The minutes of the January are below, submitted by Sharon Cloud, CGTC:

The Advisory Group for the DREAM Team met on January 20, 2011, at the Peyton Anderson Building at 10 a.m.

Sharon Cloud moderated and asked the participants to consider the successes and what the group has learned from its recent efforts. She also recapped the December meeting that had focused on strategies to move forward and the need to develop a plan for moving forward. She reminded the group of the two primary objectives of a CLCP: (1) support and promote initiatives directed at adults needing to attain a GED diploma, and (2) to support and promote initiatives to increase the graduation rate. The DT can improve outcomes by supporting initiatives that encourage parents like the 360 Program, Promise Neighborhood, Family Academy, and STEP. Collaboration will help to build relationships and leverage resources for those targeted parents in order to synchronize activities for the “biggest bang for the bucks.”

The attendees were encouraged to offer suggestions or provide feedback about the activities of 2010 and how the group could move forward.

Julie Wood added that she has been impressed by this very committed group of passionate people who are after the same thing. She suggested the group seek out ways to get the business community behind this effort.

The group reviewed the discussed the DT Council strategy presented in December and expanded on the organizations that needed to be represented: Arts/ music (Ocmulgee and Museum of Arts and Sciences, for example); business (top 10 employers plus others); civic (Rotarys, Junior League, Optimist, Kiwanis); collaborative (Community Partnership, Promise Neighborhood, Shalom Zones, Leadership Macon, Chamber); education (BOE, post-secondary, private schools); faith-based; financial; foundations; health; government; and legal. Input and participation from each of these areas would benefit our effort and that will take leadership. Sharon advised that she had asked Horace Holms to consider an interim position to help lead this effort, especially with the business community.

Sharon also asked that Vonnie Angelo to consider working with the DT to help develop a job referral program with the top 10 employers. The best motivator for AE students would be to gain viable employment to support them while they were continuing their education.

Sally Devero suggested inviting Joe Bishop from the Houston County CLCP to a DT meeting to share what they are doing. Sharon noted that Billie Izard had come initially to assist the DT with its planning meeting and may have further fundraising ideas. Mrs. Devero remarked that Horace has “walked in the shoes” of adult education and that Ms. Izard’s saying is that “If you have seen one CLCP, you have seen one CLCP!” meaning that each is unique in many aspects. Sharon noted that the CLCP yearly convention will be March 23-4 at Unicoi State Park and that seeing what others are doing will greatly help anyone who attends.

Tammie Collins stated that the DT’s coming to table as organizations who can have input keeps people coming back in this informal setting, and that the DT did not set goals too high to get momentum going and keep people involved.

Sarah White shared her strategies for researching funding opportunities. Sarah said that they are in the process of profiling funders, noting patterns of granting, grantees awarded, potential grants for us, finding gaps to make us more fundable as a group, and analyzing the importance of community involvement beyond random acts to really integrate the community since collaboration is greatly desired by grantors. Sharon reminded the group that Sarah is helping us find ways to sustain and enhance current efforts that can support all areas of literacy.

Sharon stated that the next meeting will be the third Thursday of February.

The next DREAM Team Meeting will be December 16, 10:00 am Peyton Anderson Building

Minutes of the November 18, 2010, Meeting of the DREAM Team, Submitted by Sharon Cloud:

The DREAM Team met at the Peyton Anderson Building’s Board Room on November 18, 2010, at 10 a.m.  Sharon Cloud opened the meeting.  She reviewed the GA Work Ready status: 60 are still pending in the process of certifying Bibb County as a Work Ready Community. 

