United Way seeks to ensure all people across Southeastern Michigan have the educational and economic opportunities needed to succeed and thrive. To do this, it has launched the Agenda for Change, which focuses on the three building blocks everyone needs for a good life: Education, Income and Basic Needs.

Education
We all win when our children stay in school, graduate, find work and build lives. When our children aren’t prepared and supported they drop out, lack the skills to keep a good, steady job, and many turn to substance abuse or crime. Everyone in and around their community pays a hefty price as a result.

Income
Everyone in our region needs to be able to support themselves, which means being smart with money, owning a home and saving for retirement. One of the best solutions to our region’s unstable economic condition is to get more people financially stable and out of distress, which will make southeast Michigan a more desirable place to live and work.

Basic Needs
We all share a stake in metro Detroiters being able to get help when they are struggling or in crisis, so that they can stabilize their lives and move toward self-sufficiency. Every person we can transition away from dependence on some type of assistance and to a place where he or she can contribute to the community will help stabilize the region.