United Voices - Stories of Change, Progress, and the People Making it Happen

United Way of Delaware

Hello, and welcome to United Way of Delaware’s ongoing podcast series, United Voices - Stories of Change, Progress, and the People Making it Happen. United Way of Delaware brings together people, organizations, and resources to address the challenges caused by long-standing disparities. In partnership with passionate community leaders, we are dedicated to creating opportunities that empower men, women, and children across Delaware and Salem County, New Jersey. Our mission is to help families move from crisis to thriving, ensuring every child gets a strong start by reading at grade level. We are committed to equipping the next generation with the skills they need to become the workforce our state needs to flourish, while also ensuring families have access to livable wages that support their success and stability. Together, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant future for all. A significant focus of this podcast has been United Way of Delaware's Stand By Me program. Stand By Me is a collaboration between the United Way of Delaware, the State of Delaware, and other partner organizations, offering free, confidential, one-on-one financial coaching to Delawareans. Our goal is to help individuals better understand their finances, make informed decisions, and achieve their financial goals.

  1. 12/10/2025

    Season 5 / Ep. 10 (December 2025) - Beyond Literacy: Community

    On this month's podcast, Michelle Taylor, President and CEO of United Way of Delaware leads a conversation diving into Freedom Schools - a powerful program that’s transforming not just classrooms — but the neighborhoods they serve. Featuring guests Frankie Bonilla, Director of the Peter Spencer Freedom School in Wilmington, and Ken Livingston, Senior Director of Student Success including Get Delaware Reading, this episode is the second installment of a 2 part conversation about the challenges of fostering literacy in our community.  United Way of Delaware brings together people, organizations, and resources to address the challenges caused by long-standing disparities. In partnership with passionate community leaders, we are dedicated to creating opportunities that empower men, women, and children across Delaware and Salem County, New Jersey. Our mission is to help families move from crisis to thriving, ensuring every child gets a strong start by reading at grade level. We are committed to equipping the next generation with the skills they need to become the workforce our state needs to flourish, while also ensuring families have access to livable wages that support their success and stability. Together, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant future for all. Support the show

    33 min

  2. 11/20/2025

    Season 5 / Ep. 9 (November 2025) - Literacy: Voices From the Block

    On this month's podcast, Michelle Taylor, President and CEO of United Way of Delaware leads a conversation with Jon Tucker, Chief Operating Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware, and Cierra Hall-Hipkins, Executive Director of Network Connect, in a the first installment of a 2 part conversation about the challenges of fostering literacy in our community.  United Way of Delaware brings together people, organizations, and resources to address the challenges caused by long-standing disparities. In partnership with passionate community leaders, we are dedicated to creating opportunities that empower men, women, and children across Delaware and Salem County, New Jersey. Our mission is to help families move from crisis to thriving, ensuring every child gets a strong start by reading at grade level. We are committed to equipping the next generation with the skills they need to become the workforce our state needs to flourish, while also ensuring families have access to livable wages that support their success and stability. Together, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant future for all. Support the show

    29 min

  3. 10/29/2025

    Season 5 / Ep. 8 (October 2025) - Winter is Coming, Hold onto Your Wallet!

    On this month's podcast, Michelle Taylor, President and CEO of United Way of Delaware leads a conversation with Dave Tancredi from Delmarva Power and Lisa Farrow, a coach from the Stand By Me program, in a conversation about the rising cost of living, and solutions to help manage increased energy costs going into winter. United Way of Delaware brings together people, organizations, and resources to address the challenges caused by long-standing disparities. In partnership with passionate community leaders, we are dedicated to creating opportunities that empower men, women, and children across Delaware and Salem County, New Jersey. Our mission is to help families move from crisis to thriving, ensuring every child gets a strong start by reading at grade level. We are committed to equipping the next generation with the skills they need to become the workforce our state needs to flourish, while also ensuring families have access to livable wages that support their success and stability. Together, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant future for all. Support the show

    29 min

  4. 07/31/2025

    Season 5 / Ep. 7 (July 2025) - Summer: An Opportunity to Boost Literacy, Inspire Hope, and Grow Community

    On this month's podcast, Michelle Taylor, President and CEO of United Way of Delaware leads a conversation with John Williams, Executive Director of a youth program that primarily serves children experiecing homelessness, and Nia Williams, a college senior dedicating her summer to closing the literacy gap by working directly with children through out-of-school programs, about Summer opportunities to boost literacy, inspire hope, and grow community United Way of Delaware brings together people, organizations, and resources to address the challenges caused by long-standing disparities. In partnership with passionate community leaders, we are dedicated to creating opportunities that empower men, women, and children across Delaware and Salem County, New Jersey. Our mission is to help families move from crisis to thriving, ensuring every child gets a strong start by reading at grade level. We are committed to equipping the next generation with the skills they need to become the workforce our state needs to flourish, while also ensuring families have access to livable wages that support their success and stability. Together, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant future for all. Support the show

