Newsroom

LIVE UNITED Film Series: Helping Middle School Kids

On January 28 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. KLRU and United Way Capital Area will present the film “It All Adds Up” as part of the Live United Film Series. “It All Adds Up” chronicles the experiences of Math Corps – a Detroit-based effort to engage middle and high school students in high energy math instruction. Math Corps is defying the stereotypes of not only mathematics education, but of participating students themselves. As one of the program founders notes, math can be a tool for engaging children in education and in their own futures. While the program’s committed adults and rigorous and relevant academics inspire students to be academically success, the students also gain skills to win the day to do more than simply solve sophisticated math problems. While the focus of “It All Adds Up” is on lively math instruction, there is no doubt that a big part of the student success can be attributed to the committed adults who are working with these middle and high school students. Whether it is time spent on instruction, time visiting a college campus or time just hanging out, the building of a positive relationship is at the core. During this month, National Mentor Month, we salute those who are giving of their time to make a difference in the lives of youth and I invite everyone that is passionate about young people to join us. We invite you to attend the screening and the moderated panel discussion of the film and […]

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LIVE UNITED Film Series Panel: Not the usual suspects

As we developed the first screening of the LIVE UNITED Film Series, we wanted to ensure we had a good mix of community leaders and issue experts on our panel. The film’s (It All Adds Up) focus is on education and we targeted people in the field; experts and those who understand the culture of how education affects communities. We wanted to mix it up and didn’t go with the usual suspects and we liked how it turned out! The panel consists of an education/public policy expert, an entrepreneur & mentor, a physicist/mathematician & a media/marketing professional and we’ll also hear first-hand from a young person dealing with the issues highlighted in the film. The LIVE UNITED Film Series panelists include…. Clayton Christopher, CEO of Sweet Leaf Tea Liliana Ary, Client Service Director at Univision Radio Dr. Michael Marder, Physics Professor at the University of Texas at Austin Jason Sabo, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at United Ways of Texas. Jason will also serve as moderator for the evening. Thanks to all our participants and we hope to see you on January 28th! LIVE UNITED Film SeriesJanuary 28, 20106:00-8:30pmKLRU’s Austin City Limits StudiosRSVP at www.handsoncentraltexas.org

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Education & LIVE UNITED Film Series: Guest Post by Jason Sabo – United Ways of Texas

As concerns about the economy and American competitiveness grow, a new axiom is emerging in education debates. Many education reformers, parents, and students argue that the fight for a high quality education for every American isn’t only good economic policy, it is the twenty-first century incarnation of the civil rights movement. Taking this analogy one step further, some contend that Freshman Algebra has become a key gateway to Dr. Martin Luther King’s mountaintop of equal opportunity and the freedom to pursue the American dream. Unfortunately, supporting the academic success of students in math and science can sometimes feel as complicated as a complex algebraic equation. On January 28 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. KLRU and United Way Capital Area will present the film “It All Adds Up” as part of the Live United Film Series. “It All Adds Up” chronicles the experiences of Math Corps – a Detroit-based effort to engage middle and high school students in high energy math instuction. Math Corps is defying the stereotypes of not only mathematics education, but of participating students themselves. As one of the program’s founders notes, math is merely a tool for engaging children in education and in their own futures. Math Corps has proven time and time again that motivated and engaged students can break the barriers that all too often create obstacles to success. The program’s committed adults and rigorous and relevant academics win the day – and do more than simply solve sophisticated math problems. After the screening of […]

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From Birth, Engage Your Child With Talk

A recent article in the NY Times reinforces much of the educational information provided by United Way’s Success By 6 and Born Learning initiatives. Lowe’s recently sponsored and installed the first Born Learning Trail in Central Texas–and there will be many more to come! Not only does the trail beautify Bartholomew Park, it offers parents many opportunities to engage their young children in communication to help them develop properly. From the NY Times article: Communication begins as soon as a baby is born. The way you touch, hold, look at and talk to babies help them learn your language, and the different ways babies cry help you learn their language — “I’m wet,” “I’m hungry,” “I’m tired,” “I hurt,” “I’m overwhelmed” and so forth. “Talk to your baby whenever you have the chance,” the American Medical Association advises parents. “Even though he doesn’t understand what you’re saying, your calm, reassuring voice is what he needs to feel safe. Always respond to your newborn’s cries — he cannot be spoiled with too much attention.” The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association urges parents to reinforce communication efforts by looking at the baby and imitating vocalizations, laughter and facial expressions. Stay tuned for more information about Born Learning activities and trails that will be appearing in Central Texas!

