UPO Magazine - The Uniter | Vol.02 |March 22, 2024

Our Office of Early Learning staff during a training

april

is the month

of

the young child

We are celebrating early educators and young children because the first 1,000 days of a child’s life build the foundation for their future success.

UPO’s Office of Early Learning is the District’s largest Early Head Start provider.

PRESIDENT AND CEO'S LETTER

Andrea Thomas President and CEO

Dear Team UPO,

I received such positive feedback about the first issue of The Uniter! Hats off to our Communications team for bringing us the stories that celebrate our work and help us to learn about each other. Please keep bringing your ideas for ways to connect with one another.

In this issue, look for highlights from our MLK Breakfast, Shelter Hotline on TV, and our annual Children's Holiday party hosted by our Community Advocacy division. Plus, we are unveiling something special: Discover our brand new YoUPO videos!

Here are a few upcoming commemorations that connect to UPO:

March: Women’s History Month

Many women have changed society for the better and deserve our praise. Yet we have to change society much more because women are 20% more likely than men to live in poverty. That’s true from childhood to old age, across almost all ethnicities. We’re talking about 21 million U.S. women, including 25% of single mothers. Policy solutions to this calamity include some of the reforms in our Legislative Advocacy Priorities (see p.22).

April: The Month of the Young Child

Did You Know? Our Office of Early Learning serves 498 children up to age 3, including 67 children in 7 high schools to help teen moms and dads graduate and learn parenting skills.

UPO’S COMMUNITY ACTION PROMISE

Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.

May: Community Action Month

UPO is the Community Action Agency that serves District residents with low incomes. What does that mean? That we fight poverty and help people become economically secure, alongside 1,000+ other agencies across the country. UPO is seen as a leader because we earned the National Award for Excellence in Community Action. Team UPO is a beacon, welcoming people who need our help to reach their full potential. See the calendar on p.30 to look for what your department can do to celebrate! Please share your special community action activities on Yammer.

Thank you for everything you do!

Andrea Thomas

UPO President and CEO

UPDATES ACROSS UPO

HOLIDAY CHEER

Thank you, Team UPO, for participating in our “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” week of events! We had great opportunities to share the holiday spirit together.

Click to see even more photos.

HOLIDAY DOORS

We appreciate how so many Team UPO members savored the holidays with fabulous decorations! Thank you to everyone who got into the spirit, and let’s give a shout-out to our Holiday Door winner Kimberly Thompson! She is a Program Assistant in the Office of Early Learning and her creative door is below. Click to see even more photos!

WINNER - Kimberly Thompson

MLK40 MEMORIAL BREAKFAST - JAN 12, 2024

“We Still Have a Dream…Where

Do We Go from Here?” was the theme of UPO’s 40th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast. Every year on this occasion, we give 5 Joseph A. Beavers Scholarships to outstanding DC students from families with difficult financial challenges.

In addition, this year:

• Dr. Russell Wigginton, President of the National Civil Rights Museum, gave the Keynote speech

• Eric Holder, former Attorney General of the U.S., gave special remarks

• UPO, returning to its roots as a catalyst for change, unveiled its first-ever Legislative Advocacy & Budget Priorities for the year (see p.22)

We announced the winners of our MLK Jr. Oratorical Contest Soloist Jaynise Coleman led the audience in singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” She is Program Coordinator for the Youth Services division’s C.R.E.A.T.E. program for 1st-5th graders.

Former Beavers Scholar Jade Polly was our MC and shared the story of how UPO changed her life.

Many thanks to our MLK Committee members for making this such a glorious event.

Ayana Bias

Jo Raffa Boukhira

Temika Carroll

Jaynise Coleman

Tyrone Davis

Charity Ezenwa

Onuaku

Bernadette Ferrell

Laurette “Elle” Hilliard

Kiara Jones

Alice Jordan

Samuel Kwofie

Alexander Lawler

Ed Lazere

RJ Mendez

Robin J Myers

Daniel Ofori-Addo

Zohar Rom

Marques Ross

Brenton Sanford

Andrea Thomas

Jerald Thomas

Magli Villarroel

Chi Vo

Cynthia Senefiawo

Amedoda

Eric Wang

Avis Warley

Bianca Washington

Regina Woodson

Kyra Wright

Connor Zielinski

MLK PARADE AND DAY OF SERVICE

Our MLK Community Day of Service was extraordinary! As we marched in the 19th Annual MLK Peace Walk & Parade, volunteers and staff prepared to distribute food, clothes, and household goods. We also shared community resources to help our neighbors thrive.

Many thanks to our partners, including Comcast and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated- Xi Omega Chapter for making the day so special.

