Tag Archives: Haiti

Response vs. the Richter Scale: Making Distant Suffering as Relevant as Local Intrigue

February 12, 2010 • Categories: Blog • by Jasmine Shaw

I believe that relevance and proximity greatly influence our words and our actions. The fundamental question that sticks out in my mind is this:

How do we make the suffering of others as relevant as our own “suffering”?

This is the challenge that a number of non-profits face on a daily basis and with each passing campaign. This is not simply the case with natural disasters in distant nations. How do you make homelessness relevant to those who have never experienced it and believe that going without lunch for a day is starvation? How do you convince members of one demographic to support a community center that primarily serves another?

How do we make others as relevant to us as we are to ourselves?

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UPDATE: United Way Partners Helping Haitians in Chicago

January 30, 2010 • Categories: Blog • by Angela Benander

United Way would like to recognize the critical work of our funded partners for their efforts to welcome Haitians to Chicago. As support efforts continue through the weekend, we will be updating our blog on the status of evacuees and their needs. American Red Cross of Greater Chicago has been instrumental in coordinating the transportation [...]

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United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Welcomes Haitian Evacuees

January 29, 2010 • Categories: Blog • by Angela Benander

Here’s an update from our communications office: United Way of Metropolitan Chicago is working with critical local partners to provide direct aid to the Haitian evacuees arriving tonight at O’Hare Airport on United Airlines. This coordinated effort is the result of United Way’s funding and support to create a local COAD (Community Organization Active in [...]

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How to Help Haiti

How to Help Haiti

January 14, 2010 • Categories: Blog • by Angela Benander

On the evening of January 12, 2010, a major 7.0 impact earthquake hit Haiti. It is the most powerful earthquake to hit the impoverished country in 200 years. Reports describe the destruction as affecting 70% of the nation’s buildings and debris filling the roads is making recovery difficult. On January 13th, the Prime Minister reported [...]

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