We began with Joy, who offered takeaways from the Portland conference.

This particular conference in Portland was focused around gathering the United Ways that are on the western side of the country, who often have kind of shared experiences, shared political environments.

But it's always such a value add to politics.

be part of this network because often in this political environment and kind of in the way that our country operates, it's really easy to be polarized and to think of an us and them.

And then whenever I kind of go back to the United Way network, it really gives me kind of a a human reality check for our friends who are operating United Ways and serving communities throughout the country in regions that have very different cultural norms and expectations.

And it's just so helpful to have to be grounded.

in that broader network.

So for our listeners, can you discuss the role of conveners in our work and how does United Way serve as a convener?

It was a

real community effort and continues to be.

So Joy, can you take it the other side? Talk about our partnership with the Stolte Family Foundation.

Yeah, it's such a beautiful moment to be here and talking about our partnership and about Parent Child Plus.

And as I sit here and kind of listen to Kim talk, it's really clear that we're aligned in terms of the way in which we work to meet the needs of community, listen to community, and then adapt and adjust.

And so one of the things that Kim just said was, you know, scaling is certainly about expanding the impact, but it is also about looking at the system and also making sure that the staff who are delivering those critical services work.

are being paid a living wage.

And so it's really important for us at United Way that we're partnering with Stolte Family Foundation because our values are aligned, right? Our values with Stolte Family Foundation and United Way are aligned.