The COVID-19 crisis has more clearly revealed how essential it is for us to work together to find creative ways to address vital issues across Central Alabama. As we face unprecedented challenges, we also have fresh opportunities to leverage the resources and expertise of many organizations and forge new partnerships to ensure we are prepared for future success.
Made up of more than 200 organizations from different sectors, the Bold Goals Coalition is uniquely positioned to respond to emerging needs and to address a wide range of issues in an efficient, effective and well-coordinated way.
Coalition partners are currently working to address needs through aligned funding strategies, improved programmatic coordination and enhanced data utilization to monitor how the crisis is affecting our region.
Our community’s philanthropic groups are also working together to coordinate funding strategies to ensure we are maximizing our financial resources and working together to fill gaps in services. Crisis funding opportunities are available through organizations such as United Way of Central Alabama, Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, Walker Area Community Foundation and The Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham to name a few; and these organizations are continuously exploring ways to ensure funds are jointly targeted to the areas of greatest need.
Many Bold Goals Coalition members are also working with the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency to collaboratively respond to the crisis and support a unified approach in our community’s response to issues related to community health, food security and public safety.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will be immediate and sustained, so the Coalition is also working to provide tools to help us to understand the impact to our community. United Way of Central Alabama maintains a weekly COVID-19 Impact Report, which provides county-specific information related to the number of COVID cases, unemployment claims and requests for assistance through the United Way’s 2-1-1 Call Center. Tools have also been created to geographically show community resources related to meal programs for students and food distribution locations.
Whether we are addressing immediate needs or focusing on rebuilding in the days ahead, we can always do more collectively than we can alone. We look forward to coming out of this crisis stronger…together.
The Bold Goals Coalition is 200 organizations solving big community problems by aligning partners, resources and agendas.