You’ve probably seen United Way’s three-word tagline: Give. Advocate. Volunteer. These are, as the old saying goes, the “three legs of the stool” standing for our community work. “Give” points to the thousands of people who support United Way financially. “Volunteer” highlights the people who offer their time, energy and expertise.

So what is the third leg of that stool, “Advocate,” all about?

It’s about being a champion for the causes and the people we represent. Sometimes that involves bringing together diverse groups to lead dialogue, like we did in partnership with the City of Kalamazoo and other agencies on the homeless issue.

Then there’s the realm of public policy, where United Way can be a neutral convener and catalyst driving change.

Over the past year, an advisory team of community volunteers for United Way BCKR has put together a public policy agenda. These are the specific areas where the team believes United Way can work with lawmakers to drive progress in Education, Financial Stability, Health and Basic Needs—progress that will have a positive influence on lives and communities. United Way BCKR leadership will soon begin reaching out to elected officials to talk about these policy issues.

Check out the summary below, or click here to download a copy.