Sharon also updated the group on the status of the STEP (Schools Teaming with Empowered Partners) Program.  She reported on the 360 training recently held for DT members at CGTC.  The training was facilitated by the Title 1 Program of Bibb County.  Gwen Russell led the discussion of the 360 initiative sponsored by Title 1 and the United Way.  Andrea Moore, Director of the Title 1 services also attended.   The next training will be held on Dec. 3^rd at CGTC’s Adult Learning Center’s Bldg. K, Rm. 119.  DT members are encouraged to come and bring a friend to learn how they can be a part of this “cradle to college” program to help reduce the number of high school dropouts.  Sharon also reminded the group that the STEP Program will target kindergarteners at first, but eventually through 3^rd grade and their parents in the five schools selected to receive the services.  Each of those elementary schools is near a Career Connections Lab, which is operated by CGTC’s ALC VISTA members.

Parent engagement is the goal of the 360 Program and the STEP Program and involves stressing parents’ volunteering at school, attending events held at the school, being seen in their children’s school, participating in workshops held at the school, and inviting the community to partner with them regarding their children’s education.  Sharon reminded the DT that these are all things they can do to encourage more parent and community engagement, all the while laying the foundation to help prevent dropouts.  She stated that as the DT interfaces with the schools to make sure to provide opportunities for those things to happen, they can model parenting at school through their participation. As an example, she noted that Community Partnership’s Family Academy is able to get lots of partners to the table in the community and reach parents effectively.

Sharon also presented a visual diagram of the Parent/Child/Community model that has spokes on a central wheel.  Each community group is a spoke on the wheel and is at the table for the same reason—to improve the quality of life for each member of this community.   All present agreed that education is the key to the success and progress of each person.  That includes all forms of literacy: e.g. financial, formal and informal, and health.  By increasing the graduation rate for the class of 2023, the DT will see 511 children (the kindergarteners in the 5 targeted schools) have better outcomes and more choices in their lives, thereby improving the life of this city, also.  She reminded the DT of the suggestion was made at the last meeting to get employers to allow a “release time” for parents to participate in their children’s activities at school.  Churches and businesses will be key partners to the success of these initiatives.

Dr. Brown, representing the Promise Neighborhood initiative, reminded the group that the key is to set real goals that are reasonable and can success. Tracking that progress will also be key to the outcome of all the community’s efforts, too, but especially those of the DT and Promise Neighborhood efforts.  Sharon shared with the DT the secret to the success of the first spacecraft’s reaching the moon:  constant evaluation and readjustment of the course with 90% of the time being off course.  With a system to constantly monitor and engage and adjust, such monumental efforts can be successful, especially when there is one thing in common such as reducing the dropout rate in a community by targeting one class and providing supportive services for increasing true family engagement.

The role of the DT is therefore to build community awareness and buy-in by helping educate and/or influence leaders in the community about how “doable” this goal is and how important it is.  The DT can give it focus and help develop strategies to make sure that the dropout rate is reduced and the lives of children and parents are greatly improved in this county.  The Bibb County Board of Education is also participating by stressing effective family engagement.  Each group has three things to identify that will filter all of its efforts:  1. Shared responsibility, 2. Continued pathways, and 3. Whether the efforts are across all learning settings (FA, Barnes & Noble, STEP, Boys and Girls Club, etc.).  Those three things can be demonstrated with parents when they see their role as a shared responsibility so that they will not be overwhelmed by the educational and parental experience. 

The 360 objective is based on Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs,” which identifies where many of the parents of young children are in this community (as seen in the Adult Education students who come to CGTC.  Belongingness, self-esteem, and self-actualization are difficult to achieve when the parent is struggling to meet basic human needs.  DT members can model what it means to have each of those qualities so that parents can say, “I want what they have.  I want to feel that too.”   The 360 Program’s goals also include increasing the high school graduation rate, decreasing the dropout rate, and increasing secondary enrollment.  It is based on the “Check & Connect” model and research from Harvard University.  The DT and PN are in agreement with those goals and want also to increase student achievement by parents being actively engaged in their children’s education on all levels. 

There was not a report at this time from CLCP after meeting the deadline on filing the yearly report.

