#BeTheChange901 is United Way of the Mid-South’s campaign to provide a unified direction to guide and galvanize continuous, collective action around creating opportunity for everyone in this community.  United Way, in partnership with International Paper and other leading voices in our community, will use this campaign to promote civic involvement, collective action and economic justice for all Mid-Southerners.

For nearly 30 years, United Way has hosted Days of Caring in the month of September to build capacity for nonprofit agencies by offering expanded volunteer opportunities for Mid-Southerners.  This year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, United Way has expanded our Days of Caring service period to include the entire month of September, allowing volunteers to serve at their convenience and at their own comfort level.  Our goal is to have 901 projects completed during the month of September, providing service to our area nonprofits to help them support our neighbors in need.

We will leverage #BeTheChange901 to help convene the community to register to vote and participate in the census.  Every vote counts and every person should be counted to make the Mid-South a great place to live, work and play.

United Way is also reframing our poverty work to address economic justice.  In October, the community can gather at our Town Hall to do a deep dive discussion on how the racial wealth gap contributes to our poverty landscape and the solutions available, like United Way’s Driving The Dream initiative, to create economic advancement and opportunity for all.

“Economic justice in our community can’t wait, and it’s going to take everyone to think and be inclusive – all the time, everywhere,” said Lori Spicer Robertson, Chief Communications and Engagement Officer, United Way of the Mid-South. “#BeTheChange901 is United Way’s response to a need for immediate action and support for individuals and families in need in our community.”

United Way is a convener of funders, fighters and followers; join us in our urgent pursuit to break the cycle of generational poverty by creating economic advancement and opportunity for our most vulnerable neighbors.

Visit uwmidsouth.org/bethechange901 to learn more.