HEART HEALTH MONTH CELEBRATION

Team UPO wore red on February 2 to remind us to keep our hearts healthy. Our crimson clothing was visible everywhere, including throughout the Quality Improvement Network (QIN) centers. (In addition to operating our own Early Childhood Education Centers, UPO’s Office of Early Learning trains and supports the teams that run QIN centers throughout the District.) Click to see even more photos!

VALENTINE’S DAY HALLWAY

This area of HQ was filled with love in February. And the head with a heart hairdo, by Kimberly Thompson, is still there for you to savor.

VALENTINE’S DAY CAKE FOR UPO’S EXECUTIVE TEAM

Nuckia (Nikki) Carter was so excited about the holiday that she baked a cake and presented it to our Executive Team. Thank you so much, Nikki!

SUPER BOWL POTLUCK

We enjoyed football fun at our HQ potluck! Thank you to everyone who contributed. We appreciated that Ed Lazere made his carrot cake without nuts, and offer special thanks to Tai Bruton for the decorations and Rosalind Pinkney and Kyra Wright for helping with set up and cleanup.

OFFICE OF EARLY LEARNING (OEL)

OEL is the District’s largest Early Head Start provider. We operate 17 Early Head Start centers throughout the city for hundreds of children who are 6 weeks – 3 years old.

In addition, we work with parents in a Home-Based Program. And because our overall model is so effective at helping children, parents, and educators, the DC government asked us to share our expertise: DC’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education chose UPO as the Hub for the Quality Improvement Network (QIN).

Here are summaries of our Home-Based Program and our role as the QIN Hub.

SUMMARY OF HOME-BASED PROGRAM

We serve pregnant women and children under the age of 3. These families are DC residents who meet the federal poverty guidelines.

Our mission is to educate, empower, and support children by providing continuous high-quality comprehensive services to achieve successful parent engagement and positive child outcomes. In collaboration with families and the community, we lead in planning, developing, and implementing these services.

Our team of Home Visitors includes Ana Artiga, Glenda Diaz, Griselda Herrera, Lucia Mizhquero, Juan Palacios, Roxana Rivas, Rosario Rubio, and Jessica Valencia. Yanet Hernandez is the Home-Based Manager.

How we work

Our trained Home Visitors conduct weekly 90-minute sessions in the homes of families. During these visits, our staff help to enhance children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development through activities provided from the Parent as Teachers Curriculum (PAT). Home Visitors also assist pregnant women with prenatal and postpartum supports and resources including mental health assessments and referrals.

Home Visitors also arrange for group socializations where parents engage with age-appropriate learning activities that support their children’s school readiness goals (based on our research-based PAT). The beliefs of our curriculum are:

All children will develop, learn, and grow to realize their full potential.

• We are promoting the optimal early development, learning and health of children by supporting and engaging their parents and caregivers.

• Parents are the first and most influential teachers and advocates for their children.

• The first 3 years of life are critical for optimal child development and provide the foundation for success in school and in life.

SUMMARY OF UPO’S ROLE AS THE QIN HUB

QIN is a multi-year effort to build a neighborhood-based quality improvement system for early childhood development providers throughout the District. Children and families benefit from early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive child development and family support services.

How we work

As the QIN Hub, we give training and technical assistance to 13 other neighborhood Early Childhood Education Centers who serve 500+ children. Using Head Start Performance Standards and research-based best practices, OEL’s professionals support the directors, teachers, children, and families enrolled in these centers. Our support includes coaching and comprehensive services for children and families – family engagement and support, health and nutrition, mental health, and early intervention.

As we brought more centers under our wing, we saw that the staff members at these centers were hungry for guidance, professional development, and an effective system. Our nimble team built relationships with them, brought in coaches, and helped the staff members to tailor their approach to each family’s needs.

Family Engagement Specialists (FES) work with families to complete Needs Assessments and Family Partnership Agreements, in which families set goals. The FES are partners with each family to determine what the parents want to accomplish for themselves and for their children academically.

The QIN also has a comprehensive services team which offers program intervention, health, nutrition, disabilities, and facility assistance. Each of these disciplines visit the centers for onsite observation and consultation. We also collaborate with the DC Dept. of Mental Health’s Healthy Futures program to offer mental health consultation to the child care partners.

QIN Teachers and Early Learning

Early Learning Specialists (ELS) work with 90 qualified QIN teachers to give them intensive coaching. The ELS also work with each teacher to develop an action plan at the start of the year, and they work collaboratively to update this plan for the teacher’s professional development. The HUB also provides the teachers with a quarterly stipend for their partnership and contribution to the QIN policies and procedures.

Of the 90 qualified QIN teachers:

2 Teachers have an MA

6 Teachers have a BA

18 Teachers have an AA

64 Teachers have a CDA

Now, the employees at the centers go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that each other’s needs are met, not just customers’ needs. For example, a coach may be supporting a classroom but if a teacher asks, “Can you please help me find resources for my education?” the coach will do the research so the teacher can enroll to earn a degree.