Sharon reminded the DT of the Family Academy on November 20^th at 9 a.m. at St. Peter Claver.  The event is sponsored by the Pleasant Hill Shalom Zone.  Parents in that neighborhood will have sessions on health literacy and will receive T-shirts, free lunch, and great handouts.  Phyllis gave a report on the Career Connections labs, which are in the targeted neighborhoods.  Each helps serve Distance Learning students as well as those preparing for the GA Work Ready test.   Sharon stressed that this is not just a “public relations” effort on behalf of CGTC and the Adult Education Program, but the Career Connections labs can help stop the 74% attrition rate of students in adult education.  The labs help address the situational barriers that most adult education students have such as transportation, and the VISTA members who staff those labs also provide coaching that is designed to provide intervention strategies for those who have great difficulty completing their educational goals.  She stressed alternative choices for students such as community labs and Distance Learning as also helping to curb that percentage of dropouts. 

June O’Neal reported on the 88 children on the waiting list for mentors and encouraged DT members to spread the word of the need for more mentors.  Carolyn Glover reminded the group of the march on the 20^th against violence in the city.  Counselors will be provided for those needing their services.  June seconded Carolyn’s comments about violence being a community problem and not just isolated incidences.  She said that desperation is the cause and is a “recipe for disaster.”  Sharon reminded the group that violence is a legacy for so many people who do not know of any other model.  She said she had reached the conclusion that people don’t just know what to do instead of knowing what to do and not doing it.  She mentioned the many who attend the AEP who have overcome more obstacles than any of us in this room ever could have.  June also reiterated that many children in the community are going to be hungry and the only meals they receive are at school.

Sharon reported that the Read for the Record campaign was a great event which provided books for every child at King-Danforth in grades K-4 through 3^rd grade because of the school’s efforts.  She recapped Rotary’s efforts to acquire a grant for $4000 to put books in the hands of those children at Christmas.  Seven different books have been chosen age-appropriate and candidates for the Rotary to buy.  A DVD will be made of celebrity readers modeling to parents how to read the books to their children.  Horace Holmes will narrate the DVD, which will be placed in the back of the children’s books and given out on December 14^th, the last day of school before Christmas.  She stated that eventually they would like to get a grant to give a book to each child in Bibb County schools in those grades.

L. H. Williams’ kindergarten students will be treated to a trip to Good Will with their parents to buy books at discount rates.  The Junior League will help decorate the church vans, and Goodwill will host refreshments for them there, also.  Parents will be given coupons to use for books, and children will receive a free book from Goodwill, also.  Barnes & Noble will also be working with the DT on an ongoing book fair where community members can help buy books for those children.  January through March will be a community awareness campaign.  Sharon also reminded the DT of the Title 1 Winter Family Engagement activity at Central High School on January 29^th.  This will be an all-day event with many workshops for parents.

Archie Walker of 7000 Men, Inc. explained that his group encourages, trains, and teaches young men to be fathers.  He told of a young man who asked to clean his yard.  Archie explained to his children why he allowed the young man to do so:  he is asking now, but later he may be taking if he keeps getting “no” for an answer.  His story illustrates where many young fathers find themselves—without a job and without an education.  He is trying to develop a program that will help employ young fathers, such as one that provides cleaning jobs.  June said that she had been trying to do this for years and has the framework but has run into problems with bonding people.  Sharon suggested getting them certified through a process of parent workshops as they are engaged with their children.  Sharon mentioned a group of attorneys in Atlanta who have a similar program and have found viable employment for young men.  She suggested that Workforce Development might like to join this effort to structure and fund such a program.  Archie stressed that the idea is to create jobs.  He also agreed to help with the men’s group at the ALC and at CGTC, if it will allow him. 

