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Friends of United Way Capital Area & Hands On Central Texas, As many of you know, we started working on the Hispanic/Latino Community Engagement Initiative last year. We’ve taken some great first steps in learning from the Hispanic/Latino community and are in the process of gathering information from this community to publish our study and engagement tool, Making the Connection: An Examination of Volunteering & Community Engagement in the Greater Austin Hispanic/Latino Community. With that said, we have been working with Council Member Mike Martinez’s office to support a Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative. On Thursday, May 8th, Council Member Mike Martinez is leading the efforts by sponsoring an Austin City Council Resolution (Item#50) to initiate a Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative and directing the City Manager to incorporate into the Fiscal Year 08-09 Budget specific line items to support this effort. We ask that you help us advocate in the following ways… Attend the Press Conference, tomorrow Thursday, May 8th – At approximately 9:30am, Council Member Martinez will be hosting a press conference at City Hall to formally announce this new community initiative. We need your attendance and participation at the press event. Attend the Austin City Council meeting at 10am (following the press conference) – At approximately 10am on Thursday, May 8th (also at City Hall), the Austin City Council will address Item#50 during their consent agenda deliberations. We need your action and attendance to encourage the Austin City Council to vote in favor of Item#50. Spread the […]

Wow! I just gotta say, “Volunteers are Awesome!” Y’know we’ve been doing this event for over 10 years now and it gets better every year! First of all, we’ve had corporate volunteers thinking “outside the office”, they did all kinds of community projects and I heard people are signing up to do more ongoing projects. Way cool! A big thank you to Freescale Semiconductor for supporting this Day of Caring and big bear hugs to Jignasha Patel and Tom Spencer for inspiring us to “be the change we wish to see in our world.” And now for your viewing pleasure, the Day of Caring slideshow….. But wait, there’s more! Check out Freescale working the MLK Peace Bench Project! And the NI “Eye of the Tiger” Video! MandoDirector, Hands On Central Texas

During United Way’s Days of Caring on April 25, 2008 a team of Freescale employees came together to express their inspirations and creativity and to make a meaningful difference in the community. They participated in Hands On Central Texas’ MLK Peace Bench Project. Throughout the day they reflected on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s teachings of social justice by transforming wooden benches to a pieces of art! They choose MLK quotes for imprint on the benches, painted messages of peace and inspiring words. A total of fifteen “Peace Benches” were built on Friday. Hands On Central Texas through its service days will build 100 benches to foster community service and action in East Austin. The benches will be distributed to recreation centers, community/neighborhood centers and nonprofit organizations to promote social interaction and build a stronger sense of community. Thank you Freescale employees for your enthusiasm and passion! The designs you created are awesome. You are truly an amazing bunch! Thanks to Jill for sending us the link to all the photos! Please tell us about your volunteer experiences. Post a comment! Diana SantosCorporate and Volunteer Relations, Director

Check out this awesome video of the work the NI Marketing team did at our Success By 6 Child Care Facility. A big thank you to Yvette E. Ruiz for sharing this video with us. If you were there, don’t hesitate to comment on the project and your own experience at the Day of Caring. If you have pictures of your own from the day you’d like us to add to our blog, please send them to web@unitedwayaustin.org. Enjoy the video!

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Hi all. We just heard that our MLK Day of Service video was selected to be aired on KLRU PBS Austin’s DOCUBLOGGERS show! Yeah, we’re excited! Check it and tune in! Tune in on Thurday, April 24, 2008 at 7:30pm or visit the DOCUBLOGGERS website to view the video! MandoDirector, Hands On Central Texas

Congratulations to Gayle Skiera, who is a member of the United Way Capital Area Financial Stability Leadership Council, for winning the BiGAUSTIN 2008 Business Plan Contest at the Big idea day on April 18. Gayle Skiera and The Money Academy Team Gayle is the founder and CEO of The Money Academy, which provides hands-on experience with money, coupled with lessons on key financial distinctions, that empower kids to see the value of using money as a tool for creating wealth. Kids of all ages create their own plan for using money that includes the habit of saving to invest, to donate, and to plan for large purchases. The interest in these clubs spread quickly and they are now in school all over Austin. For more about The Money Academy, visit: http://www.themoneyacademy.net/index.html or visit their blog at: http://themoneyacademy.blogspot.com/

Samsung Austin Semiconductor, a leader in semiconductor innovation, provided onsite support to the staff of United Way Capital Area by lending the time and expertise of Steven English, a senior Samsung quality assurance engineer. Steven facilitated “How to Lead Effective Meetings” training for United Way Capital Area staff, ensuring effective and efficient meeting facilitation. The training was well-received, giving staff the tools to make the best use of not only their time, but volunteers’ time as well. UWCA staff learned how to conduct effective meetings and even had the chance to put their newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice. Steven is knowledgeable, engaging and a downright cool trainer! He and Samsung’s contributions show there is more than one way to impact the work of United Way Capital Area in our community. Thanks to Steven and Samsung for their support! Do you or someone you know have a skill or training background you would be willing to share with United Way? If so, contact Lauren Paver at lauren.paver@unitedwayaustin.org or 472-6267.