WOMEN UNITED: COMMUNITY COMPASS
Women United is a global, growing force dedicated to creating lasting change and uplifting the community.
Welcome to the latest edition of Women United Community Compass! This newsletter is published twice a year to promote the great work Women United is doing, and share meaningful updates to celebrate your collective impact in the community!
Mental Health First Aid Initiative Update
Women United prioritized mental health to help address the increased demand for services and access challenges across the metro. Mental health impacts every one of us, our families and our community.
In partnership with Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare, the initiative is increasing access to and awareness of Mental Health First Aid training by funding an awareness campaign and providing an additional Coordinator and trainers at Region 6. In partnership with OBI Creative, the awareness campaign focused on increasing the community’s knowledge of the MHFA training and removing the stigma of coming forward with a mental health need.
The Tocqueville Women’s Initiative Advisory (TWIA) Council set a goal to raise $600,000 in three years, with a yearly goal of $200,000. We are honored by our community’s caring spirit to support this vital work and help us raise more than $655,380 – with six months still left in the initiative!
Prior to Women United championing the initiative, on average Region 6 held 40 trainings a year with 514 yearly participants.
WITH 6 MONTHS LEFT IN THE INITIATIVE, WE'VE SURPASSED OUR GOAL!
In partnership with Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare, the initiative is increasing access to and awareness of Mental Health First Aid training by funding an awareness campaign and providing an additional Coordinator and trainers at Region 6. In partnership with OBI Creative, the awareness campaign focused on increasing the community’s knowledge of the MHFA training and removing the stigma of coming forward with a mental health need.
The Tocqueville Women’s Initiative Advisory (TWIA) Council set a goal to raise $600,000 in three years, with a yearly goal of $200,000. We are honored by our community’s caring spirit to support this vital work and help us raise more than $655,380 – with six months still left in the initiative!
We are not stopping yet! Help us reach our goal by donating today!
Prior to Women United championing the initiative, on average Region 6 held 40 trainings a year with 514 yearly participants.
| FY22 (July 2022-June 2023) | FY23 (July 2023- June 2024) | 2024 FYD (June 2024- December 2024) |
|---|---|---|
|
81 trainings held with 1073 participants |
95 trainings held with 1152 participants |
40 trainings held with 618 participants |
We want to give a special thank you to the corporate and nonprofit partners that have held a dedicated MHFA training with their team!
Bellevue Public Department
Big Brother Big Sisters
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska
Boy Scouts of America
Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands
Buildertrend
Claire Memorial United Methodist
Clarkson College
Community of Bennington
Creighton University
Eastern Nebraska Office of Aging
Education Service Unit 3
FNBO
Heartland Family Service
Immanuel PACE
Immigrant Legal Center
Intercultural Senior Center
Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance
J.D. Heiskell Holdings
JAG Nebraska
Keystone Villas
LeadingAge Nebraska
Lindsay Corporation
Memorial Community Hospital
Metropolitan Community College
Metropolitan Utility District
Midland University
Nebraska Humane Society
NorthStar
Omaha Police Recruit Academy
Omaha Public Schools
Open Door Mission
OPPD
Project Everlast
Project Harmony
Psychiatric Associates
Refugee Women Rising
Sarpy County Corrections
Sarpy County Emergency Services
Sarpy County Housing Authority
Sarpy County Public Defenders Office
Sarpy Douglas Law Enforcement
Scoular
Security National Bank
Sienna Francis House
St. John Paul II Newman Center
System of Care Partners
Tenaska
The Weitz Foundation
The Wellbeing Partners
Three Rivers Health Department
United Way of the Midlands
UNMC College of Occupational Therapy
UNMC College of Pharmacy
UNMC Occupational Therapy
UNMC Physical Therapy
VA Medical Center
Visiting Nurse Association
Weeping Water Schools
Women United
Women’s Center for Advancement
Register for a MHFA Training class
To register for an upcoming Mental Health First Aid training, click a link below:
Women United Updates
Steering Committee Spotlight
Women United celebrates the power of women to bring about positive change in our community through philanthropy and service. Led by passionate leaders across the metro, the Women United Steering Committee champions this vital work to serve and strengthen the community. Thank you to our current Steering Committee members:
Pam Beall-Hill
Chair of Women United
Council Bluffs School Foundation
“I joined Women United because I knew this group of women were committed to building a better community. By leveraging United Way’s connections, Women United has launched numerous initiatives that focus on improving the lives of young people at risk. It’s been a truly rewarding experience.”