Dr. Brown recapped the Promise Neighborhood initiative s launched by the Mayor as part of a program by on the federal, Department of Education, Department of Justice, and Housing and Urban Development levels.  PN is a holistic approach to reach all the people discussed here today, especially convicted felons, young men who become fathers, and those needing literacy assistance.  It is based on the success of the Harlem Children’s Zone, a “cradle to the grade” neighborhood effort to get to the root of the problem instead of trying to spend all resources on what’s already “broken,” as we currently do.  PN is a 0-24 initiative that includes a partnership between schools and the community that provides services to every student along the way.  Thirty prominent agencies came together to apply for a planning grant and came in 21 out of 334 with their application.  This kind of collaboration and focus is important even if they did not receive one of the grants.  Four schools have been chosen as part of the focus: Ingram-Pye, Hartley, Ballard Hudson, and Southwest High School.  There are several dynamic new principals who are willing to help with this initiative.  The immediate focus will be to increase parental engagement.  The 360 initiative, CGTC, STEP, and Family Academy will all be key pieces of this program.

Dr. Brown also said that someone said the problem is that parents fail to do what parents are supposed to do.  Sharon said that from what is seen in the Adult Education Program, parents often don’t know what to do and are making the choices they do because of not being informed, especially if those parents haven’t been “parented” themselves by good role models. Dr. Brown reiterated that a child’s educational success is a joint responsibility of the community and the parent and the school system.  He said that if the results can be measured and recorded, the process could be advanced to other schools.  Athens /Clarke County and Atlanta—Morehouse Medical School (along with UGA) have joined together to form a database of services provided as situational stressors arise.  If Savannah and Macon work along with those other cities, groups may be better able to overcome barriers and identify clusters of stressors on children, thereby allowing the child’s needs to be better addressed so that he/she can continue to be success in the school and home settings.  This collaborative effort will set Georgia apart when the next round of grants arrive. 

June added that parents must feel engaged in the process, also.  For example, they can be asked to help pack and deliver meals as needed if they receive services.  They will then feel empowered and not like they are always on the receiving end of services.  Dr. Brown agreed:  “Unless parents feel empowered about their own lives, they will not communicate that to their children; and more and more will drop out.” 

Cindy reminded the DT of the Holiday Book Drive again this year to benefit Junior League’s school projects.  Sharon suggested the DT send flyers re: this home with parents who attend events like the Family Academy and STEP events.  Sharon also suggested that maybe next year’s donations could be coordinated with the DT’s DVD efforts.  June offered the mentors to wrap the books collected by Barnes and Noble. 

The meeting was adjourned at 11: 10 a.m.

The Advisory Council of the DREAM Team met at the Peyton Anderson Board Room on October 10, 2010. 

 Sharon Cloud presented the current figures which were used to complete the CLCP yearly report.  Bibb County has a target of 17,436 GED’s and has achieved 16,483 as of September 30, 2010.  The council agreed that this was an achievable goal this year so that the county could achieve CLCP status.  The report for 2010 was filed on time and was based on the number of GED’s achieved, the work of Volunteer Macon, and the activities of CGTC’s AmeriCorps VISTAs.  She noted that we have a better system in place now to capture all of the events in which the partners raise awareness of literacy.  Sharon also noted that Bibb County was extremely close to becoming a Certified Work Ready County, with 686 unofficial Work Ready Certificates earned, especially by pushes from Horace Holmes and his effort through the Rotary.  Gigi noted that there would be a meeting at CGTC to review the numbers and any extension that might be possible.

 Sharon also recapped the STEP (Schools Teaming with Empowered Partners) program:  She had recently met with Title 1 Coordinator for Bibb County BOE, Andrea Moore, to discuss our partnering with them around empowering parents.  The next step will be to recruit mentors who will be trained in November.  STEP will also be a part of the Winter Family Engagement event on January 29^th at Central High School for all Title 1 parents.  Andrea Moore will give a presentation on the 360 Plan, which is being mandated for Bibb County’s schools this year.  The presentation will be the 12^th or the 19^th of November at Central Georgia Tech’s Adult Learning Center, Rm. 119.  All community partners and members of the DREAM Team are invited to that presentation.  There will be breakout groups and will last for ½ day, possibly necessitating a second session with Ms. Moore.

