Keys to progress
During our outreach process, the community identified four specific factors necessary to making progress in educational preparedness, Financial Stability and basic needs:

Regional and local collaboration
More than 85 percent of the survey respondents indicated they “expect the region to work better together.”  The consensus is that a collective, collaborated effort is needed at both the local and regional levels to truly improve educational preparedness, achieve Financial Stability and ensure that everyone in the region has the basic needs to live adequately.

Getting the job done and measuring progress
The process must be monitored and progress measured to ensure that children and youth receive the proper level, and quality, of education, that individuals and families are economically stable and everyone living in southeast Michigan is able to fulfill basic needs. 

Bridging racial and other historical divisions
Progress on the Agenda for Change will also depend on our ability to bring down the region’s divisive barriers. Although southeast Michigan is among the most segregated regions of the United States, it is also is one of the most diverse. United Way for Southeastern Michigan is working closely with New Detroit and other organizations to address racial disparities and other troublesome obstacles affecting quality of life in the region.

Focus
Over the years, regional revitalization projects have come and gone with varying degrees of impact. The efforts that have produced results are those that have had staying power. United Way is committed to achieving progress in educational preparedness, Financial Stability and basic needs by strongly encouraging individuals and organizations to join us in this critical work, and maintaining focus until we realize progress.