UPO’s Community Leaders Toastmasters Club

What if you could speak in front of a crowd and walk away feeling that you knocked it out of the park? This is your chance to learn how!

We just held an info session about UPO’s Community Leaders Toastmasters Club, where people like you develop communication and leadership skills for a lifetime.

You are invited to join the club by reaching out to Ayana Bias, Director of UPO’s Community Advocacy division, at abias@upo.org

COMMUNITY ADVOCACY

COMING UP:

JUNE AND BEYOND

UPO’s Community Advocacy and Community Impact divisions partner to relaunch and host the UPO Community Leadership Academy

Participants will embark on a transformative journey of personal and communal growth. They will gain essential leadership skills, learn effective community engagement strategies, and develop a profound understanding of social issues. Through interactive sessions, they will emerge empowered to drive positive change, foster collaboration, and lead with impact in their neighborhoods.

Here are the session themes: Youth Group (June-August)

• Parenting Group (September)

THURSDAY, APRIL 25 (6-9PM)

UPO’s Annual Appreciation Celebration at The ARC Black Box Theater

Help us celebrate people who help our staff go farther and accomplish more. Click here to nominate a volunteer, partner, or supporter for an award.

• Senior Group (September Session)

• Community (October Session)

We invite you to elevate your customers’ leadership potential and encourage them to make a lasting difference by preregistering with this form.

CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY PARTY

Every year, our Community Advocacy division holds a party for children from underserved communities. The tradition began in 1991 as a partnership with DC’s brand-new Congresswoman, Eleanor Holmes Horton; it created so much happiness that we’ve continued ever since!

Our December party at the RISE Center was filled with joy: From the dinner to the games, the singing to the Gingerbread House-building Competition, the party was a delight.

Click to see even more photos.

This division reduces the causes and conditions of poverty through place-based strategies in 4 community impact zones:

· Brentwood (Ward 5)

· SW Neighborhood (Ward 6)

· Benning Terrace (Ward 7)

· Washington Highlands (Ward 8)

Here are some of the events being conducted in the SW neighborhood (Ward 6):

Computer Literacy: Every Thursday (two sessions: 1011: 30AM and 11: 45AM - 1PM (Ongoing)

Workout with a YMCA Instructor: every other Wednesday: 10 -11AM (Ongoing)

Behavioral Health Group

Sessions with Dr. L. Bruce of Hope 4 Us: Every other Friday, 11AM -12PM (Ongoing)

COMING UP:

MARCH

Marijuana and its Effects session by Drug-Free World.

MARCH 18-22

Community Leadership Academy classes begin (see details in the Community Advocacy section).

APRIL 9

"Human Trafficking" session conducted by Sharon Daugherty, Community Outreach Coordinator, Victim Services Branch, Metropolitan Police Department.

COMMUNITY IMPACT

RECENT EVENTS:

• We received a massive donation from Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School: 64 bags with cans of soup to distribute to residents of the community impact zones. This “Soup-er Bowl” donation was the result of a collection by the students and their families during the Super Bowl.

• The DC Office of the Tenant Advocate conducted 3 training sessions during February on creating a sustainable tenant association: “How to Begin,” “Framework for Sustainability,” and “Best Practices.” The photo includes participants at the Greenleaf Senior Building who attended “Best Practices.”

• We conducted focus groups for UPO’s 2024 Community Needs Assessment in each of the 4 community impact zones that our division collaborates with:

The "My Plate" Nutrition Session was conducted by Dr. Tiffany Johnson-Largent, Nutritionist at the University of the District of Columbia.

• We had a resource table and shared UPO's programs at Ward 6’s Community Night at the Spy Museum.

OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS (OTIS)

Cyber Security Training

Cybersecurity is a critical concern for our organization, and it's essential that we all do our part to protect ourselves and our data. That’s why we provide cybersecurity training to all staff members every 6 months using the KnowB4 platform. This training will equip you with the knowledge and skills to identify and prevent potential cybersecurity threats, such as phishing attacks, malware, and data breaches. By participating in this training, you’ll not only be helping to safeguard our organization’s information and resources but also protect yourself from cyber threats in your personal life. We urge you to take this training seriously and to apply the lessons learned in your daily work. Together, we can create a safer and more secure digital environment for all.

More Chances to Learn

Discover something new! Please look at the IT Training Schedule calendar posted in UPO’s Learning Academy as your first resource to check for training opportunities.

OTIS and Shelter Hotline Collaboration

Shelter Hotline is taking a big step forward by introducing a new digital application that will modernize and streamline its operations. Currently, the program relies heavily on paper-based methods, with drivers manually recording miles, locations, and passenger data, and dispatchers writing down phone call information. This makes reporting and data management quite challenging.

