as an open forum/table talk discussion.

This workshop will take place on Wednesday, April 19 at Tower Place. Registration will open on Monday, March 13.
See below for more information about this workshop!
Leadership Spotlight:
Kim Lowery

Kim Lowery is the Vice President of Community & Organizational Strategy and serves on United Way NELA's Leadership Team.

Kim is responsible for the development and execution of community and organizational strategies. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Louisiana Monroe and is currently pursuing a Masters of Public Administration.

Kim's favorite part of her job is working with and learning from people who care deeply and bring tremendous energy, expertise, and creativity to the work of realizing a shared vision for our community.

Kim is a lifelong resident of Monroe and has been married to her husband, Rickey, for over 31 years. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.
From SingleCare: Questions to ask a doctor if you're BIPOC

In honor of Black History Month, our partner SingleCare shares 9 questions Black, Indigenous, and people of color should ask at their next doctor's appointment.
From Ready4K: 10 ways to play with math!


These quick and simple games make building math skills fun!

  1. Keep Counting
  2. Do Some Shape Spotting
  3. Measure It
  4. Have Fun with Fractions
  5.  Pattern Play
  6. Make Math Riddles
  7. Card Games are Great
  8. Put Math Words to Work
  9. Toss the Dice
  10. Keep an Eye Out for Numbers
UPCOMING EVENTS:

  • Regional Celebrating Excellence | Tuesday, March 7th, 2023 | 8:00-9:30 a.m. | ULM's Bayou Pointe Event Center | 1 Warhawk Way, Monroe

  • Lincoln, Union, and Jackson Parishes Celebrating Excellence | Wednesday, March 8th, 2023 | 8:00-9:30 a.m. | LA Tech's Davision Athletics Complex | 1524 W. Alabama Ave, Ruston

  • Young Leaders UNITED DEI Workshop | Wednesday, April 19th, 2023 | 8:30-12:30 p.m. | Tower Place
Connect with us!
United Way of Northeast Louisiana | unitedwaynela.org