Wake Up! with United Way 2020
Wake Up! with United Way is a monthly speaker series featuring breakfast, networking, and an enlightening presentation and discussion of timely topics. Alongside friends, neighbors, nonprofits and community partners, learn more about issues that directly or indirectly affect everyone in our area. Attendees will have the opportunity to deepen their awareness about someone else’s reality while learning about the challenges, innovations, collaborations and resources available through area nonprofits, and how to get more involved in making a difference.
Wake Up! with United Way 2020 season was a collaborative project of United Way of Monroe County and Indiana University's Political and Civic Engagement Program with support from the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce and Bloomington Board of Realtors .
Interested in sponsoring Wake Up! With United Way? Opportunities for series sponsorship are available now. Please contact Sherrie Shuler at Sherrie@monroeunitedway.org or 812-334-8370 x13 today!
2020 Season Topics:
On December 10, the topic "Representing Workers During a Pandemic" was explored. Liz Feitl, AFL-CIO Community Service Liaison at United Way of Monroe County, moderatorated a discussion about these issues with guest speakers Linda Gales, Executive Vice President of the IU Unit of Communications Workers of America, Local 4818; Neil Gath, Attorney specializing in labor law at Social Security Disability and Workers Compensation; Joseph Varga, Professor in the Department of Labor Studies at the IU School of Social Work; and Brett Voorhies, President of Indiana AFL-CIO. Read more>>
On November 12, the topic "On the Rise: Mental Health and Young Adults" was explored. Mark Fraley, Executive Director of IU Policital and Civic Engagement Program moderatorated a discussion about these issues with guest speakers Daisy Anspach, MA, LCSW, Counselor at Indiana University Division of Student Affairs; O’Connell Case, LSCW, Clinical Director of Catholic Charities Bloomington; and Cara Reader, Ph.D., Director of Student Success and Retention at Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington. Read more>>
On October 8, a special evening program, Wind Down! with United Way, explored the topic "Democracy 2020: Understanding Voting Rights and Access." Mark Fraley, Executive Director of IU Policital and Civic Engagement Program and Efrat Feferman, Executive Direcor of United Way of Monroe County facilitated a discussion about these issues with guest speakers Nicole Browne, Monroe County Clerk; Kylie Lewis, student organizer, Big Ten Voting Challenge; and Mary Ann Williams, Voter services co-chair, League of Women Voters. Read more >>
On October 8, the topic "Human Trafficking: Combatting Exploitation and Abuse" was discussed virtually. Panelists included Elaine Banter (Bottomley), Region 7 Coalition Coordinator at the Indiana Trafficking Victims Assistance Program (ITVAP); Dr. Deborah Getz, CYC-P, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Health Science at the IU School of Public Health; and Lindsey Stout, Assistant Crisis Intervention Services Coordinator at Middle Way House. Read more >>
On August 13, community members tuned in from their homes for a discussion on the topic "Adapting Shelters to Social Distancing." Panelists included Beverly Calender-Anderson, Director of the City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department; Dana Jones, Director of the Men's Shelter at Wheeler Mission Bloomington; Debra Morrow, Executive Director at Middle Way House; Chase Techentin, Director of The Roof at New Hope for Families; and Keirsten White, Director of the Monroe County Isolation Shelter at Shalom Community Center. Read more >>
On July 9, Wake Up with United Way returned virtually to discuss "Building a Better Normal: Address Racial and Economic Disparities as We Rebuild from COVID-19." Panelists included Dr. Rasul Mowatt, IU College of Arts and Sciences professor in the departments of American Studies and Geography; Dr. Kosali Simon, IU O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs professor and Associate Vice Provost for Health Sciences; and Efrat Feferman, Executive Director of United Way of Monroe County. Read More >>
On March 12, the topic "Creating a More Brain Injury-Friendly Community" was explored. We were joined by Jean Capler, Local Support Network Leader for the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana Resource Facilitation Program; Rebecca Eberle, clinical professor with IU Speech, Hearing, and Language Studies; and three individuals living with an acquired brain injury for a panel discussion to learn about brain injury, what it’s like living with one, what helps, and how our community can better support our neighbors and friends who have experienced a brain injury. Read More >>
On February 13, the topic "Food Security: Feeding Monroe County" was explored. We were joined by Julio Alonso, executive director of Hoosier Hills Food Bank; Vicki Pierce, executive director of Community Kitchen; and Brandon Schurr from IU Division of Student Affairs and MCCSC School Board for a panel discussion about how food insecurity impacts our community and how organizations that help feed the hungry operate. Read More >>