Tammie Collins summarized the 360 Program by stating that it in essence focuses on how Title 1 will approach strategies specifically targeting learning units for parents (the use of the parent portal, understanding graduation credits, how to get their children to that point, etc.).  June O’Neal questioned whether a person who tested in another county for his GED could be counted in Bibb County, but Sharon verified that he would be counted in the county in which he tested.

 Travis then discussed the “Family Academy” which the Community Parternership has planned this fall and winter.  November 20^th will be the date for the first FA at L. H. Williams School.  He noted that Volunteer Macon gave CP a Family Resource Grant for the event:  $400 to develop a community project in targeted areas, with 3 grants in all being given to Bibb County groups.  One will be the event on the 23^rd of October:  the “100 Voices” School to Prison Pipeland to address the dropout rates in our areas.  The November 20^th FA will take an intergenerational approach to help families with health literacy.  Twelve CP’s will host topics for parents, senior citizens, teens, and other family members.  Travis said that he would use an activity used at the recent Communities in Schools conference built around music to bridge the ages represented at the November FA.

 Travis also noted that there are plans to work with the same group of families over a year after the families are registered at the first Family Academy.  After quarterly FA events, the families will complete a service project and be participants in a graduation which will recognize their participation and completion of the year’s programs.  Sites will be replicated in Lynmore Estates and Pleasant Hill to have a fluid strategy to reach families in each area in which Community Partnership is active.

 June O’Neal expressed her concern for the rising crime in our area and stated that there are attempts being made to get people together in a neutral place, hoping to engage each other on a positive level.  Sonny Spoon will be the keynote speaker at “The Drug Awareness and Family Violence Prevention Program” to be held October 26^th at 6 p.m. at Miller Middle School.  Attorney Tomieka Daniel will also be a keynote speaker for that program.  June also stated that a local attorney had come to the conclusion that metal detectors should be used at that event.  She also noted that the mentor’s groups are getting more and more calls for help with utilities and basic needs.  Tammie said that there have been 17,000 calls to 211 so far this year, well ahead of last year’s totals for calls for such assistance.

 Gigi noted that as the council hosts events, it should make it a point to make events fun and different to attract the most people.  She reminded the council that each demographic requires its own approach.  She said that as we focus on children and provide fun and food, we will have more success.  There has to be something for them so that they are attracted to the event.  She also stressed that trying everyday is important and the council should not be too discouraged if some events do not turn out.

 Travis seconded the idea of making activities for parents better by building fun into them.  He also stressed how concerned he is about keeping a “grip” on the core group of parents in the targeted kindergarten classes.  Sharon agreed and noted how beneficial it is for this group to blend activities to complement each other.  She then called on Phyllis to give a report on the Career Connections labs sponsored by CGTC’s ALC. She noted that each lab is in a different demographic and has its own personality as the VISTA members who staff the labs try to get people to improve their educations.  She stated that the lab at Lynmore Estates has been the “hardest nut to crack” in getting consistent lab participation.  The other labs at Centenary, Union, Community Church of God, and Greater Allen Chapel have all begun successfully and have great church and community support.  These labs will be key to getting parents in the targeted schools involved in adult education, thereby helping parents to show their children the importance of education.  Phyllis also noted the recent Channel 13 report on Georgia’s graduation rates, with Bibb County’s rate at almost 40%.  Gigi explained the rationale of how the Harvard study and America’s Promise had reached the figure.  

Sharon recapped Read for the Record’s numbers and stated that Mary Robinson had been “phenomenal” in recruiting celebrity readers.  VISTAs had also help provide celebrations at the 5 targeted schools.  Over 3,894 children were read to by 162 volunteers, with some schools still not reporting, notably the private schools.  Carolyn stated that there was a great turnout for the City-wide Celebration, with George Willis coordinating the live music.  Over 250 people attended this event.  Videos can be found on You Tube on George’s site. 

