Community Building Initiatives

United Way of the National Capital Area wants to be the "go-to" organization in this region, solving the community’s most critical issues. To do this, we recognize that we need innovative new strategies that will maximize our effectiveness. We have conducted research to determine the three issues about which Washington area residents are most concerned: the affordable housing crisis, the lack of academic mentoring services, and making sure children grow up healthy. Over the next year, our staff, in collaboration with our member organizations, will analyze each problem in detail, evaluate possible solutions, and leverage our networks to create positive change.

Affordable Housing Initiative

Mission:
UWNCA’s AHI will promote regional dialogue and leverage funding to increase the availability of affordable housing and supportive services for individuals and families throughout the National Capital Area.

Objectives:

Convene housing leaders, advocates and practitioners to engage in a meaningful dialogue that develops regional, outcome-driven solutions to the affordable housing crisis;
Leverage funding that will support organizations dedicated to expanding affordable housing; and
Sustain efforts of organizations that provide needed services to individuals and families.

We will accomplish this by:

Increasing the awareness of the housing crisis around the region;
Leveraging funding of long-term Partner Grants;
Providing a mechanism for individuals to make a difference by allowing contributors to give to the AHI in the campaign;
Providing agency grants for housing programs;
Facilitating long-term collaboration in the effort to increase affordable housing and financial stability;
Establishing linkages and build collaboration around related public policy; and
Sharing best practices.

Child Wellness Initiative

Mission:
UWNCA’s Child Wellness Initiative will serve as a resource for organizations who are working to decrease the childhood obesity rate in the metropolitan Washington DC area by convening experts in the field, building collaborations and leveraging funding. Phase I of the Child Wellness Initiative (Childhood Obesity) will focus on the following objectives:

Affordable Eating Solutions
Building Strong Collaborations
Community Strengthening

Phase II of the Child Wellness Initiative will focus on youth violence reduction.

Objectives:

Educate children and parents about healthy eating habits and give them resources to purchase healthy foods. Providing children with good nutritious food is essential to the success of this initiative.
Build partnerships with existing agencies that have a focus on child wellness.
Participate in community strengthening and pass on wellness values from one generation to the next.

We will accomplish this by:

Increasing the awareness of the rising childhood obesity epidemic
Increasing the awareness of community programs available to youth
Leveraging funding of long-term Partner Grants
Providing a mechanism for individuals to make a difference by allowing contributors to give to the Child Wellness Initiative
Forging long-term partnerships with community agencies in the effort to increase child wellness in the metropolitan region
Establishing linkages and build collaboration around related public policy
Providing agency grants for child wellness programs