    26 min

  5. 06/30/2025

    Season 5 / Ep. 6 (June 2025) - College and Career Success and Navigating the FAFSA

    On this month's podcast, Tierra Fair, Vice President of Engagement & Partnerships leads a conversation about College and Career Success and navigating the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) with Cory Dunt, Director of Stand By Me NexGen, and Ebony Brown, a parent whose child benefited from FAFSA support through our NexGen program.  United Way of Delaware brings together people, organizations, and resources to address the challenges caused by long-standing disparities. In partnership with passionate community leaders, we are dedicated to creating opportunities that empower men, women, and children across Delaware and Salem County, New Jersey. Our mission is to help families move from crisis to thriving, ensuring every child gets a strong start by reading at grade level. We are committed to equipping the next generation with the skills they need to become the workforce our state needs to flourish, while also ensuring families have access to livable wages that support their success and stability. Together, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant future for all. Stand By Me is a collaboration between the United Way of Delaware, the State of Delaware, and other partner organizations, offering free, confidential, one-on-one financial coaching to Delawareans. Our goal is to help individuals better understand their finances, make informed decisions, and achieve their financial goals. Support the show

    36 min

  6. 06/09/2025

    Season 5 / Ep. 5 (May 2025) - Then, Now, and The Future - The Evolution and Importance of United Way

    On this month's podcast, Michelle Taylor, President and CEO of United Way of Delaware leads a conversation with Angela Williams, President and CEO of United Way Worldwide, and Brian Nourie, Board Chairman of United Way of Delaware, about United Way's history of engagement within our communities, and its importance as a critical resource now and into the future. United Way of Delaware brings together people, organizations, and resources to address the challenges caused by long-standing disparities. In partnership with passionate community leaders, we are dedicated to creating opportunities that empower men, women, and children across Delaware and Salem County, New Jersey. Our mission is to help families move from crisis to thriving, ensuring every child gets a strong start by reading at grade level. We are committed to equipping the next generation with the skills they need to become the workforce our state needs to flourish, while also ensuring families have access to livable wages that support their success and stability. Together, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant future for all. Support the show

    31 min

  7. 04/30/2025

    Season 5 / Ep. 4 (April 2025) - Amplifying Youth Voices and Engagement

    On this month's podcast, Michelle Taylor, President and CEO of United Way of Delaware leads a conversation with Kenny Norwood and Mitchell Brenner, 2 interns at United Way of Delaware, about youth voice and empowerment, civic engagement and leadership, adult engagement and support, and their personal growth and experience working at United Way. United Way of Delaware brings together people, organizations, and resources to address the challenges caused by long-standing disparities. In partnership with passionate community leaders, we are dedicated to creating opportunities that empower men, women, and children across Delaware and Salem County, New Jersey. Our mission is to help families move from crisis to thriving, ensuring every child gets a strong start by reading at grade level. We are committed to equipping the next generation with the skills they need to become the workforce our state needs to flourish, while also ensuring families have access to livable wages that support their success and stability. Together, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant future for all. Support the show

    27 min

  8. 03/26/2025

    Season 5 / Ep. 3 (March 2025) - The Importance of Grade-Level Reading and Closing the Literacy Gap

    On this month's podcast, Michelle Taylor, President and CEO of United Way of Delaware leads a conversation with Dr. Dorrell Green, Superintendent of Red Clay School district, and Ralph Smith, Managing Director of the Campaign for Grade Level Reading, exploring the importance of grade-level reading on an individual's future academic and life incomes, and community and school district partnership efforts to close the literacy gap. United Way of Delaware brings together people, organizations, and resources to address the challenges caused by long-standing disparities. In partnership with passionate community leaders, we are dedicated to creating opportunities that empower men, women, and children across Delaware and Salem County, New Jersey. Our mission is to help families move from crisis to thriving, ensuring every child gets a strong start by reading at grade level. We are committed to equipping the next generation with the skills they need to become the workforce our state needs to flourish, while also ensuring families have access to livable wages that support their success and stability. Together, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant future for all. Support the show

    33 min
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About

Hello, and welcome to United Way of Delaware’s ongoing podcast series, United Voices - Stories of Change, Progress, and the People Making it Happen. United Way of Delaware brings together people, organizations, and resources to address the challenges caused by long-standing disparities. In partnership with passionate community leaders, we are dedicated to creating opportunities that empower men, women, and children across Delaware and Salem County, New Jersey. Our mission is to help families move from crisis to thriving, ensuring every child gets a strong start by reading at grade level. We are committed to equipping the next generation with the skills they need to become the workforce our state needs to flourish, while also ensuring families have access to livable wages that support their success and stability. Together, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant future for all. A significant focus of this podcast has been United Way of Delaware's Stand By Me program. Stand By Me is a collaboration between the United Way of Delaware, the State of Delaware, and other partner organizations, offering free, confidential, one-on-one financial coaching to Delawareans. Our goal is to help individuals better understand their finances, make informed decisions, and achieve their financial goals.

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