LIVING UNITED2011, ISSUE I

WEINLaND Park CoLLaboraTIVE: EmPoWErING rESIDENTS To bUILD a VIbraNT NEIGhborhooD

The Weinland Park Collaborative was launched in August, 2010, at the Weinland Park Neighborhood Festival — and everyone was invited. That launch says a lot about how the Collaborative operates, everyone has a seat at the table, especially residents. The Collaborative is a unique partnership that brings together more than 20 organizations

all with the goal of enhancing the quality of life for current and future residents by connecting them to one another and to a vibrant, diverse community. Focusing on workforce development, education, healthy living, public safety, youth engagement and resident leadership, the Collaborative builds on years of planning and strategic investment in Weinland Park.

From 2004 to 2006, the City of Columbus led a community-based process that resulted in the Weinland Park Neighborhood Plan — a vision for the neighborhood and concrete recommendations for improvements. Major public investments followed. The Ohio State University constructed the S c h o e n b a u m Family Center, the first university-sponsored early childhood education laboratory located in a neighborhood of need. Columbus City Schools built the new Weinland Park Elementary School. Ohio State and the city jointly funded the construction of the Northside Neighborhood Pride Center that also houses a police precinct substation.

At the same time, the JP Morgan Chase Foundation made improving Weinland Park a philanthropic priority and to date has invested more than $6 million. And between 2004 and 2009, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing and Campus Partners spent more than $30 million to renovate 350 low-income housing units throughout the neighborhood.

United Way of Central Ohio has invested in Weinland Park for several decades through our support of Godman Guild, and in 2007, Weinland Park was selected as one of the five priority neighborhoods where United Way will concentrate efforts in our Home impact area. In 2009, our community’s Bold Goals included reducing crime by 30% and reducing vacant and

abandoned housing by one-third in these priority neighborhoods. The Columbus Foundation soon joined Chase and UWCO in also selecting Weinland Park as a priority area and established its first place-based grant making strategy in the neighborhood.

The Collaborative is capitalizing on the momentum created by the years of positive activity by developing innovative ways to accelerate progress. For example, United Way has recently used the community conversation model developed in its education mobilization work to listen deeply to the opinions and concerns of Weinland Park youth. This insight will influence the way our civic engagement work is done as we move forward, and is indicative of a consistent approach — always putting input from the residents at the center of change. Another element of this approach is the research study funded by Collaborative partner The Columbus Foundation in which 26% of the households of Weinland Park were interviewed to get their views on life in the neighborhood and how it could be improved.

“Engaging community members is not just the right thing to do, it is the most effective way to create lasting change,” said Dominique Jones, VP Community Engagement at United Way. “Helping develop resident leaders is at the heart of what the Collaborative is doing, and is an area where United Way has years of experience.”

Early work in this area is already paying off. Because of strong resident interest and strategic investments, Weinland Park now has a thriving youth football league, community gardens, a walking club and a growing civic association that distributes regular newsletters to every home in the neighborhood.

Jeff Lyttle, Midwest Region Executive for the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, sums up the Collaborative’s transformational efforts: “We are deeply committed to ensuring that Weinland Park is revitalized as the safe, vibrant, diverse neighborhood it once was. We believe the holistic approach the Collaborative is taking that empowers residents to keep progress going is the most successful way to achieve that goal.”

The Weinland Park Collaborative is helping residents channel their energy and volunteer spirit to build a stronger neighborhood.

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Our approach to seeking change will be what it has always been — collaboration and cooperation. But we will not shy away from being vocal and energetic advocates for the people we serve and for the common good.

For decades, United Way of Central Ohio has been a place where a diverse group of people of goodwill have come together to build a stronger community. The perspectives of volunteers with very different political views have always been welcomed and always will be. We have been effective agents of change because so many of our volunteers care deeply about our community and are willing to give, advocate and volunteer on its behalf.

I encourage everyone to be an advocate for the work of United Way by going to liveunitedcentralohio.org and learning more about our advocacy efforts. We can help you make your voice heard on the important issues that face us all.

