Engage and Learn with United Way of Kaw Valley

We have some great upcoming events that just couldn't wait until our next newsletter. We have a half-day seminar for nonprofit staff and volunteers, two screenings of an award-winning documentary, and our winter session of Board Leadership Training. The documentary screenings, to be held in Lawrence and Eudora as part of Douglas County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) work, will also include panel discussions and a local data walk.

Room Enough To Care:
A Trauma-Informed Approach to Providing Social Services
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
9 am – 1 pm; Cost: $35
Information and registration: https://www.uwkawvalley.org/mlk-day-seminar

At our 2025 MLK Day of Service seminar, keynote speaker Nicole Rials will discuss ways we can embrace the passion of servitude and helping, while not forsaking our own needs. We will also share lunch and a Harvesters service project as part of our day of connection and development. This event is made possible by an MLK Day of Service mini-grant from the Kansas Volunteer Commission. The Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, and creates solutions to social problems.

Presenter
K. Nicole Rials, LSCSW
Founder and Executive Director
LRM Foundation

Agenda
9:00 - 9:25 Networking/Coffee
9:25 - 9:30 Welcome and Housekeeping
9:30 - 10:30 Keynote
10:30 - 11:00 Discussion
11:30 - 12:00 Lunch
12:00 - 12:55 Service project
12:55 - 1:00 Closing Reflection and Next Steps
CEUs will be available.

Guaranteed Income Documentary Screenings and Community Conversations
Lawrence - Tuesday, Jan. 28, 5:30-8 p.m. at the Lawrence Public Library auditorium, 707 Vermont St., Lawrence. (Refreshments available)
Eudora - Wednesday, Feb. 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Eudora High School auditorium, 2203 Church St., Eudora. (Refreshments and childcare available)

United Way of Kaw Valley and the other members of the Douglas County Community Health Plan’s Anti-Poverty work group invite community members to watch the award-winning documentary, “It’s Basic,” which looks at pilot programs that test the effects of giving people an extra $500 to $1,000 monthly with no strings attached.
The events are open to the public at no cost. Refreshments will be available. Free child care will be offered at the event in Eudora.

Following the screenings, a panel of local leaders will discuss insights from the film, address the impact of poverty on families in Douglas County, and explore local data and initiatives aimed at establishing a guaranteed income program.
The Anti-Poverty work group also includes Douglas County, Eudora Schools Foundation, LiveWell Douglas County and Engage Douglas County.

More About Guaranteed Income
When 2020 presidential hopeful Andrew Yang proposed to give every American $1,000 in monthly income, it helped bring the issue of Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) to national light. By then, several U.S. cities had already begun GBI pilot programs in which they provided $500 to $1,000 per month to a select group of people for one year.
“It’s Basic” looks at several of these pilot programs that test the effects of giving people extra cash with no strings attached. The 77-minute film presents an account of the benefits, criticisms and outcomes of giving unconditional money to people in need and examines whether Basic Income pilot programs eradicate child poverty and level the racial playing field through community-centric solutions.

This concept has been up for discussion many times throughout history. With commentary by Michael Tubbs, the founder of Mayors for Guaranteed Income, and interviews with program recipients and participating mayors across the country, the real-life challenges of trying to get by daily are at the heart of the film.

“Most of us remember a time when we were teetering on the edge of financial hardship or disaster,” said Kathy Smith, Vice President of Douglas County Initiatives, United Way Kaw Valley. “Many of our fellow Douglas Countians know that feeling right now. We know from our data partnership with United for ALICE that 40% of people in Douglas County are either struggling in poverty or just above it. At United Way of Kaw Valley, we have a responsibility to the community to explore solutions, especially those that preserve dignity and potentially create longer term stability. These documentary screenings and panel conversations are an open invitation to our community to explore together."

LiveWell Douglas County Executive Director Ginny Barnard said it has been exciting to work with our community partners and take a deeper look at local data.
“I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone that paychecks don’t stretch far, but many may not realize that over 40% of households in Douglas County are struggling to afford necessities. One of the goals of LiveWell Douglas County is to encourage and inform public discussion around factors that impact health. We really want to listen to different perspectives and experiences to work towards communities where we all thrive.”
For more information about the screening events, please contact: Karrey Britt, Douglas County Communications Specialist, kbritt@dgcoks.gov. 

Board Leadership Training
February 6 & 13, 2025
8 am – 12:30 pm
Washburn University, Topeka
Cost: $75, scholarships available
Information and registration: https://www.uwkawvalley.org/board-leadership-training 

Have you ever wondered what it takes to join a nonprofit Board of Directors? Maybe you’ve considered board service but just didn’t know where to start. United Way’s Board Leadership Training has the answers and support you are looking for. Our introduction to board leadership breaks it down into understandable pieces, gives you the opportunity to test your skills and brings in local experts to take the mystery out of becoming a board member. And once you’ve finished the course, we won’t leave you out there on your own! You can join our Facebook group and make more connections and ask questions.