DTE Energy CIO named WI vice-chair

Lynne Ellyn, senior vice president and chief information officer, DTE Energy, has been named the vice-chair of United Way’s Women’s Initiative. Previously, Ellyn was a champion of the Women’s Initiative, encouraging DTE employees and others to join the ranks of women committed to increasing early literacy opportunities in Southeast Michigan.

As vice chair, Ellyn will join the steering committee and provide leadership alongside the chairperson, Rhonda Saunders

Outside of United Way, Ellyn is heavily involved in the community. She also serves on the boards of the Henry Ford Health System Foundation, the Henry Ford Health System Quality Committee, and the DTE Energy Charitable Foundation. She received her undergraduate degree from Oakland University and an executive M.B.A. from Michigan State University.

Please help us welcome Ellyn to her new role!

Women’s Initiative re-ignites volunteer committee

The Women’s Initiative Volunteer Engagement Committee is back in action after a brief break. At the helm is Donna Comer, who has been a major influence in bringing the committee back to life. She initially co-chaired the committee in 2006.

“I encourage every member of the Women’s Initiative to participate in our volunteer activities,” she said. “When you are able to get an ‘up close and personal’ view of the children and their families and you’re able to see how the Women’s Initiative’s work impacts their lives; you feel good and it energizes you to forge ahead.”

The Volunteer Engagement Committee provides Women’s Initiative members with meaningful opportunities to lend their time and talents while seeing the impact their donations are making in the community. One of the major volunteer projects the Women’s Initiative is working on is Operation ABC, which needs tutors to work with first- and second-graders. The program works with local schools and requires a yearlong commitment by volunteers in order to maintain consistency in the children’s lives.

For Comer, the work of the Women’s Initiative resonates deeply. She’s been an advocate for children and early literacy most of her life, as a retired childcare provider as well as a mother and grandmother.

“I’ve seen the results and the effects that happen when children are exposed to reading from birth,” she said. “For me, it’s very rewarding to be a member of such a talented group of women with a common goal that will significantly impact our community.”

In addition to Operation ABC, the committee is developing monthly opportunities for members to experience the work of the Women’s Initiative first-hand. For more information, stay tuned to the Women’s Initiative e-Updates or contact Donna Comer.

Kurt's Corner

Region leads in falling home values

Over the past several years, homeowners in Southeast Michigan have been feeling the effects of decreasing home values. The glut of unsold homes -- many put on the market as the result of job loss and a subsequent move out of this region – coupled with the foreclosure crisis, have served to drive down the value of our homes. Homeowners who must sell are finding that they cannot get out of the house what they still owe, unless they have been in the house for a number of years or made a large down payment at the outset. Property tax bills, while showing a decreasing assessed value, are often still going up thanks to the Headlee Amendment. This is seen as “adding insult to injury” and homeowners, as well as legislators, are fighting to make sure taxes cannot increase unless assessments increase as well.

The Standard & Poor’s Case-Shiller Home Price Index is one measure of home values that allows us to compare Detroit to other major regions in the country. The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices measure the residential housing market and allow us to track changes in the value of the residential real estate market in 20 metropolitan regions across the United States. These indices use the repeat sales pricing technique to measure housing markets. First developed by Karl Case and Robert Shiller, the methodology collects data on single-family home re-sales, capturing re-sold sale prices to form sale pairs. The index family consists of 20 regional indices and two composite indices as aggregates of the regions.

The index for May 2008 was just released and the results for the Detroit metropolitan area[1] are not good. The index value for 2008 was 92.61, the lowest it has been since 1999. This means that the current value of homes in Southeast Michigan is at the same level as it was nine years ago, posing a problem for homeowners who had hoped to grow their investment. While home values have decreased in the other 19 markets that are measured, none has dropped as far. The graph and accompanying chart portray the housing value indices for the four Midwestern markets – Chicago, Cleveland, Minneapolis and Detroit – from May 1991 through May 2008. The indexes for Detroit and Cleveland reached their high points in 2005, while housing prices in Chicago and Minneapolis continued to increase in value for one more year. The drop for each, between their respective highs and May 2008’s index, are as follows:

• Chicago – 10.0 percent
• Cleveland – 10.7 percent
• Detroit – 26.1 percent
• Minneapolis – 17.8 percent

Table 1. S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices for Midwestern Metros, 1991 - 2008

Figure 1. S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices for Midwestern Metros, 1991 - 2008

A little housekeeping

The information above is just a sampling of all that United Way's research department has to offer. As United Way's director of Research, I have always seen my task as one that presents the facts. We are not here to gloss over anything or to paint the numbers as worse than they are. We're here to present a real look at the statistics that make up our region and how they apply to community issues -- in both positive and negative ways.

In the near future, the re-design of our Web site will allow the Research Department to have a more regular presence. We will be presenting weekly facts and maps that you will be able to use, whether it's to improve your service delivery, incorporate in grant applications, or just throw out in casual conversation. We're here to provide useful information for your personal and professional interests.

Some of these facts will mirror the depth of the economic crisis we face in southeast Michigan, while others will show that all is not lost. We'll let you know when we're up and running and I invite you to visit often and make comments and suggestions.

Give

Find out where your dollars go

Ever wondered about the impact your United Way contribution is making in the community? Find out at our second town hall meeting on August 27 from 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. The meeting is geared toward leadership givers and will focus on our work in Financial Stability. You'll have the opportunity to learn more about two of our newest initiatives, The Center for Working Families and the Alliance for Economic Inclusion and how they are helping families learn to save and build assets so that they can move toward financial independence. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today.

To RSVP, e-mail Tiffany.Chaney@LiveUnitedSEM.org.

Advocate

Sign up to advocate

Advocacy is an important component to change. By becoming an advocate you can use your voice to influence our elected officials and community leaders. At United Way, we're always looking for people to join our advocacy ranks.

To be a part of the movement, click here.

Volunteer

Help kids succeed

Kids are headed back to school next month, and Operation ABC is gearing up to help them read. If you've signed up to volunteer, but haven't yet attended training, there are opportunities to do so in September. You must have your DHS paperwork cleared before being able to attend a training or be placed in a school for the fall. For more information, or for help getting all of the steps completed, contact Laura.Stanton@LiveUnitedSEM.org.

If you know of someone who would be interested in joining the volunteer efforts, please forward this information. They can register to volunteer here.