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.

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This month's podcast is dedicated to building stronger connections and getting to know our neighbors better. This podcast is a big part of that mission, where we delve into the stories of local changemakers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who are working together to build healthy and sustainable minority businesses. Today, we’re in for an insightful discussion with three amazing individuals - Steve Johnson, Ray Parker, and LaVante Dorsey - who are driving positive change in their respective fields.

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.

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In this episode, Michelle Taylor, President and CEO of United Way of Delaware, sets the stage by introducing the concept of ALICE communities—the Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed—and the struggles of many individuals and families. Joined by long time Stand By Me coaches Lori Hurst-Farrell and Karen Summa, she discusses how Stand By Me offers a range of services designed to help these and other families achieve financial stability and break the cycle of poverty. The discussion highlights how organizations like UWDE and Stand By Me serve as crucial community resources, providing essential services that help individuals and families break free from the cycle of poverty.

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.

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This episode explores managing finances through divorce and single parenting. We’re joined by Lori Hurst-Farrell and Traceé Taylor in a conversation about the primary considerations and challenges of finances through divorce and how individuals can best manage through this difficult new financial reality. Topics include support considerations for both parents, importance of building a realistic and manageable post-divorce financial plan, employment considerations, assistance programs, and more. 

Stand By Me® provides Delawareans with a Personal Financial Coach and a toolkit to navigate the challenges leading to personal financial security. The Delaware Financial Empowerment Partnership (DFEP) is a joint venture of the State of Delaware and the United Way of Delaware working together to combine resources and to create and implement an innovative package of financial empowerment services. We are joined by a coalition of non-profit organizations, corporations, foundations and educational institutions.

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This episode looks at the rise of marketplace scams - how to easily spot and avoid them, and what do you if you've been scammed. Joining us as guests are Jude Liskiewicz and Manoj Philip from the Stand By Me program, in a wide-ranging conversation about why scams work, why it's easy to fall for them, some of the patterns to look for to help identify a scam, and how to keep yourself as safe as possible.

Stand By Me® provides Delawareans with a Personal Financial Coach and a toolkit to navigate the challenges leading to personal financial security. The Delaware Financial Empowerment Partnership (DFEP) is a joint venture of the State of Delaware and the United Way of Delaware working together to combine resources and to create and implement an innovative package of financial empowerment services. We are joined by a coalition of non-profit organizations, corporations, foundations and educational institutions.

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This podcast episode explores the important connection between money and our health, including how our health can impact our finances, how our finances can impact our health, and mental health concerns that can arise as a result of financial issues. Our guests on this episode are Karen Summa and Erin Doordan from the Stand By Me program. 

Stand By Me® provides Delawareans with a Personal Financial Coach and a toolkit to navigate the challenges leading to personal financial security. The Delaware Financial Empowerment Partnership (DFEP) is a joint venture of the State of Delaware and the United Way of Delaware working together to combine resources and to create and implement an innovative package of financial empowerment services. We are joined by a coalition of non-profit organizations, corporations, foundations and educational institutions.

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The topic for this episode is food insecurity, how that impacts our community, and resources and partnerships within our State to address our community's need for sufficient and healthy food. To speak about this topic are Anna McDermott and  Megan Zavala from The Food Bank of Delaware, one of Stand By Me's long-term implementation partners. 
 
Stand By Me® provides Delawareans with a Personal Financial Coach and a toolkit to navigate the challenges leading to personal financial security. The Delaware Financial Empowerment Partnership (DFEP) is a joint venture of the State of Delaware and the United Way of Delaware working together to combine resources and to create and implement an innovative package of financial empowerment services. We are joined by a coalition of non-profit organizations, corporations, foundations and educational institutions.

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The topic for this episode is home ownership, particularly how rising costs are impacting new homeowners and the challenges that presents. To speak about this topic are Delilah Blanchard and Sarah Cha Cha Carter, both from Stand By Me’s Home program.
 
Stand By Me® provides Delawareans with a Personal Financial Coach and a toolkit to navigate the challenges leading to personal financial security. The Delaware Financial Empowerment Partnership (DFEP) is a joint venture of the State of Delaware and the United Way of Delaware working together to combine resources and to create and implement an innovative package of financial empowerment services. We are joined by a coalition of non-profit organizations, corporations, foundations and educational institutions.

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One of the big challenges we are seeing today is how inflation is resulting in higher prices and reduced spending power. Therefore, some creative ways of shopping and budgeting are needed. On today’s podcast we’re joined by Lori Hurst-Farrell and Larron Briddell, two coaches from the Stand By Me program to talk about budgeting for today’s economy.

Stand By Me® provides Delawareans with a Personal Financial Coach and a toolkit to navigate the challenges leading to personal financial security. The Delaware Financial Empowerment Partnership (DFEP) is a joint venture of the State of Delaware and the United Way of Delaware working together to combine resources and to create and implement an innovative package of financial empowerment services. We are joined by a coalition of non-profit organizations, corporations, foundations and educational institutions.

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Living as a first or second generation immigrant in this country and the State of Delaware can present many challenges, particularly for those navigating the world of personal finance such as purchasing a home, paying for college, and other major life events.

Maria Ramos and Edwin Santos from United Way of Delaware's Stand By Me program are featured on this podcast episode, to talk about the challenges that Hispanic and Latino individuals face in the State of Delaware, and how the Stand By Me program helps support them and their families through all stages of life.

Stand By Me® provides Delawareans with a Personal Financial Coach and a toolkit to navigate the challenges leading to personal financial security. The Delaware Financial Empowerment Partnership (DFEP) is a joint venture of the State of Delaware and the United Way of Delaware working together to combine resources and to create and implement an innovative package of financial empowerment services. We are joined by a coalition of non-profit organizations, corporations, foundations and educational institutions.

Support the show