The United Way Wants Your Input

Five years ago the United Way of Winnipeg talked with over 3,200 Winnipeggers. Those conversations shifted the United Way's focus and changed the way they do things. To remain community connected and community directed. the United Way knows it must continuously listen, be responsive and flexible. That's why they've begun a new initiative called Urban Exchange.

Urban Exchange is a United Way of Winnipeg Advisory Panel - a team of people who talk with and advise the United Way about the social issues they believe are most important for the United Way to do something about - issues like poverty, personal and neighbourhood safety, youth at risk and isolated seniors. United Way uses the panel's advice to focus its work on addressing these issues.

To be really successful, Urban Exchange requires broad participation that reflects the diverse opinions and ideas of all parts of Winnipeg's population. That's why all Winnipeggers are being encouraged to participate in this project. The United Way would like you to tell them what matters to you.

To make it easy to do so, an online survey allows you to give your input on which direction you want the United Way to take, and how you'd like to see it operate. It's hoped that Urban Exchange will provide a continuous and ongoing way for the United Way to hear from Winnipeggers.

Information gathered through Urban Exchange will be compiled, summarized and broadly distributed. The United Way's board of trustees, committees, volunteers and staff will use the advice received to inform and guide decisions about how it should invest the donations they receive as they work together with their many partners to tackle the complex issues that matter most to Winnipeggers. Information collected will be shared with decision makers, planners and service providers in government, business and voluntary organizations.

The survey and additional information about this project can be found on the Urban Exchange Web site. Your yay matters. Please participate.