The new digital solution will transform the way Shelter Hotline functions. Drivers will utilize iPads to input data in real time,

while dispatchers will use a webbased application to capture call information into the system. This will enable managers to generate reports instantly, efficiently manage shift schedules, and maintain inventory items.

This digital transformation will bring the Shelter Hotline up to date, improving data accuracy, streamlining operations, and ultimately enhancing the services we provide to those in need.

OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS: WHY UNRESTRICTED FUNDING IS SO IMPORTANT

Most of UPO’s funding comes from public and private sources and is “restricted” — the funds can only be used for specified purposes. Yet this type of funding is not enough to truly Unite People with Opportunities in every way.

During the pandemic, for example, UPO had to pivot quickly to meet people’s sudden needs — ones they never expected to have! We received new donations specifically to address pandemic issues, but the only reason we were able to help so many people was because some of our partners let us repurpose the donations they had already made. That gave us the flexibility we needed to respond to a quickly-changing

situation. Otherwise, we could not have helped as many customers get back on their feet. We could not have used “restricted” funding for emerging needs, or to try new ideas, or to improve our own infrastructure to deal with the pandemic.

You can see why “unrestricted” funding is critical to accomplishing our mission. That’s why we have a General Donation option on our Opportunity Maker page — with such donations, we can go further than we ever have before.

When you talk with friends and family about UPO, please encourage them to choose that option!

Also, there are times when we see a need and the only way to address it is by raising new funds: Each year at our MLK Jr. Memorial Breakfast, we give Joseph A. Beavers Scholarships to 5 outstanding DC students from families with difficult financial challenges. This project is completely funded by private donations that don’t have strings attached.

YOU CAN BE IN THE YOUPO VIDEO SERIES

We are creating the YoUPO: The People Behind the Mission video series to bring us closer together! We want to help UPO teammates better understand our organization’s mission and our collective efforts that drive it.

This is your chance to share your journey, insights, and the amazing work you do with your colleagues. We want to celebrate YOU and the diverse talents that make UPO extraordinary.

Our intern, Giselle Logan, will be conducting interviews, providing a platform so you can shine! If you have any questions, please reach out to Giselle at glogan@upo.org.

If you want to be featured, simply click the link to schedule a brief interview. Don’t wait — this project will be completed by the end of March!

YoUPO will unite us and instill a shared sense of purpose, ideally through cross-departmental collaboration, allowing teams to identify synergies and work together more effectively.

COMMUNITY HEALTH: SHELTER HOTLINE IN THE NEWS

The weather was brutal in January so the Mayor declared several Cold Weather Emergencies. At those times, Shelter Hotline kicks into an even higher gear 24/7 as we check on the health of people experiencing homelessness.

TV reporters wanted to learn more so they rode along with 2 of our drivers/outreach workers, Arthur Bell and Chris Watson. Please watch the TV segments:

WJLA

• Fox5

Also, the DC Dept. of Human Services created an Instagram reel with Program Manager Dervin Brown talking about our valuable work throughout the city.

We are proud that the members of our Shelter Hotline team are the eyes and ears of the city. Our staff is part of the District's

continuum of care, which is essential to the health of our neighbors.

WFI GRADUATION

Our graduates celebrated their National Certifications at our latest graduation! They learned professional skills for in-demand jobs at the UPO Workforce Institute, and now we help them launch their careers. Our National Certifications include:

• IT Help Desk and Application Support Specialist

• Broadband Telecommunications Network Technician

• Building Maintenance Professional

• Child Development Associate (CDA)

• Commercial Driver (CDL)

• Culinary Arts Professional

• Plumbing Technician

• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

If students are eligible by income, the only cost is their sweat … and they receive a stipend while they train.

If you know someone who’s ready to change their life, recommend that they:

Text ICAN to 41444 or call (202) 231-7933 or email wfitraining@upo.org

Click to see even more photos!

UPO WORKFORCE INSTITUTE

Antwone came to UPO in 2013 after serving 18 months in prison. Now he has leaped into the middle class and has a stable foundation for his future.

(WFI): SUCCESS STORY: ANTWONE HORN

Here’s how he tells his story:

“In 2013, I entered UPO’s Job Readiness class looking for a better future. Ms. Lyndriell Smith assisted me with developing a resume and showed us how to interview, and with the help of Mr. Tyrone Davis I landed my first job in construction. Throughout the years I have been blessed to secure a few jobs with the help of UPO and I always knew where to come if I need help. Whether it was my resume, new employment, or guidance, I could count on Mr. Charles Pyatt, Mr. Davis, and Ms. Smith to assist me.

“In June 2023, I obtained my CDL and a month later I ran across an opportunity to work for the DC Dept. of Transportation. I went to Ms. Smith for assistance because I needed to complete a lot of

paperwork. She helped me send in all the required documents and now I am gainfully employed with the DC government, and have earned both my Equipment Operator and Backhoe License since being employed.