Sue Seline
Chair of the Tocqueville Women’s Initiative Advisory Council
Ia Hagan
Baird Private Wealth Management
Events
Women United Community Forum Recap
More than 80 guests attended Women United’s Mary C. Lopez Community Forum on Monday, September 30, at the Film Streams in Dundee in recognition of Suicide Prevention Month. This impactful event featured a special screening of “The Mind Inside,” a poignant documentary that delves into the mental health challenges faced by students locally. Following the film, guests had the chance to engage with a distinguished panel of local experts as they discussed vital community mental health needs and collaborative efforts to support our youth. The panel discussion was moderated by Sally Nellson, Director of “The Mind Inside.” Featured panelists included: Lora Sladovnik, LIMHP, Director of Mental Health Services at Child Saving Institute; Crystal Fuller, Senior Manager of Prevention Services at Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare and Eric Depue, LMHP, LCSW School Social Worker at Millard North Middle School and Therapist at Play Therapy Omaha.
Photos from the event can be found here.
SAVE THE DATE: WOmen united summit
Women United’s Summit is set for April 17 ,2025 at 9:30 a.m. at United Way of the Midlands. The Summit is an opportunity to come together to celebrate Women United’s collective impact in the community through the mental health initiative and look to the future with the launch of the next initiative! We are honored that the Women United Steering Committee in collaboration with the Tocqueville Women’s Initiative Advisory Council have voted to champion an initiative to serve families on the brink of/or experiencing homelessness by funding a Family Flex Fund as part of the United Housing Network. Learn more about this comprehensive program to serve families through financial assistance, case management and wrap-around supports. We hope you can join us for this exciting launch!
Tocqueville Women’s Initiative Updates
TWI Community Tour Recap
The Tocqueville Women’s Initiative held its first TWI Community Tour on Thursday, November 14. We were delighted to kick off this annual event with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the Davis Global Center. And we were also honored to be joined by Anna Cramer, JD, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, Chief People Officer – Nebraska Medicine and Pamela Boyers, PhD, Associate Vice Chancellor, Clinical Simulation, iEXCEL – UNMC.
To view photos from the event, please visit here.
The TWI Community Tour will be an annual event in which members of the Tocqueville Women’s Initiative can take part in a behind-the-scenes tour at unique organizations. The purpose of these events is to build community awareness for the incredible achievements and innovations taking place in our community. Additionally, we would love to have you share your thoughts and ideas for the next event! Please share your thoughts with Maureen Irish, Vice President of Campaign Development at mirish@uwmidlands.org.
Save the Date: Breakfast with Champions featuring Angela Williams – May 8, 2025 at The Farnam
The Breakfast with Champions celebrates the power of women in philanthropy and the vital role they play to strengthen our community. We are thrilled to share that Angela Williams, president and CEO of United Way Worldwide, will serve as the keynote speaker.
Before joining United Way, Angela was President and CEO of Easterseals, the nation’s leading nonprofit provider of life-changing disability services. Angela also served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps for more than six years; led as an Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administration Officer at YMCA of the USA; served as an inter-faith liaison for the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund; was special counsel on criminal law for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy on the Senate Judiciary Committee staff; served as a prosecutor on the DOJ Civil Rights Division’s National Church Arson Task Force; and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. Recognized for innovative leadership, Angela was included in the 2022 NonProfit Times’ Power and Influence Top 50 and Forbes’ 2021 List of Women Over 50 Creating Social Change at Scale, and she received a 2021 CEO Today Healthcare Award. We are honored to have Angela serve as our speaker for this inspiring TWI event!
Learn More
We hope you enjoyed this edition of Women United’s Community Compass! Look out for the next publication in August 2025! If you have any questions, or would like to learn more about the information shared and how to get involved, please contact Maureen Irish at womenunited@uwmidlands.org. Please visit here to learn more about Women United!