 Sharon noted that there are 511 children in Kindergarten in Bibb County.  323 children have received DREAM Team T-shirts saying they had helped break the world record for Read for the Record.  She also noted the great cooperation of Dr. Grant at King-Danforth and the wonderful hostesses and hosts found at each school, with one teacher stating, “Nobody has ever done anything like this for us.”  This school even raised enough money to buy each child in grades K-4 through 3^rd grade the book of the day.  Sharon summed up one of the greatest lessons learned from the event:  that it doesn’t take a huge event to really reach people.  CGTC’s men’s and women’s basketball teams also helped with the city celebration.  Another great change came at Lynmore Estates when a basketball was lost, until one of the community children she has watched grow up through CP efforts took it on himself to find that ball.  Horace Holmes noted that such concern is changing the mindset of children.

 Travis shared one thing that had impressed him the most at the CIS convention at the Georgia Aquarium when Judge Hatchett spoke of her experiences as a child with torn books that had many missing pages.  Her teacher had told her that “colored” children did not receive new books, that these were the hand-me-downs from the white schools.  When Judge Hatchett shared this with her father, he said the same thing.  However, this time he handed her blank pages and told her to begin writing her own story.  Travis said this to note that when he had read at King-Danforth, he saw several pages of books damaged or taped together.  He suggested replacing those torn books as one of her projects.

Travis mentioned another CIS conventions speaker, Dennis McKeesey, who is Principal fo Promise Academy in the Harlem Children’s Zone.  Mr. McKeesey pointed out how the 3^rd grade reading level is critical to a student’s future and that prisons are planned based on those reading rates, which will determine the future dropout rates unless great intervention is made to change those reading rates.  Travis also remembered from the speech that the “best economic stimulus is to graduate a child from high school.”  That fact stresses the importance of helping children achieve and exceed grade level reading rates by 3^rd grade.

Horace Holmes remarked on the good results of Read for the Record but stressed the ongoing needs for books, which is something that the DREAM Team can build on by getting new books and building a relationship with the principals.  He said that the book situation is shocking but tell us what we need to work on as an opportunity to target certain grades and continue to build on those relationships built through this year’s efforts.  Sharon suggested that we form a committee to put together a strategy to do that as we build a consensus and keep literacy in the spotlight.  She also noted that the DREAM Team can work as one voice at the table to address these issues and carry on the momentum of all of the work of its members.

 Sharon said that Barnes and Noble will help the DREAM Team with an on-going Book Fair in which the DREAM Team can get a percentage to buy books for children to take home.  Such a fair will help to raise awareness of the DREAM Team and literacy.  She also suggested contacting Friends of the Library to have a representative join this council and to help get children’s books from their sales by buying good quality books and getting them into homes for the children of the Class of 2023, those 511 children in the kindergarten classes of the 5 targeted schools.  She also noted Junior League’s “Roving Readers” and said that DREAM Team members could organize such a program to read to those children whose parents will be reached by the STEP program.  She also suggested that the DREAM Team host quarterly events at each school for parents and children.  Events could be as simple as basketball games for dads.

 Gigi stated that many attempts have been made to read to children in schools and suggested that the DREAM Team have an MOU with each school to assure that readers would be welcome or at least assign someone to take the lead in each school.  Betty shared her own frustrating experience in attempting to read in schools.  She also suggested using Dollar stores for buying books for children.  Phyllis stressed that Read for the Record has helped us build relationships with those schools and the key people who could help us ensure that volunteer readers will be met with success.  June stressed empowering parents and helping parents to get to the point of forming their own PTO’s.  She also mentioned how helpful it would have been to work shifts for parents so that they could go to read to their children.

 Horace suggested encouraging the ones who had had issues with attempts to read at schools to network to get parents in to read, too.  He noted that in the past school systems were in better financial straits and such help might not be as welcomed, but now with cuts there might be more need for help from volunteers. 