“My determination [plus] the support I received from UPO and its staff helped me to transition from a difficult situation to gaining meaningful employment. My story highlights the importance of organizations like UPO by providing support and resources to people like me who seek to rebuild their lives and pursue meaningful employment. It’s good to know that when you put in the hard work that you have a support system along the way.”

UPO STUDENTS EARN 2ND PLACE IN DC LIFESMARTS COMPETITION

Congratulations to our team of construction explorers! They put down their hammers and earned 2nd place in the National Consumer League’s DC LifeSmarts competition at the UDC Student Center.

The students are in our DC Dept. of Employment Services’ School Year Internship Program, which uses project-based learning to teach skills in work readiness, life, and leadership. As part of our construction trades exploration curriculum, we use LifeSmarts as a tool for professional development and critical thinking. (The goal of LifeSmarts is to help young people become well equipped for adult life in today’s complex global marketplace.)

At press time, our 8 students were waiting to hear if they would be going to the international competition in San Diego, California during spring break.

Many thanks to our UPO Workforce Institute team, especially Construction Trade Education Coach Kenny Carroll and instructors Marcus Bruce

and Alan Abrams, and the DC Students Construction Trades Foundation.

Paula Ralph, Chief Operating Officer of the DC Students Construction Trades Foundation, said, “Congratulations to these talented students, and appreciation to Kenny Carroll and UPO for supporting their success! It is our pleasure to collaborate on this impactful program.”

CONGRATULATIONS, IVAN LANEY!

We are proud of the recent honors given to Ivan Laney, Director of the UPO Workforce Institute.

• He was chosen as one of the 2024 Forty Under Forty by Elizabeth City State University. What a wonderful recognition of his achievements as a leader!

• Ivan also served as a graduation speaker for The Building Futures Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Program. This training program is an initiative of the Community Services Agency of the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO.

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY: UPO LAUNCHES OUR 2024 LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY PRIORITIES

Every year, UPO honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose vision for a just society inspires us. In addition to his work for civil rights, Dr. King was also outspoken about economic rights – the right to adequate income, housing, health care, food and more.

That vision made UPO’s 2024 MLK Breakfast (featured on p.4) the perfect place to announce our 2024 Legislative Advocacy Priorities, the steps we believe the District should take to ensure that residents with the lowest incomes can meet their basic needs and build the foundation for a better life. This the first time in recent memory that UPO has articulated a set of policy advocacy goals.

Our President and CEO Andrea Thomas announced the priorities beautifully: “UPO has served the Washington DC community with myriad programs over the years for Washingtonians to realize their dreams of economic security. UPO and indeed the nation, however,

cannot program our way out of poverty. We cannot eliminate poverty one person at a time. Instead, we must complement our direct services by calling for policy decisions that right systemic wrongs that have created poverty and that impede the economic progress of those striving for economic stability.”

The work to create this set of priorities started with the launch of the Legislative Advocacy division in 2022, and they were developed through conversations with UPO customers and with the input of UPO staff, especially those on the UPO Staff Legislative Advocacy Committee.

Announcing the priorities is just the start. We have been busy sharing the list of priorities with customers and encouraging them to join us in pushing for them. We are meeting with DC Council members to discuss our priorities, testifying at hearings, and partnering with other nonprofits

who engage in advocacy.

On February 28, a group of UPO staff and customers attended Mayor Bowser’s Budget Engagement Forum at Brookland Middle School, where we interacted with the mayor and her senior staff. We shared that UPO wants the Mayor to fully fund Emergency Rental Assistance, maintain the 10% increase in SNAP benefits that was initiated this year, help families transition from TANF, and more.

You are invited to participate in our collective efforts. Please ask UPO’s Legislative Advocacy Director Ed Lazere (elazere@upo.org) about joining the UPO Staff Legislative Advocacy Committee or discover other ways to amplify your voice!

UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION’S 2024 LEGISLATIVE AND BUDGET ADVOCACY PRIORITIES

United Planning Organization (UPO) believes that everyone deserves to be economically secure and reach their full potential.

UPO was established in 1962 to develop bold ways to provide human services in DC and be a catalyst for change. In 1964, as part of the federal War on Poverty, UPO became the designated DC Community Action Agency to strengthen and support DC residents with low incomes and their communities.

Today, UPO Unites People with Opportunities with a holistic approach that includes early childhood education, youth development, job training and placement, housing, health and wellness, volunteering, and supporting people to advocate for themselves. Our 400+ staff and 400+ volunteers help 50,000+ DC residents each year.

UPO understands the obstacles and systemic challenges that prevent thousands of DC residents from achieving economic security. Our 2024 legislative and budget advocacy priorities reflect actions that are essential to help DC’s residents with the lowest incomes meet their basic needs and build the foundation for a better life. This agenda, created by engaging with UPO customers and staff, reconnects UPO with our roots as we demand change.