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Your Baby Is Smarter Than You Think

A recent article in the NY Times provides a refreshing look at how children under the age of five learn. It’s no surprise to our Success By 6 supporters that “babies and very young children know, observe, explore, imagine and learn more than we would ever have thought possible,” but the article also underscores the importance of developing pre-K programs that aren’t loaded with focused, planned learning and results-based testing. This approach may work for children over the age of 5 or so. But babies and very young children are terrible at planning and aiming for precise goals. When we say that preschoolers can’t pay attention, we really mean that they can’t not pay attention: they have trouble focusing on just one event and shutting out all the rest. This has led us to underestimate babies in the past. But the new research tells us that babies can be rational without being goal-oriented. Want to learn more about what United Way and Success By 6 are doing to ensure that Central Texas kids are ready for their first day of school? Go to unitedwayaustin.org/sb6

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Census shows workers with a Degree earn $26,000 more

A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau highlights that American workers with a bachelor’s degree earned about $26,000 more on average in 2008 than those with only a high school diploma. The report, Educational Attainment in the United States: 2008, emphasizes just how important having a college degree has become. Education is indeed one of the main keys to prosperity. Find out how United Way Capital Area is working to support educational efforts in early childhood with Success By 6, and also with middle school students with a new collaboration called 1 Hour for Kids, that will launch very soon. The findings in the report are from data collected as part of the Census’ annual Social and Economic Supplement, which was conducted in February, March and April at about 100,000 addresses nationwide.

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Be an Education Advocate, Meet Next Austin School Superintendent

Want your voice to be heard for Education in Austin? The Austin AISD invites you to attend a Community Conversation with Dr. Meria Carstarphen, finalist for Superintendent of the Austin ISD. When: Saturday, March 7, 10 a.m. – Noon at Reagan High School Cafeteria, and Tuesday, March 10, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Travis High School Cafeteria. The Community Conversations are sponsored by the Austin Association of Public School Administrators, the Austin Council of PTA, the AISD District Advisory Council, and the AISD UpClose Program. For more information about Dr. Meria Carstarphen, click here.

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What a robust bunch of hard working folks! ACE Hardware you ROCK!!

On Friday, January 23, 2009 a team of 60 amazing ACE Hardware store owners and mangers from all over the country performed 6 hours of volunteer service to give Promiseland Preschool a facelift as part of the Child Care Facility Improvement Project through United Way Capital Area. As one of the coordinators for the day, I had a fabulous time. This group was enthusiastic from start to finish, even to the point of arriving early on one of Austin’s “Duck Adventure” vehicles. Although the project was an ambitious one you folks just rolled up your sleeves and went at it without hesitation! Here is a run down of your amazing day! Performed 360 hours of service Moved an entire play structure Built a wooden swing structure with two swings Renovated a storage shed (i.e. installed windows, shelves, built a 12 foot porch with benches, including a ramp for kids to put their tricycles away each day Constructed two tricycle paths Constructed 2 sand boxes and hand customized 2 picnic tables Unloaded a truck full of sand Assembled and hung 14 cabinets in 5 classrooms Stabilized and installed new locks on 10 cribs in the Infant Room Customized a 10 X 14 room into a storage room, including media storage Assembled a gazebo and built a floor in it Installed 50’ of chain link fence to separate the playgrounds You even found time to paint, trim trees and cut back bushes! THANK YOU ACE Hardware for partnering with United Way Capital […]

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Adopt a Child Care Center Success!

Thank you to all the United Way Success By 6 supporters who adopted a child care center for the holidays. Why is the work of Success By 6 so important?Click here to learn more. Ebenezer Child Development CenterAdopted by: Carmel Borders and Betsy Abel Faith Presbyterian Child Development CenterAdopted by: Tabatha and Cameron Brown MainSpring SchoolsAdopted by: Open Door PreschoolAdopted by: The Women’s Giving Network Executive CommitteeSafePlace (Stockton-Hicks Child Development Center)Adopted by: Trinity Child Development CenterAdopted by: The nonprofit child care centers are United Way Success By 6 funded partners that serve low-income families. Your gifts and contributions helped brighten their holidays – and the future of our children. From left to right: United Way Women’s Giving Network Executive Committee members Brenda Strama, Tabatha Brown, Mary Ellen Sax, Sydney Heard, Bonnie Pepin, Susan Marler, Marie Baker, Peg Hart, Jennifer Sanderson, and Trisa Thompson. From left to right: Janell Fotovich, Heather Mason, and Charlene Hamlet, members of Applied Materials’ Women’s Professional Development Network, collected and delivered gifts to Trinity Child Development Center as part of the Child Care Center Adoption project. KPMG delivers their gifts to Mainspring Schools

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Why we do what we do

In a recent U.S. Dept. of Education report, an estimated 13% of Travis County residents are illiterate. http://nces.ed.gov/naal/estimates/index.aspx This appalling finding is another reason United Way is collaborating with E3 and others in our region, to ensure that children have the opportunity to start school healthy, happy and ready to learn with our Success By 6 program. If we don’t get involved to turn these findings around, Central Texas will not maintain its prosperity, companies will move away and find the educated, literate workforce elsewhere. Get involved with our efforts around education, Give, Advocate or Volunteer. Be part of the solution. Be a part of the change you want to see.Live United!

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