CIVIC INVOLVEMENT. COLLECTIVE ACTION. ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

Economic justice in our community can’t wait, and it’s going to take everyone to think and be inclusive – all the time, everywhere. In response, United Way is launching the #BeTheChange901 campaign, which provides a unified direction to guide and galvanize continuous collective action around creating opportunity for everyone in this community.

Everyone can participate and Be The Change!

As government funding closes, the nonprofit sector braces for a surge in demand of services, and our most vulnerable neighbors find themselves in greater need, the support of the nonprofit community is more pivotal this year than ever before. Join us and support our Community Impact Fund, where we will mobilize and align resources to address critical issues in our community.

As the country finds its calm amid a global health pandemic and moral reckoning, United Way is reframing our poverty work to address economic justice. In October, we will leverage #BeTheChange901 to convene the community in a deep-dive discussion on how the racial wealth gap contributes to our poverty landscape and what solutions are present nationally and locally – such as United Way of the Mid-South’s Driving The Dream initiative – to create economic advancement and opportunity for us all.

With the nonprofit sector leaner than ever in terms of human and financial resources, United Way is stepping up to extend its annual Days of Caring to a month of service. During the month of September, we will officially launch the #BeTheChange901 campaign on September 1st at 9:01 a.m. on Facebook. This month of service will be powered by Volunteer United to lend support to our partners in need through virtual volunteer opportunities for capacity building and fun.

To meet the challenges of this moment, Women United, a leadership group of United Way of the Mid-South, is powering the #BeTheChange901 campaign to mobilize partners and caring citizens in civic participation and collective action during this time of uncertainty and social distancing. We are activating our vast network, specifically youth and women, in helping people engage, vote and be counted in 2020.

2020 CALENDAR OF ENGAGEMENT

AUGUST

August: Democratic and Republican conventions

August 1: Early Voting Ends – TN State Primary Election

August 6: Tennessee State Primary Election

August 6: Deadline to Return Completed Absentee Ballot at 7:00PM CST

August: 16: Domestic Violence Collection Drive

August 31: School Supply Drive Ends

SEPTEMBER

September: Women United Digital Civics 101

September: Days of Caring – A Month of Service

September 1: Days of Caring Virtual Kick-Off

September 22: National Voter Registration Day

September 30: End of Census Operations

OCTOBER

October: Community Impact Town Hall

October: Women United Digital Civics 101

October 5: Voter Registration Deadline – General Election

October 14: Early Voting – TN General Election

October 16: Town Hall

October 24: Vote Early Day

October 24: Make A Difference Day – Food Insecurity Mobile Drive

October 27: Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot

October 29: Early Voting Ends – General Election

 

NOVEMBER

November: Women United Digital Civics 101

November 2: Bountiful Baskets Collection Drive Starts

November 3: Deadline to Return Completed Absentee Ballot at 7:00PM CST

November 3: Election Day

November 20: Bountiful Baskets Collection Drive Ends

DECEMBER

December: Women United Digital Civics 101

SOCIAL MEDIA KIT

These social media posts were created for United Way of the Mid-South’s #BeTheChange901 campaign. The copy will be posted on all of United Way’s social media accounts and can be shared externally. We encourage everyone to copy and paste the text into their preferred social media accounts and accompany it with an image at the end of the document. There are dates beside each section to reference when each post should be made.

Join United Way of the Mid-South for Days of Caring in the month of September to #bethechange901!

VIRTUAL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IDEAS

Ways to support the #BeTheChange campaign:

Host a “virtual” community conversation or community office hours to listen to people’s challenges

Host a Virtual Census or Voter Engagement Party

Lead a Call-In Day, email or social media campaign

Organize a Tele-Town Hall on the economic and health impact of COVID19 on your community with a local elected official

Organize a voter or census digital session