Community Conversation with the United Way
11:43 a.m. June 23, 2025
DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor
What will South Central Tennessee look like by the end of this decade? According to the United Way of South Central Tennessee, the answer depends on how well the region rallies around its most urgent community needs – and its most ambitious solutions.
Launched with the support of local leaders, subject matter experts, and everyday citizens, the Bold Goals 2030 initiative outlines a comprehensive vision for building a stronger, healthier, and more financially stable community by the year 2030. Through measurable objectives and strategic planning, United Way is calling on residents across the region to unite in tackling issues ranging from early childhood education and housing to mental health and chronic disease.
To that end, Moore County residents can join the United Way for a Community Conversation as part of its Needs Assessment. They are gathering community members across the region to envision a thriving future for all.
These discussions will help the United Way identify collective priorities, highlight community strengths, and develop practical approaches to the challenges we face together.
The United Way is hosting a session from noon-1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5, in Lynchburg. The session will be held at the First United Methodist Church at 65 Mechanic St. N.
The Bold Goals 2030 initiative defines six clear benchmarks that will serve as guiding stars over the next five years:
Kindergarten Readiness
Raise the percentage of kindergarten-ready children from 25.5% to at least 50%.
Affordable Housing
Ensure 80% of households spend less than 30% of income on housing (up from 73%).
Financial Stability
Move 75% of households above the ALICE threshold (currently 52%). ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.
Mental Health
Improve the community’s overall mental health by 25%.
Obesity Reduction
Reduce overweight and obesity rates among students and adults to 30% or lower.
Drug and Suicide Deaths
Decrease drug-related overdose deaths and suicides by 25%.
To track progress transparently, United Way has partnered with Redstone Federal Credit Union to implement the Clear Impact platform, a data visualization and analytics tool that allows the public to monitor outcomes and measure success.
To meet these ambitious benchmarks, United Way has developed focused strategies in four major domains:
Early Childhood Development
Efforts include expanding access to maternal health services, increasing food security, and promoting high-quality early learning. Strategies involve:
- Supporting family mental health
- Promoting positive child-parent interaction
- Increasing access to screenings and services
- Advocating for affordable, high-quality child care
Financial Stability
Recognizing that financial hardship is a root cause of many social challenges, Bold Goals 2030 includes a robust slate of tactics:
- Financial counseling and eviction prevention
- Free tax prep services
- First-time homebuyer education
- Job training and career navigation for ALICE households
- Wrap-around services like transportation and childcare
Healthy Behaviors
To improve health outcomes across all age groups and abilities, the plan promotes:
- Increased physical activity in schools and communities
- Expanded access to healthy foods
- Inclusive, culturally competent health messaging
- Advocacy for health promotion in schools and workplaces
Mental Health & Substance Abuse
With overdose deaths and suicides on the rise, United Way is investing in both prevention and treatment strategies:
- Destigmatizing mental illness through community campaigns
- Increasing school-based and community access to services
- Boosting the local behavioral health workforce
- Developing peer support and recovery networks
- Building data systems for community-level evaluation
United Way emphasizes that Bold Goals 2030 is not just a vision from the top down – it’s a grassroots movement, and every individual has a role to play. Whether through volunteering, donating, advocating, or participating in programs, residents are invited to contribute their time, talents, and resources.
