United Way's 'Community Conversation' outlines change of 'business model'

To help facilitate change and make a lasting impact on the Jackson County community, the United Way of Greater Topeka hosted the first of three “community conversation” events in Holton Thursday evening.

A total of 14 people, including representatives from the United Way of Greater Topeka, attended the event that was held at Holton High School.

Miriam Krehbiel of Topeka, president and CEO of UWGT, said that after 80 years, United Way is changing its “outdated business model.”

“We have just raised money and given it away, year after year,” Krehbiel said. “But not a lot of change has happened. The same number of people are still hungry and financially unstable. It’s great to supply basic needs, but we want to be apart of long-term change. We want to see the funds make a difference.”

In 2012, the United Way of Jackson County disbanded and officially became part of United Way of Greater Topeka.

A total of $18,000 in United Way grant funds were awarded to six organizations in Jackson County in 2014, including $7,500 to the Jackson Heights Education Fund for food assistance, $500 to Catholic Charities for rent and utility assistance, $3,000 to Jackson County Ministerial Alliance (JCMA) for rent and utility assistance, $4,000 to the YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment for rent and utility assistance, $3,000 to the Northeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department of Jackson County for prescription assistance and $5,000 to the JCMA Christmas Bureau.

Funds from the United Way have also been donated to each school in the county.

Krehbiel said that United Way’s first goal has always been to address basic needs, including food, shelter, rent and utilities, health and prescription access and safety from domestic violence.

The community conversation events are being held in Jackson County this month to determine if United Way is doing its best to meet the needs of the community and if the funding needs to be refocused, Krehbiel said.

Additional community conversation events are scheduled for 6 p.m. today at Royal Valley High School and 6 p.m. Thursday at Jackson Heights High School.

While not required, RSVPs are appreciated. Please contact Katie Sullivan, director of Community Impact, United Way of Greater Topeka, at 785-228-5121 or ksullivan@unitedwaytopeka.org.

During Thursday’s meeting, community members discussed what attributes make a good community, and some of the answers included good schools, good healthcare, safety, good jobs  and opportunities for the next generation, affordability, a sense of citizenship and engaged parents.

Next, Krehbiel asked what has to happen to get Jackson County to become that ideal community. Many of the responses focused on time and resources and good leadership, as well as a mindset for growth. Volunteers are also needed.

The ability to change, or to allow change to happen, was mentioned by several community members, and good communication was stated as a key component to facilitate change.

Krehbiel asked what residents thought United Way’s role should be in Jackson County becoming an ideal community, and answers included providing training and teaching, as well as expertise on bringing people to together.

At the end of the hour and a half discussion, Krehbiel said all the input from the three meetings will be compiled and presented to the Jackson County Advisory Council for United Way, which includes residents from Holton, Hoyt, Mayetta and Netawaka.

The answers will be used to determine concrete goals for United Way funds in the county, she said. 

Community conversations were held in Shawnee County in 2009, Krehbiel said, and through those meetings, five goals were set.

The goals included focusing on early education, third-grade reading, financial stability, increasing access to health food and activities and basic needs.

“A child who hasn’t eaten (before going to school) can’t learn,” she said. “We want to position people to think about the long term. Someone who is struggling to pay their utility bill is not thinking about how to increase their savings account.”

Krehbiel said it took four years to set those goals, develop strategies and figure out how to execute those strategies in Shawnee County.

“We’ve faced a lot of roadblocks,” she said. “But what has happened has been dramatically exciting and challenging. It’s not a quick process.”