Sincerely,

Janet E. Jackson President and CEO United Way of Central Ohio

PrESIDENT’S UPDaTEOn March 15, Governor Kasich presented what must be the most talked about state budget in recent history. Many feared the need to close the $8 billion budget gap would lead to severe cuts to health and human services. The good news is while there were cuts, Ohio’s social safety net is still largely intact. Of course, at a time when our slow economy has created unprecedented need, even small cuts can have a major impact. And that makes the work

of United Way and our many partners more important than ever. Let me be clear, we cannot meet all of the needs created by reduced state funding, but by continuing our efforts to achieve our community’s Bold Goals we can create lasting change that will reduce needs today and tomorrow.

As a CEO who has had to make many tough decisions, I sympathize with Governor Kasich and his team. The budget represents many compromises. There are bright spots like the continuation of health coverage for children in low-income families, and the creation of the Office of Health Transformation, which will seek to better coordinate care through the increased use of medical homes and integration of behavioral health. But there are also areas where we will work with the administration and lawmakers to change minds and policies. A good example of this is the drastic cuts to early childhood programs that allow parents to work or look for work.

From left: Rich Rosen, Battelle; Linda Kass, Chair of Champion of Children; John Bickley, 2011 Champion of Children; Dr. Olivia Thomas, Nationwide Children’s Hospital; Dr. Howard Goldstein, Schoenbaum Family Center.

At its 18th Annual Champion of Children Culminating Program on February 8, Champion of Children once again brought together some of the leading experts in education in central Ohio for a thought-provoking discussion. This year’s televised one-hour panel discussion focused on the non-academic barriers to learning and the challenges this presents to the health and success of each child, and to our entire community. Panelists included Dr. Howard Goldstein, Research Director of the Schoenbaum Family Center; Patrick Losinski, Executive Director of The Columbus Metropolitan Library; john a. powell, J.D., Executive Director of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity; and Dr. Olivia Thomas, Chief of Ambulatory Pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Fred Andrle, former WOSU “Open Line” host, moderated the discussion.

This annual event is an important way for United Way and Champion of Children to build awareness about educational issues that affect our community and mobilize people to make a difference. Video of the panel discussion is available at www.wosu.org.

More than 200 people attended the event, which honored John Bickley, President and CEO of YMCA of Central Ohio, as the 2011 Champion of Children.

ChamPIoN of ChILDrEN EVENT brINGS EDUCaTIoN ExPErTS ToGEThEr

LEaDErShIP

GIVING United Way of Central Ohio’s Leadership Giving groups offer the opportunity for donors to learn more about how their contributions are helping improve lives in central Ohio, develop meaningful service projects and network with fellow donors.

For the eleventh year, Les and Abigail Wexner hosted Key Club members at their home for the annual Key Club recognition event. At the event, the 2011 Community Leadership Award was presented to Alex Shumate, managing partner at Squire Sanders & Dempsey, in honor of his tireless leadership and service to the community. The award is given annually to an individual who demonstrates tremendous leadership through volunteerism, initiative and creativity, and who inspires others to make a difference in our community.

A passionate supporter of United Way’s mission and a long-time member of Key Club, Mr. Shumate is a respected community leader. He is currently the president of the Limited Brands Foundation Board, in his second term on the Board of Trustees of The Ohio State University, secretary of The Columbus Partnership and director of the John Glenn

aLEx ShUmaTE hoNorED WITh ThE CommUNITy LEaDErShIP aWarD aT ThE aNNUaL kEy CLUb rECoGNITIoN EVENT

In recognition of his passion for community service, Chad Readler received the Robert S. Crane Jr. Young Philanthropist Award at the Young Leadership Group’s annual recognition event hosted by Les and Abigail Wexner. Presented annually to a current member of the Young Leadership Group, the award recognizes an individual who demonstrates the utmost concern for health and human service work both financially as well as through service. Mr. Readler, a partner at Jones Day, has been a dedicated member of the Young Leadership Group for 10 years and has helped lead the group as co-chair.

