IMPACT MATTERS

UWSL’s Community Change Councils Formed to Address Critical Needs

United Way of Salt Lake has always been a natural convener, bringing together people from all ways of life and many areas of expertise to the front lines of social change. To expand upon its efforts, UWSL has created four Community Change Councils and marshaled the help of professional individuals and organizations within our service area to achieve specific objectives.

The councils are using UWSL’s 2007 Community Assessment as a guide to:

• To align United Way of Salt Lake’s strategic initiatives with traditional program grants.
• To develop issue-specific priorities and objectives.
• To develop, recommend and advocate for policy priorities aligned with United Way of Salt Lake’s objectives.
• To review outcomes.
• To implement United Way’s grant process (change councils will replace the grant-making teams of past allocation processes).

UWSL Change Councils and Their Objectives

1. Improving Financial Stability Change Council, chaired by Andrea Wolcott, group vice president, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and vice chaired by Larry Lew, Division President, Wells Fargo Bank. Objectives:
• Increase income.
• Increase assets and savings/decrease debt.
• Develop a strong financial foundation.
2. Opening Doors to Educational Achievement Change Council, chaired by Peter Corroon, Salt Lake County mayor, and vice chaired by Steven Allnatt, director of public affairs for American Express. Objectives:
• Increase student educational achievement in K-12.
• Increase family involvement in education and services to families and schools.
• Decrease achievement gap of low income and minority students.
• Improve preparation of students and adults to enter the workforce and/or purse post secondary education.
• Increase early learning opportunities and improve school readiness.
  
• Increase English language attainment.
3. Strengthening Children and Families Change Council, chaired by Ron Jibson, vice president of operations for Questar Corporation, and vice chaired by George Hofmann, executive vice president for Zions Bank. Objectives:
• Increase prevention and treatment of substance abuse.
• Increase access to affordable childcare services.
• Increase life skills for children and families.
• Decrease family violence.
4. Protecting and Meeting Basic Needs Change Council, chaired by Lew Swain, senior partner for The Boyer Company. Objectives:
• Increase access to healthcare services.
• Increase access to emergency shelter and affordable housing.
• Increase independence for people with disabilities.
• Increase independence for seniors.
• Increase independence for immigrants and refugees.
• Increase access to basic needs for low income individuals and families.

Bruce Reese, president and CEO of Bonneville International, serves as the overall Community Change Councils Chair and works to ensure that the process is working and objectives are being met.

Each Change Council is typically comprised of about 25 members, representing a mix of community members, issue experts and diverse stakeholders deemed appropriate for the issue of focus. Change Councils are chaired by UWSL Board members. All Change Council members are approved by the UWSL Coordinating Council. Each member will be asked to serve a three-year term.

Watch this newsletter in the coming months for specific information about each Change Council and the accomplishments within their areas of focus.