Stories of U.S.

Connecting communities through DATA-CENTERED storytelling.

How the Racial Wealth Gap Affects Black Owned Businesses, and the Intentional Steps USI is Taking to Close It

Nov 16, 2021

All small businesses have felt the impact of COVID-19 over the past two years. From February to April 2020, the United States saw a 22% decrease in the amount of working business owners; this was the largest drop ever. However, Black-owned businesses have fared the...

Creating Equitable Strategies to Increase Access to Childcare for Working Families

Nov 1, 2021

For many mothers across the nation, the balance of childcare and employment often means sacrificing their careers for their children's safety and education. And in 2020, mothers were three times more likely than fathers to cite childcare as a reason for not working....

Using Goals to Decrease the Digital Divide

Oct 22, 2021

USI San Antonio resident, Estella, uses community support and motivation to not just achieve a specific goal for her family but also suggests her fellow neighbors do the same! Estella Diaz has been receiving family support services from USI San Antonio since 2016 as a...

The Crucial Role Community Partners Make in the Lives of USI Residents

Sep 14, 2021

Thanks to Community Partners and USI Family Support Specialists, this Cleveland Avenue Homes resident is well on their way to Stable and Thriving. USI Partners are a crucial part of our ability to support the children and families living in our communities across the...

The Digital Divide, COVID-19, and a Holistic Approach for Adult Learners in St. Louis

Sep 6, 2021

USI takes a well-rounded approach to help adult learners in St. Louis' Near North Side pursue their education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adult learners in St. Louis’s Near North Side neighborhood have been working with USI and the St. Louis Public School Adult...

One Baltimore Student’s Call to Leadership in the Face of Adversity

Aug 30, 2021

Dayonda, a local Baltimore Carver High School senior, uses the redevelopment of her neighborhood—Perkins Homes—as an opportunity to build something better for herself and other neighborhood youth. Troubling Circumstances Dayonda Davis, now entering her senior year at...

Creating Equitable Outcomes for Baltimore Families One Resident at a Time

Aug 23, 2021

Using the Results Count Framework, our Family Support Specialists can look at the whole picture surrounding individual families’ to support them on their journey to Stable and Thriving! Creating a stable and thriving life for residents in our USI Baltimore community...

Family Support is More Than Case Management: It’s About Trust

Aug 18, 2021

Despite one resident’s skepticism, a USI Baltimore’s Family Support Specialist, Zanika Hutchings, was able to create the relationship and trust needed to guide that resident to stable and thriving. Ms. Davis, a USI Baltimore resident, living in the Perkins...

How One Baltimore Resident Climbed Out of The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Devastating Impact

Jul 28, 2021

When the world seemed to be crumbling down, the USI Baltimore team was able to help this one resident find their way to stable and thriving. The world for Americans at large has been turned upside down due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. And not for the better. The...