Symeria Hudson spent her first few months as president and CEO of United Way Miami walking the halls and listening to employees, as well as meeting with volunteers, donors and beneficiaries of the growing social service organization.
“I don’t want to make adjustments until I’ve talked to all stakeholders. I want to pay attention and be informed before making major adjustments,” said Hudson, who spent three and a half years as president and CEO of Chapman Partnership. which provides comprehensive services to the county’s homeless population, before joining United Way on Aug. 5.
READ MORE: Her 18-hour day is busy, but she loves every minute she spends helping Miami’s homeless population
United Way, which supports more than 60 organizations and approximately one hundred systems and targets the lives of Miami-Dade County residents, specializes in education, currency literacy, health, veterans facilities and crisis relief systems.
All of Hudson’s observations will be incorporated into what she calls her 100-day plan. “These are the things that will outline United Way for years to come,” he said.
Once the program ends, Hudson plans to publish a report and be transparent about United Way’s direction. “After the hundred days, I need other people to listen to what I heard,” he said.
Being practical, methodical, and strategic, keeping others first, is part of the Harvard MBA style. He intended his new assignment at United Way on a Friday because he was looking for the weekend to reflect on what he saw and heard.
“I’m not a CEO who just needs a degree,” she said. “I need to do everything I can for the other people in this community. “
But she added: “I’m a businesswoman and I have to keep an eye on what’s going on here. “
After more than 20 years working for some of the largest companies in the country, the fifty-something Hudson turned to the global nonprofit and accepted a position at Chapman Partnership in early 2019.
He brought an interest in this painting encouraged by his uncle Billy, who suffered from intellectual fitness problems and spent years homeless on the streets of Pasadena, California.
During his time at Chapman, he thought a lot about “how we can catch other people further upstream and help them before they become homeless,” he said.
While Hudson said his “heart and head” were with Chapman, when he won a call from a recruiter about the United Way position, “I think it can be a way to have a bigger impact. The homeless network is a subset of a larger challenge for Miami-Dade County.
Hudson said he has long had an affinity with United Way and its programs. In his first assignment out of college, he led the United Way crusade at his company, and even before that, he said, he developed projects in Huntsville, Alabama. , his circle of family members benefited from United Way’s services.
Before accepting the United Way’s job, Hudson said he studied hard to make United Way “the same logo I knew.
“I’m very satisfied with what I saw,” she said.
“Symeria’s varied experience, leadership skills and vision make her the ideal user to assume this role,” said Robert Sanchez, chairman of the board of directors of United Way Miami, in announcing his selection. Sanchez is now the outgoing president of United Way. ; Penny Shaffer is the new Chair of the Board.
READ MORE: United Way Miami discovers new leader in house after national search
With wonderful brushstrokes, these are some of Hudson’s plans to solve:
▪ The United Way.
She is the organization’s fourth leader in the past five years. “I had to wonder how I could stabilize the ship. “
▪ United Way’s after the pandemic.
“After COVID, the world replaced a lot, from fundraising to using the web and programming,” he said. During the pandemic, with so many offices closed, United Way’s crusade of giving suffered, he said. People were at home and not listening to the compelling stories of others whose lives have been reshaped through United Way’s programs, Hudson said.
“It’s not a precedent to give when other people were so involved in the pandemic. “However, that shortfall was made up by a grant United Way won under the federal CARES pandemic relief program, he said.
Miami-Dade County selected United Way Miami to distribute more than $30 million in relief budget to help those who have experienced significant loss of revenue sources due to unemployment, underemployment and/or unforeseen COVID-related expenses. The funds were distributed to more than 18,500 households. The county also awarded United Way $1. 5 million in administration to conduct network programs.
The organization also took advantage of the federal payroll coverage program, receiving a $2. 6 million loan, which was later canceled, for jobs and earned $775,000 in tax credits from the worker retention tax credit program.
▪ Strengthen the image of the United Way logo.
“The logo is still good,” she said, but “with so many competing social service organizations, I’m not sure we’re the leader. “Worry and United Way, your charity of choice.
▪ Focus on technology.
In August, United Way Miami, in partnership with Social Finance, a national nonprofit, announced the launch of the United Way Miami Workforce Project. It’s designed for the capabilities of Miami workers, and the first interns will get education on coding and programming technologies, Hudson said.
The hope is that interns will earn salaries of at least $35,000 and eventually reimburse their tuition fee so others can get the training. The program is the result of a multimillion-dollar donation to United Way Miami from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott in 2020.
READ MORE: Bezos’ ex-wife, billionaire MacKenzie Scott, donates $40 million to FIU in a wonderful move
As an example of how United Way will have to constantly evolve its technology mindset, Hudson cited a recent stop at the United Way’s Center for Financial Stability, a program that is helping others deal with monetary emergencies and then engaging them in longer-term monetary solutions. Make plans to avoid long-term cheating.
At the end of their tour, Hudson said, workers passed him a piggy bank for his nearly 4-year-old son, Garrett. “Well, Garrett has a virtual wallet,” he said with a laugh.
Hudson said he’s positive about the network’s 2022-2023 donation campaign, which has already begun. It seeks donations from corporations and their workers, as well as from the network in general.
On a crusade he attended at the Northern Trust, Hudson said: “There were places of prestige. He said several upcoming fundraising opportunities had already been sold out.
“People are excited to come back in combination and participate,” Hudson said. “Now, with everyone coming back in person, there’s a lot of energy. They will make a big, big difference. “
Insight
A disgustingly rich and equitable network where everyone has access to a quality education and the opportunity to lead a healthy and financially secure life.
Assignment
Improve everyone’s quality of life by combining other people and resources committed to building a larger community.
Constituents
United Way Miami serves a population known as ALICE (limited assets, limited income, employees). ALICE families still earn just above the federal poverty line and have little or no savings. These families struggle to meet their basic needs, adding childcare, food, transportation, physical care, and mandatory technology. They live paycheck to paycheck and are on the verge of falling into poverty. Since they earn above the federal poverty line, they are excluded from assistance systems like food stamps, Medicaid, and housing subsidies.
Annual budget
$56. 2 million in income and contributions
Programs
United Way Miami invests in more than one hundred systems in 64 local locations. The organization also works with local and national partners to advocate at the local, state and federal levels for policies that benefit Miami-Dade’s low-income citizens. The main pillars are education, monetary stability and health.
Direct services
In addition to investing more than a hundred systems in nonprofit spousal agencies, United Way Miami also provides direct services to the community. Among them are:
▪ The Center for Excellence in Early Education at United Way Miami, a learning, training and education initiative committed to quality care and early education.
▪ United Way Mission United is helping veterans and their families reacclimate to civilian life.
▪ The United Way Center for Financial Stability is helping staff and families pave the way to monetary independence through currency training and credit counseling, flexible tax preparation, employment assistance and more.
Source: United Way Miami
For more information on how to help those in need, stop by https://unitedwaymiami. org/youcan/
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