• Fully fund the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)

• Expand Permanent Supportive Housing to 1,000 more families and individuals

• Adopt and fund the Rapid ReHousing Reform Act

• Strengthen Rent Control

• Create a refundable DC Child Tax Credit

• Address the “benefits cliff” by phasing TANF benefits out more slowly when parents go back to work

• Provide a Local Rent Supplement Program voucher to 1,000 households on the DC Housing Authority waiting list IMPROVE INCOME SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES

Place 1,000 residents into subsidized jobs that can lead to living-wage employment

• Fund Give SNAP a Raise, a 10% increase in benefits

• Fund and Implement the No Senior Hungry Act

Improve the Pay Equity Fund for child care teachers and other staff

Increase the use of cognitive behavioral therapy and other evidence-based trauma healing services for the people and communities most impacted by gun violence.

MAYOR’S BUDGET ENGAGEMENT FORUM

Team UPO came to be heard at the Feb. 28 Mayor’s Budget Engagement Forum, one of a series of public events that fit into the District’s budget preparation process. The table discussions were eye-opening as different people shared their perspectives on where DC ought to spend money; it’s vital that UPO is at the table because there are many competing agendas.

The issues we focused on were ones from our 2024 Legislative Advocacy Priorities:

• Create a Child Tax Credit

• Fully fund ERAP (Emergency Rental Assistance Program)

• Keep the 10% increase on benefits for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as Food Stamps)

• Address the “benefits cliff” for recipients of TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families)

Andrew Harris Vice President of Finance & CFO

Procurement-to-Pay

As you may already know, the entire procurement experience is getting a facelift. We’ll refer to our new end-to-end process as Procurement-to-Pay.

This effort is being led by UPO’s most seasoned Procurement Officer, Mr. Rizwanul Haque (known as Riz).

The procurement management process will help us think about every aspect of every purchase:

• from conception to budgeting and approval

• to the time when the goods/ services are actually ordered

• to the time when your goods/ services are delivered

• finally, to the time when all associated invoices are received, processed and paid

OFFICE OF FINANCE (FIN)

This process is what you will hear us (in FIN) often refer to as TRIANGULATION

To help with this, UPO’s Office of Finance (FIN) has hosted (and will continue to host) a series of training sessions. During the earlier sessions, we covered:

Part 1—Basics of Procurement

Part 2—Procurement Cycle

In the coming weeks, we will offer continued training that covers:

Part 3—Requests for Contract (RFC) process

Part 4—Writing Scopes of Work/Specifications

So stay tuned. An invitation to our training will be sent out to UPO’s designated buyers very soon.

PLEASE REMEMBER that all procurement-related training are designed to serve as self-guided modules. Once developed and released, each module will be perpetually available through your own, personal access to ADP. So, modules for Part 1 and Part 2 of our Procurement training can already be accessed—at your convenience—any time, day or night.

Annual Budgeting for the next fiscal year, FY2025

Time flies really fast — whether we’re having fun …or not.

It feels like just a few weeks ago when everyone at UPO was deep in the throes of preparing a whole range of spending proposals, assumptions, and estimates. But the truth is, our last annual budget preparation cycle was almost a year ago and it’s now time to create those proposals, assumptions, and estimates all over again.

Beginning on March 19, 2024, the Financial Planning and Analysis Team (led by Dr. Charity EzenwaOnuaku) will work with all UPO Division Directors, along with their support staff to focus our attention on the new budget preparation cycle for FY2025. The Teams will work together until July 18, 2024, when UPO’s final proposed budget (for FY2025) will be presented for approval to the Board of Directors.

Here’s snapshot of the high-level schedule:

What else is cooking

Here’s a brief peek:

1. Mr. Charles Akinmade (our Sr. Director of Financial Operations) is leading the Accounting Team and working with UPO’s external auditors on the required annual review of:

a. UPO’s financial records

b. Our business systems and operational practices

c. Our compliance with Federal and Local (DC) grant-related guidelines

2. UPO has purchased a brandnew Financial Management Information system (FMIS) Installation of the system will require:

a. The development of mechanized process flows and requirements

b. Data migration from the old system to the new system

c. User-test planning

d. User training

3. A full range of Federal and Local (DC) tax filings

So it’s about to get really hot over here…

Thanks for all your continued support, UPO. We really appreciate all of you.

And as we move forward, remember that our goal is to serve every one of you—because we’re all part of one big UPO family.

COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT

Tax Preparation & Financial Literacy

Each year, our team of IRScertified expert volunteers makes a huge difference for our community by preparing 1,100+ returns for free for DC households who earn under $58,000/yr. UPO is the largest provider of free Tax Preparation in Ward 8 and the 2nd largest in the District; our customers get back millions in refunds.

