As Executive Director of Irving Cares, a UWMD partner agency, Teddie Story knows what it means to advocate for the people of our community. Her interest in finding ways to inform legislators about issues impacting Irving residents, paired with her day to day experience helping low income individuals, made her a perfect fit for the UWMD Public Policy Committee (PPC).
To advocate means to champion a cause. And with the 2009 Legislative Session kicking off in Austin on January 13th, Teddie and the rest of the PPC have been working to bring attention to the needs of the community, leading to improved policies and regulations. On a daily basis, Teddie takes advantage of opportunities like speaking with city council members who represent Irving and participating in the Poverty & Homeless Coalition to raise awareness of the needs in Irving. She also sits on the Legislative Affairs Committee of Greater Irving/Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce.
“As a service provider, I see the needs of poor people on a daily basis. When talking to other people about those needs, you advocate for solutions,” Teddie said.
Teddie’s agency, Irving Cares, offers temporary financial assistance for rent and utilities, a food pantry, an employment program and a transportation program for Irving residents. Hired in 1996 as the Coordinator of Volunteers, Teddie became Executive Director in 2003. She is proud of building a reputation for Irving Cares as an agency that provides a helping hand to people who are trying to change their financial situation, not just a hand out.
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas would like to thank Teddie Story for LIVING UNITED in our community through giving, advocating and volunteering.
As the 2009 Legislative Session approaches, UWMD is actively working to improve lives by focusing on education, income and health issues. Our efforts began by doing research into issues that are important to the community, organizing forums to encourage people to get behind movements, visiting legislators to tell them our issues of interest, writing editorials to inform the public on the benefits of supporting specific legislation, and holding advocacy trainings for anyone interested in learning about the legislative process.
To learn more go to www.unitedwaydallas.org or contact Stephanie Werner at swerner@unitedwaydallas.org.
