Book Nooks Continue Gaining Community Support

The Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership’s Book Nook initiative continues to gain community support.  Thanks to the generosity of the Dalton State Athletics Program, the Dalton Rotary Club, and the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, funding has been pledged for 18 Book Nooks.  Two book nooks have been placed at White’s Pediatrics with the latest at City of Refuge, an outreach program that meets the physical, mental and spiritual needs of the homeless, low income, poverty level, and indigent families of the Dalton-Whitfield Community.

A picture capturing the recent book nook implementation at City of Refuge can be viewed below. 

From left to right: City of Refuge staff member; Elizabeth Chadwick, Reach Out and Read volunteer; Melissa Morrison, Archway Partnership Americorp VISTA

To learn more about book nooks, click here. If your organization is interested in sponsoring or hosting a Book Nook, please contact Readers to Leaders/United Way VISTA Melissa Morrison at readers2leadersdw@gmail.com.

Young Professional Park Restoration Project

In 2012, the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia awarded a $5,000 grant to the Archway Partnership for a Young Professional project.  The Young Professionals of Northwest Georgia have decided to put some of this money to use on February 22, 2014 by restoring Varnell Park.  Below are some pictures sent by YPONG Chair, Andrea Ownbey, illustrating the current condition of the park. 

YPONG has enlisted the help of the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and the City of Varnell for this park clean-up project.  Information about the event is available at YPONG's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/YPONG11.  To learn more about YPONG, click here. 

Archway Partnership Executive Committee Update

In 2009, the Archway Partnership Executive Committee gathered extensive community input to produce “Communit-E3: A Vision of the Future of Dalton-Whitfield County.” The vision encompasses three parts: education, economy, and the environment (quality of life). In recent years the committee has brainstormed various education initiatives, many of which are pertinent in fulfilling the three-part Communit-E3 vision. Some of the most promising ideas, however, have not yet come to fruition because there is not an existing organization in the community to implement them.

At the last Archway Partnership Executive Committee Meeting held on January 16, members discussed the possibility of creating of a local Community Education Alliance that would meet the existing need for hosting some of the initiatives.  The discussion is outlined here.

The Committee is excited about the potential opportunities that such an alliance would create for the Dalton-Whitfield Community. Below are some photos highlighting the January 16 meeting. 

Lynn Laughter, chair of the Executive Committee, facilitates group discussion.

Committee member Kelly Jones shares her thoughts about the alliance.

Members Mike Maret (right) and Nancy Kennedy (left) discuss their ideas. 

Committee members examine details surrounding the Community Education Alliance.

"You Can Make a Difference"

Advocates of Dalton Challenge Program

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Syndicated Columnist Dick Yarbrough

Please join us 

“You Can Make a Difference”

Dalton High School

7:00

February 4, 2014

For the past 15 years, Dick Yarbrough has gained a large following with his syndicated newspaper column which reaches some 600,000 households and more than 1.3 million readers each week throughout Georgia, making him the most widely-syndicated local columnist in the state.  The Georgia Press Association has twice named his column “Most Humorous.”

Yarbrough is known as a strong advocate for improving public education.  He also continues to push for stronger ethics legislation in the state.  In 2012, he received the Democracy Award from Common Cause Georgia.  “Dick Yarbrough has been a staunch supporter and advocate of meaningful ethics reform for our state and has humorously and effectively kept the issue alive in the hearts and minds of Georgia citizens,” said William Perry, Executive Director of Common Cause Georgia.

Writing a column is just one of Yarbrough’s talents. The Georgia native is an author of two books and a sought-after speaker on today’s circuit.
                                                                                                             

Meet Dick Yarbrough

Dick Yarbrough is a Southern philosopher, political pundit and straight-shooting humorist all rolled into one. Seen weekly in nearly one million households throughout Georgia, his column is an artful mix of comedy and candor that leaves readers amused, inspired or enraged, but always engaged!

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP): An Update

In 2012, the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership facilitated bringing the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education program, administered locally by Whitfield County’s Cooperative Extension Office, to Whitfield County to help families prepare fast, healthy meals on a budget.  The program uses a series of six 1 hour sessions geared toward improving a family’s diet and nutrition practices, stretching their food supply longer, and handling food more safely.  Those who complete all six sessions receive a cookbook and a certificate. In FY 2013, Whitfield County Cooperative Extension EFNEP reached 97 participants directly and 402 family members indirectly. After completing the EFNEP program:

·   96.7% of EFNEP graduates had a positive change in any food group (fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, dairy, and oils).

·   53% of EFNEP graduates more often planned meals in advance.

·   24% more often followed the recommended practices of not allowing meat and dairy foods to sit out for more than two hours. Furthermore, 50% always follow the recommended practice.

The program is free of charge to participants.  The target audience for the program is any caregiver (parents/foster parents/grandparents etc.) with school age children who receive public assistance (i.e. SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, TANF, and free or reduced lunch). The program can, however, accommodate families who do not receive public assistance as EFNEP’s goal is to reach as many families as possible.   

If your organization would like to host the EFNEP program, please contact Brooke Walker at 706.278.8207 or brooke1@uga.edu.  To conduct an EFNEP session, all that’s necessary is a room with electricity.  All meals are cooked on an electric skillet.

Click here to learn more about the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership’s facilitation efforts with the EFNEP. 

Sharing is Caring

On December 12 and 14, Readers to Leaders (R2L) and First Five joined with other community organizations and participated in a collaborative effort known as Sharing is Caring.  At Sharing is Caring, families who have earned credits by participating in parenting and enrichment classes have the opportunity to shop for gifts for their children at a store created by various charity organizations.  While waiting to shop, parents had the chance to explore booths represented by local organizations such as the Northwest Georgia Regional Library, WIC, and SNAP. R2L and First Five provided families with books, a crayon, a bracelet, a sticker, a bookmark with tips for reading to children at home, and various other informational materials to promote literacy. Pictured below are R2L representatives with booth materials, and a mother and daughter at the event.

 

Left to Right: Katy Green, Archway Education Professional; Melissa Morrison, Readers to Leaders VISTA intern; Pam Partain, Readers to Leaders Chair

 

 

A mother holds parent material, while her daughter holds books.

Book Nooks: Successful Community Collaboration

The Archway Partnership has recently launched its newest initiative: Book Nooks!  As the result of dedicated volunteers working through Readers to Leaders and First Five, a birth-to-Pre-K work group, bookshelves containing child-appropriate books, or “book nooks”, will make their way to local businesses and waiting areas in the community.  Dalton State College’s Athletics program has agreed to sponsor the first four Book Nooks and placed the first one at White’s Pediatrics on December 3. Children were excited to see the Book Nook, and their reaction immediately upon its installation can be viewed below.

 

None of these efforts and community successes would be possible without the collaboration of different individuals and organizations coming together. Pictured below is a snapshot of the first Book Nook and a few of the individuals and organizations that helped make it possible.

Left to right: Erik Simpson, Dalton State Athletics; Elizabeth Chadwick, Dalton State President’s Office and former library board chair; and two representatives from White’s Pediatrics office. 

If your organization is interested in sponsoring or hosting a Book Nook, please contact Readers to Leaders/United Way VISTA Melissa Morrison at readers2leadersdw@gmail.com.