Please let your loved ones know: Call 202-231-7903 to schedule an appointment for free tax prep.

We’re open Monday - Friday … plus we have a Super Saturday on March 30: Doors open at 10am and we’ll help the first 25 people to arrive (assuming we have our full complement of volunteers).

We plan to start a new round of Financial Literacy classes in midMay. For one-on-one help, see the next item!

Housing Counseling

Ingrid Stevenson is doing oneon-one Renters Counseling. If you need this help, please reach out to her at (202) 231-7922

Recent events:

• A virtual presentation with DC Public Schools about the housing programs that UPO offers.

• A meeting with the Office of Thriving Families, which is a 2-1-1 resource/information center that is collaborating with us to promote UPO programs.

• A virtual workshop on Budget & Credit Counseling.

Coming up:

THURSDAY, MARCH 21

1st Time Homebuyers’ workshop

Please register by calling Ingrid at (202) 231-7922

Financial Empowerment Center (FEC)

FEC is spreading financial literacy across the District with free, one-onone financial counseling for all District residents, on the phone or in person at UPO’s Petey Greene Community Service Center.

Our certified financial counselors have completed workshops on goal setting, money mindset, saving and banking. We continue to build partnerships with community resources such as Martha’s Table, S.O.M.E, CSOSA and ONSE. We want you to be our next successful customer, so sign up with us today and become financially empowered: FEC@upo.org or (202) 682-6572.

April is Financial Literacy Month and April 8-12 is America Saves Week. Treat it as a reminder to “save for what matters most.”

TEAM UPO SPOTLIGHT

Here’s what Bones’s team says about him:

“He trained me and was an expert trainer,” said Vernette Daniels. “He will be missed!”

“Bones is caring, understanding, approachable, and has a sense of humor,” said Christopher Watson. “He’s a jack-of-alltrades. If your vehicle breaks down — your personal one or your work one — he’ll come with his handy tool bag and fix-aflat kit. And I remember when he saw that our work vehicles weren’t clean enough, he grabbed a bucket and rag and cleaned them. It hurts me to see him go.”

VINCENT BLACKSON – "BONES"

Why did you join UPO?

My father worked for UPO’s Shelter Hotline. He was in charge of the outreach workers/drivers and needed more of them during hypothermia season. Since I knew the city well, he asked me to become a driver. I was just filling in…but I stayed. I drove for 13 years, then became Transportation Logistics Manager, and I’m about to retire after 20 years.

Why did you stay?

I’d heard about people who didn’t have a home. When I actually saw people with nowhere to go, I developed a passion for treating them like family. I fell in love with the job and it became an obsession — I put my all into it.

I’ve given jackets and 50 pairs of shoes to people who needed them. I remember a lady who was left by herself after her husband was taken away in an ambulance. I gave her my coat and hoodie and let her rest in the van. I checked on her each day until her husband returned and DC’s Dept. of Human Services (DHS) found them a home.

I also loved working with Pat Handy, coordinator in the Family Services Administration of DHS. She would come to UPO every day and ride along. When she died, her father wrote a poem about her and had me read it at her funeral. DC’s Patricia Handy shelter is named after her.

5:45am – 2:00pm Shift

Outreach Workers/Drivers:

Raynard Bradshaw

Marshon Grooms

Nickalaus Langley

Rowan Pickett

John Rouse

Annette Thomas

Lisa West

Milton Whiting

8:00am – 4:15pm Shift

Dispatchers:

Laverne Lee

Monica Lewis

Shelby Nowlin

Outreach Workers/Drivers:

Vernette Daniels

Arthur Lloyd

Anthony Murphy

Kewana Nedd

Lakita Phelps

Maurice Robinson

Christopher Watson

Fern Watson

What do you like most about your job?

My exceptional team. I love, respect, and rely on them — without them, there’s no me.

I like to give them nicknames because I love having one! When I was a kid, I was so skinny, I was almost invisible. My mom gave me the nickname Bones after the “Bony Moronie” song. When I got a car, I played off of that; I ride with clothed skeletons as passengers, even now as President of the Old Car Club.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW HIRES!

