Our Focus

Clearly, the job of improving our quality of life and building a stronger community is multi-faceted, complex and labor-intensive. There are dozens of issues the United Way Bold Goals Coalition could address. But in order to effectively create meaningful change that impacts the most people — in the most vital ways — we currently focus on early learning, student success, hunger relief and mental health. These are foundational issues that have both immediate and long-term implications and can benefit greatly from the Coalition’s collective expertise and action.

Early Learning

Ninety percent of brain development occurs during a child’s first five years of life. This is why high-quality, accessible and affordable early education is so essential. A child's learning environment during those formative years drives social-emotional and academic success in kindergarten and beyond.

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Student Success

What does it mean when we say it takes a village to raise a child? While parenting is naturally of utmost importance, there are also many valuable learning opportunities, resources and experiences outside the family unit. Access and exposure to a variety of community assets can benefit children's social-emotional growth and boost their academic success in ways beyond those that are simply within the confines of home.

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Hunger Relief

It’s heart-wrenching to learn that one out of every six children in the United States is food insecure. But it’s even more distressing to know that in Alabama, that statistic is one out of five. This is according to Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization.

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Mental Health

Nationwide, mental health has become a topic of open conversation. As its stigma fades, mental health is now acknowledged as one of the top concerns affecting families -- and particularly children -- in Central Alabama. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicides among young people in Alabama between 10 and 24 years old have increased 79% per 100,000 residents since 2005.

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Creating Change in Central Alabama

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