2007 SLC Blog

Brian Gallagher, in his keynote address to the Staff Leader's Conference today, spoke of the importance of United Way leaders putting voice to the 'common good.' That is, in a society that has created a core capacity for special interest, there must be organizations/leaders who stand for a broader ---- more inclusive----target. The Common Good is a clear recognition that none of us truly succeed when we have large portions of our communities falling further behind.

As I view it, United Way will need to be more often identified as creating 'pathways' to the common good. When we are at our best, United Way provides individuals and institutions ways to 'connect with', 'participate in' and 'link with other interested parties' who are working on the common good.

When we are viewed by others as the pathway for the expression of a personal mission or organization's mission, we have lifted up our role in community in a more powerful way.

So when we talk about increasing our investment in issues like financial stability from $1 billion to $1.5 billion ----- that is important. But as powerful is if United Way creates the pathway for citizens to help others leverage assets like EITC. Could United Way set a national target to mobilize 1, 000, 000 trained volunteers to work in communities to double the utilization of Earned Income Tax Credits? Can United Way be the pathway to engagement? The pathway to connect to a larger purpose? The mobilizer of action. The pathway to the common good?

I think the answer is yes.