United Way of Northern California Receives over half a million in funding for Building Bridges Initiative
The major donations will fund mediated discussions between community members with disparate political viewpoints in hopes of moving Shasta County towards increased unity.
Since listening sessions began in October, the United Way of Northern California has been committed to facilitating dialogue through the nonpartisan Building Bridges initiative. The open discussions between 15 or fewer members of the public are designed for people in the North State’s communities – no matter what their political beliefs may be – to ideate on their aspirations for the community.
The goal of the Building Bridges campaign is to steer participants away from divisive discourse and towards productive conversations and action. To implement the program, UWNC worked with the Maryland–based Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, an organization that has worked with divided communities for over three decades.
On July 22, the local United Way chapter announced a major funding update. Through combined donations from the California Endowment, the McConnell Foundation, Redding Rancheria, Sierra Health Foundation, and Sierra Pacific Industries, the campaign has received a total of $650,000 toward its $1.1 million dollar goal for the next two years.
Donations to the Building Bridges initiative will help pay for staffing, program and curriculum development, marketing the initiative and facilitating conversations. In order to reach a varied group of participants for listening sessions, United Way said the organization will lean on connections to county and municipal agencies, local businesses, and the network of organizations who have received funding from the United Way in past.
“[These organizations] stand with us in our goal to create a climate that encourages civic participation, productive government and an environment that encourages a thriving community, more visitors, and new businesses,” said Kalie Brisbon, President & CEO of United Way of Northern California.
To learn more about upcoming listening sessions, visit UWNC’s website.
Do you have a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.
Comments (1)
Comments are closed.
Related Articles
Wintu people say proposed reforms to a state list of tribes is erasure, threatens their homelands
A state commission’s proposal to remove Wintu and other federally non-recognized tribes from a consultation contact list would leave cultural sites vulnerable to destruction, tribal members say, and represents a form of unconstitutional discrimination.
Decision on city financing for the Ironman competition tabled by Redding City Council
The council’s decision followed a tense discussion on financial spending. The item will be brought back into discussion on Feb. 17. An Ironman official says he’s not concerned about the delay.
Shasta man had illicit marijuana grow and underground bunker in addition to illegal weapons, CHP says
A press release from the California Highway Patrol alleges that Michael Kamfort was operating an illegal grow when he was arrested on weapons charges, including manufacturing a “ghost gun,” on Tuesday in Anderson.
Will Shasta County Arts Council be a part of these conversations? I have seen Nancy Hill, the Executive Director, be the voice of calm and reason in potentially charged situations.