DECEMBER 2023

Tiara Foster Job Developer UPO Workforce Institute (WFI)

RJ Mendez Director Youth Services division

Jovan Perry Seasonal Dispatcher Shelter Hotline (SHL)

Almira Sta. Maria Teacher III Office of Early Learning (OEL)

Joel Stone Driver/Outreach Worker Shelter Hotline

Ashaunti Wilson Driver/Outreach Worker Shelter Hotline

JANUARY 2024

Cortincia Witcher Center Director Office of Early Learning (OEL)

Christen Berger Education Manager, Early Head Start (EHS) Office of Early Learning (OEL)

Kitana Bishop Early Learning Specialist, EHS Office of Early Learning (OEL)

Anaia Gaither Early Learning Specialist, EHS Office of Early Learning (OEL)

Meghan Kiernan Nutrition Services Specialist, EHS Office of Early Learning (OEL)

Michael Beard Driver/Outreach Worker Shelter Hotline

FEBRUARY 2024

Michelle Brandon Seasonal Driver/Outreach Worker Shelter Hotline (SHL)

James Brown Seasonal Driver/Outreach Worker Shelter Hotline (SHL)

Carolyn McDowell Food Truck Cook/Driver UPO Workforce Institute

Stephon Moore Job Developer UPO Workforce Institute

Johniquea Powell Family Engagement Specialist HUB Office of Early Learning (OEL)

Tiara Key Card Production Specialist EBT (in Community Health)

Sabre West Teacher III Office of Early Learning (OEL)

Mikita Butler Seasonal Dispatcher Shelter Hotline (SHL)

Cecelia Byrd Seasonal Dispatcher Shelter Hotline (SHL)

Briana Diggs Teacher I Office of Early Learning (OEL)

Teauna Dodson Seasonal Dispatcher Shelter Hotline (SHL)

Diana Foy CDA Intern Office of Early Learning (OEL)

Renita Jenifer Seasonal Dispatcher Shelter Hotline (SHL)

Marcia Robinson Dispatcher Shelter Hotline (SHL)

Michael Skrine Seasonal Driver/Outreach Worker Shelter Hotline (SHL)

UPO'S ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

UPO has a broad impact on DC. We connect residents to the resources they need to lift themselves out of poverty and become the change agents of their lives.

To do this in an effective way, UPO is organized into different areas. At the top is the Board of Directors. The Board ensures that UPO is a good steward of public funding and makes major decisions for our organization.

Below is the President and CEO (Andrea Thomas) and the executive team. Each executive is responsible for different divisions and departments, which are headed by directors. This structure is designed to help all of Team UPO and our customers grow and thrive.

Note: “CSBG Service Providers” are other effective organizations across the District. They run highquality programs for DC residents

with low incomes; we help to fund these programs so that we can help more people to become economically secure.

Office of the Vice President of Early Learning

Office of the Vice President of Operations and COO

Executive Director of Programing

Senior Program Director of EHS QIN Hub Sites

Manager

Senior

Director of EHS in-School Sites

Office of Management & Development

Office of the Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel

Office of Risk Management

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Office of the Chief Impact Officer

Community Advocacy & Volunteerism Legislative Advocacy Community Impact

Communications & Development

Technology & Information Systems

Resource Development & Research

Performance Management

Office of the Vice President of Finance and CFO

Office of the Vice President of Human Resources

Office of Affordable Housing

Accounting

Financial Operations Procurement

Budget Payroll Grants Management Early Head Start

Compensation & Benefits Recruitment Compliance

Business Management Development

Office of the President and Chief Executive Officer

“WHERE CAN I FIND…?”

CSBG ELIGIBILITY FORMS (English and Spanish)

Please see the complete set of materials on our iNet

We’re here to share the links that people keep asking for. Please let us know if there are other vital links that you feel are important to share!

Please help our Executive Management team by asking your UPO customers to complete this really quick, anonymous Customer Satisfaction Survey

Last year, UPO had less than 30 customer responses. Surely we can get more feedback this time! Thank you for your support in our efforts to receive feedback from our customers.

NCAP

Recite the Promise of Community Action on social media. Sample graphic provided.

Recognize Community Action’s 60th anniversary on social media. Sample graphics and messaging provided.

Promote Community Action’s national impact with our collection of social media graphics and messages or use our customizable template to promote your agency’s local impact.

#ImpactWednesday

• Motivation Monday •

Share our sample graphic honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. #MotivationMonday

CCAP Appreciation Week

Celebrate your agency’s CCAPs on social media.

Share

Promote the importance of family well-being in our communities. Sample graphic and tweets provided.

Share

saturday spotlight

Use the customizable social media template to promote your agency’s mission.

#MissionMonday

Give

saturday

FY 2024 – FY 2026 UPO STRATEGIC GOALS

GOAL 3

GOAL 2

GOAL 1

GOAL 1

Provide high-quality resultsoriented programs and services to DC residents who aim to achieve economic security.

Underscore Organizational Sustainability

Prioritize People-Centered Efficiency and Effectiveness

Optimize Economic-Security Programming

GOAL 2

Optimize Organizational Performance through Staff Capacity Development and Business Process Improvements

GOAL 3

Ensure Long-term sustainability through strategic partnerships, diversified funding streams and improved brand awareness.

United Planning Organization

301 Rhode Island Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20001

WWW.UPO.ORG

Earned the National Award for Excellence in Community Action from the Community Action Partnership

CFC # 90524 | DC One Fund Campaign #9881 | United Way NCA #9881