“Mrs. Thompson!” shouted Louis in a very disgruntled tone. His little arms crossed, barely able to see over my desk. “What’s wrong? Why the long face?” I said with a smile. He took a deep breath, “My pencil broke and it’s the last one...
Tax Time: Keeping Your Full Refund
Even if you don’t own a calendar, you know when it’s tax season. From the do-it-yourself tax filing software commercials on television, to the sign-flipping mascots on street corners promoting seasonal pop-up shops. The “it’s tax time!” catchphrase echoes across the country...
Finding Tomorrow: The Long Road To Financial Freedom
I’ve always dreamed of owning my own home. Yet, each month, around the time my bills are due, I get the same trapped feeling in the pit of my stomach. I’ve been dealing with this anxiety since I was 18, when I...
Best of 2018: Reflecting on our Community’s Story
What a busy year…or rather 100 years! We had the pleasure of experiencing so many exciting opportunities and new milestones in 2018, which helped create positive change in our community. This year, United Way celebrated its centennial anniversary, launched a new blog, assembled...
Letters To Santa: Sorting Bills at the Kitchen Table
John sat in the dark at the kitchen table, staring down at the two stacks of papers in front of him. Winter was upon them and the heater was running. “For how much longer?” he wondered as he picked up the most...
A Path to Success: Finding Potential From A Big Brother
Three years ago, I was really struggling, feeling unmotivated and honestly… I felt worthless. In addition to my school studies, I was responsible for taking care of my aging and disabled grandmother, who suffered from heart disease and COPD. There was so much...
The Fight for Food: Struggling to Make Ends Meet
It never used to be this way. I was a good student. In fact, a great student. Always received an “A” on every assignment, every project, every test. Everything came so easily to me. The dreams I had for myself consisted of...
Regaining Perspective: The Value of Volunteering
Sitting at my desk, staring at my calendar above my computer, I just couldn’t believe it. Was it really almost the end of 2018? Of course, there were many exciting things I did this year: met up with some long-lost friends, moved...
Let’s Read Together: Overcoming Language Barriers
Emilio’s preschool teacher asks us a question and I look at my husband. “Yes,” Eduardo says. “We understand.” We understand? What do we understand? I understand we are meeting because Emilio needs to take an assessment to see if he is ready for kindergarten....
Turning the Page: The Power of Reading and Mentorship
This post is brought to you by the generous support of The Image Group, a national promotional product distributor and marketing-service provider, with a focus of supporting local, philanthropic initiatives. ~ Being a member of African American Leadership Council, we often...