Systemic barriers in education and healthcare among other systems sustain intergenerational poverty and create an ongoing need for assistance. But what if we targeted the root cause of why those needs are being created in the first place? At United Way of King County, we’re working side by side with communities to build an equitable future for everyone. Our advocacy efforts address immediate needs while also working to eliminate the underlying drivers of racial and economic inequities for future generations.

Child playing with blocks at a table and smiling

We work with coalitions, agencies, and advocacy partners of color to:

  • Lend our United Way voice and advocate through our staff, executives, Board, and lobbyists in partnership with various issue-specific coalitions
  • Fund people of color-led systems change agencies and those that want to advocate through community organizing, lobbying and everything in between

Interested in how we’re changing the systems to build an equitable future? Sign up now to get our action alerts.

Communities of Color-Led Systems Change

Beyond our investments and policy work, United Way is at the tables across King County adding our voice to community informed strategies. From sitting on the King County Regional Homelessness Authority to our collaboration with the Black Home Initiative, we are actively engaged in influencing and advocating for effective solutions to realize equitable and just communities where all people thrive.

Learn more about our community collaborations >>

Just like United Way’s investments, our public policy work too focuses on immediate needs and long-term systems change. Public policy serves as one of the many instruments in our toolkit for driving systemic change, and we are committed to enhancing our approach by increasingly centering the leadership and perspectives of communities of color when determining our advocacy priorities.

Learn more about our legislative agenda >>

You’re helping us do good work. Energized to make even more change happen? 

Learn: Learn about the needs and issues in our community.
Advocate: Tell your elected officials and candidates about critical needs in your community.
Volunteer: Take action with like minded people about the causes that matter to you.
Give: Give to help us build an equitable future for everyone. Every dollar counts.

For more information on our advocacy work, contact Colleen Laing at claing@uwkc.org.

At United Way, we’re working side by side with communities to build an equitable future for everyone. Our partnerships, investments, and advocacy are guided by our commitment to racial justice.