Strategic Plan

2017 STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN

United Way of Roanoke Valley

INTRODUCTION

In May of 2015, United Way of Roanoke Valley (UWRV) began a two year process of examining our role in the continuum of social services that underpin the quality of life within the region we serve. While this activity is often referred to as “strategic planning,” in our case, it was as much an exploration of the relevance of our mission as it was an opportunity to set our course for the next five years and beyond. Our work began by assembling a board level sub- committee focused on identifying the answer to a seemingly simple question, “Why does United Way exist?” We realized that our place in the spectrum of service had evolved over many years and it was time to harness our true position in this community by articulating a fresh purpose. A DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH: United Way of Roanoke Valley hosted eight stakeholder focus groups consisting of business and government leaders, donors, partners, and the general community Key Themes • Human needs don’t occur in isolation • Social progress is slow and root causes are often unaddressed • Services are plentiful but families don’t know how to get to the help they need • Collaboration is critical for success • Our region is diverse yet not perceived to be inclusive • There is an undercurrent of deep racial, ethnic, cultural and geographic divisions. United Way’s effectiveness depends on its ability to reduce barriers and create unity. throughout the summer of 2015. Out of these conversations, a few key themes emerged.

To support this task we utilized social data trends as a foundation for discussion and a test for the validity of community feedback. Analysis of local conditions related to early learning readiness, academic performance, income disparity and regional health trends helped to inform thinking and shape the direction of our process. POVERTY AND THE WORKING POOR IN THE ROANOKE VALLEY: Poverty is the critical backdrop that shapes the lives of many families in the Roanoke Valley. Despite best efforts, many working families are struggling to meet their daily housing, childcare, food, transportation and healthcare needs. Without the right interventions, poverty becomes cyclical—something that is passed on from one generation to the next. On the surface, poverty may appear be solely due to a lack of financial resources, however, poverty comes with a myriad of challenges that hamper a family’s ability to move forward. Difficulties often stem from unstable or crowded housing, unemployment, food insecurity, exposure to violence, addiction, incarceration, undereducation and the amount of time it takes to navigate a complex system of agencies in order to get help.

SUSAN CAMPBELL Chair Board of Directors

AFIRA DEVRIES President & Chief Executive Officer

ABBY VERDILLO Vice President Community Impact

United Way of Roanoke Valley | Strategic Action Plan

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