Mr. Readler’s philanthropic involvement goes far beyond United Way. He currently serves on the board of Directions for Youth & Families, a United Way member agency, and chairs the board of the Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools. He is a founding board member and past board

On March 21, United Way’s Resource Development team welcomed Tom Lianez as a relationship manager focused on Leadership Giving. Prior to joining United Way, Tom served as the executive director of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce where he increased membership by 500% and corporate sponsorship by 200%. He has also served as human resource director at both Maryhaven and Schneider Downs. Over

his career, Tom has worked extensively in the areas of diversity and inclusion, and cultural competency. Active in the Latino community, he has helped establish programs in the areas of education, income, health and home, as well as legal and medical rights. He is a founding member of the Latino Empowerment and Outreach Network (LEON), and was an appointee to the Governor’s Minority Business Advisory Council. In 2010, Tom was awarded the Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan Award. He earned his bachelor’s degree in education at Bowling Green State University and his master’s in education at the University of Dayton.

ChaD rEaDLEr rECEIVES ThE robErT S. CraNE Jr. yoUNG PhILaNThroPIST aWarD

LEaDErShIP GIVING WELComES Tom LIaNEz

School of Public Affairs. Mr. Shumate has chaired the Columbus Urban League board and has been honored by organizations from the Ohio General Assembly to the NAACP. He was named Humanitarian of the Year by the American Red Cross in 2003.

At the event, Janet Jackson thanked Key Club co-chairs Carla and Aaron Granger, Peggy Simmons and Bill Darby for their leadership throughout the campaign.

chair of the Crittenton Community School, as well as a past board member of the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Central Ohio. Mr. Readler has received numerous honors and distinctions for his work in the community and for his accomplishments as a lawyer.

At the event, Janet Jackson also recognized the hard work and dedication of this year’s YLG co-chairs, Pierre Bigby and Steve Driver.

LIVEUNITEDCENTraLohIo.orG 3

Janet Jackson, Abigail Wexner and Alex Shumate

360 South Third StreetColumbus, Ohio 43215-5485

SAY “haPPy bIrThDay!” WITh ThE UNITED Way GIVING CErTIfICaTE

LIVING UNITEDaDVoCaCy IN aCTIoN: UNITED Way DISCUSSES PUbLIC PoLICy aGENDa WITh PUbLIC offICIaLSUnited Way of Central Ohio is dedicated to advocating for public policy issues that improve lives and strengthen our community. As part of this effort, United Way hosted a legislative breakfast on February 16. United Way Board members, Public Policy Committee members and Women’s Leadership Council volunteers shared their perspectives with new and returning public officials and their staff. Board Chair Mike Gonsiorowski spoke about the business community’s commitment to working with policy makers to build a stronger central Ohio. Janet Jackson spoke about United Way’s role as a place where a diverse group of volunteers can come together to create positive change by helping our community achieve its Bold Goals. Public Policy Committee Chair, Christie Angel, outlined United Way’s public policy agenda for 2011-2012. The brief presentations were followed by small group discussions about policies and initiatives that support United Way’s impact areas of Education, Income Health and Home.

frEE SCrEENING of “No WomaN, No Cry” DoCUmENTaryLongtime United Way partner, The Ohio State University College of Public Health, along with the Wexner Center for the Arts are presenting a free screening of the documentary “No Woman, No Cry” which tells the powerful stories of at-risk pregnant women in four parts of the world, including a prenatal clinic in the United States. Each year, hundreds of thousands of pregnant women die as a result of barriers to basic health care.

The free screening of the documentary will take place Wednesday, April 13 at 7 p.m. in Mershon Auditorium on The Ohio State University campus. A panel discussion with Ohio State University health experts and moderator Andrea Cambern will follow the screening at 8 p.m. United Way encourages everyone to attend this free event and learn more about this important subject.

For more information, go to www.cph.osu.edu/nwnc/ or call 614.292.3535.

ORDER YOURS TODAY AT LIVEUNITEDCENTraLohIo.orG