Purpose of Meeting
In 2010, the United Way completed a two-year Impact Poverty Study (linked here), involving 40 local task force members. As a result, they developed a 10-year action plan in McCracken County, which continues to have an impact today, thanks in large part to community partnerships. You can view the Impact Poverty report card released in 2020 here. Since then, the United Way has not only continued its annual investments and programs in education, income, and health, but has also pivoted to address the needs arising from the pandemic and the 2021 tornado. To date, the United Way of Western Kentucky has allocated over $1.9 million to support tornado survivors in Graves County.
We are excited to announce that the United Way of Western Kentucky will launch “Phase 2” of Impact Poverty on a regional scale, called IMPACT OPPORTUNITY.
IMPACT OPPORTUNITY will consist of multiple working task force groups representing the seven counties served by the United Way of Western Kentucky.
1. These task force groups will include community leaders from government, education, service organizations, and local residents who are familiar with the barriers faced by income-constrained individuals and those living in poverty.
2. The task force groups will be led by community champions and United Way board members. In Graves County, the community champion leader is Georgann Lookofsky, a United Way board member, former board president, and one of the original leaders of Impact Poverty.
3. An executive committee, made up of community champions from each county and United Way executive board members, will provide strategic oversight and guidance as the Impact Opportunity plan progresses.
4. A presenting sponsorship agreement to fund the costs associated with IMPACT OPPORTUNITY is currently under review and pending approval.
We need your voice at the table as we review data, share community concerns, and make decisions about how to invest in our community for years to come. Our current expectation is that we will meet every other month throughout 2025, with the possibility of forming subcommittees as we move forward. Several other counties will be behind our timeline meeting through 2026. The final IMPACT OPPORTUNITY report and action plan will be released no later than Q1 of 2027. This important work will help our community better define the needs of its residents and open the door for data-driven conversations that can influence financial support for at-risk populations and foster economic growth. Press releases will be sent quarterly, and media coverage will ensure that the needs of Graves County residents are heard. At some point, it may be beneficial for the task forces across the region to come together to address broader regional concerns.