 Sharon mentioned the hiring of the new superintendent for Bibb County and that the DREAM Team could host a reception.  She also introduced Sarah White, CGTC’s ALC VISTA who will be a grant writer to find funding resources that can help continue the STEP program and literacy efforts when the funding for the Career Centers ends.  For now, she is volunteering her time to learn about the programs in place currently.  Horace suggested that the new superintendent’s reception be at King-Danforth.  Others present concurred.

 Betty gave the contact information for the Chamber of Commerce’s Chairman of Community Educator for the Day, Doris Christopher, 478 621-2000 and suggested contacting her to join this group.  The committee meets at Friday lunches.  She also mentioned contacting Pastor Lonzie Edwards, who is very interested in literacy for those leaving prison.  Sharon shared that she had met with his church and presented information on literacy efforts and that CGTC’s ALC had begun a GED class across from his church.  That class did not make and that center is not currently functioning.  She also noted the Board of Education’s Tool Box for parents and its action plans.

 Travis adjourned the meeting.

Thanks to everyone that participated in the DREAM Team Read for the Record events this year. We still to not have the final tally, but we know that over 162 volunteers showed over 4,000 children that they were important when they took time from their day to come to their classroom to read “The Snowy Day.” It was a GREAT day!

The DREAM Team October meeting is this Thursday, October 21, 2010 at 10:00 at the Peyton Anderson Building; we will be discussing strategies for building on this success and would love to see you!

The DREAM Team met on September 16, 2010, at the Peyton Anderson Boardroom.  Travis Blackwell called the meeting to order, and Horace Holmes gave a brief description of his participation in Georgia Literacy Week by reading to a kindergarten class at King-Danforth Elementary School.  New members today included Valerie Allen of  Georgia Legal Services, Lindsay Shaker of Fickling, Nicole Caldwell of Consumer Credit Counseling, Aaron Zarizky of the Beall’s Hill Neighborhood Association. 

 Sharon Cloud reviewed the map of the Career Connections labs and noted that the efforts set up around those labs will help lift Macon economically.  She also noted that the DT is striving to achieve CLCP status and will complete the yearly report as required by Oct. 1^st.  She noted the link that is on Travis Blackwell’s Community Partnership webpage on which each DT agency/group can post activities that raise awareness of literacy.  Those activities will be included on the CLCP yearly report and are needed before the end of the report period.  Those activities are directed at parents, children, and the community at large to stress the value of staying in school.  She also noted that the DT has been talking about issues related to our community and will be linking arms to address the dropout issue.

 The next announcement challenged the DT to take the GA Work Ready Certification test by October 1^st and to get others to do so to meet our community goal to become a Certified Work Ready Community.  Sharon explained that this is a work-force strategy to make our community more attractive for businesses who might want to come to Macon/Bibb County.  Lindsay said that Beth Martin had announced this at Junior League this week.  G. G. Rolfes said that all of Volunteer Macon have taken the test and that non-profits need to take the GWR test.  Vonnie Angelo of the GA Department of Labor mentioned that many do not know that non-profits are part of the private sector, too.  Sharon summarized that GWR is a work force literacy initiative and a great rally cry for our community to show what we can do as we join efforts to tackle this problem.  Tests are given the week of September 20th at the K Building at Central Georgia Technical College’s Adult Learning Center on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

 Travis stressed what this would mean for Bibb County if we are the only one in Middle Georgia that does not become a Certified Work Ready Community.  He also noted what it would mean for our industry and economy as businesses are looking for places that have work-ready work forces.  Banks and the real estate sector are two notable areas that could take the test.  Sharon added that this could be seen as service to one’s community and would make it easier for businesses to give workers 4 hours off to take the test.  Businesses can also get media attention for becoming work ready.  Vonnie pointed out that Macon/Bibb County would be the only metropolitan area of its size to become Work Ready if we achieve this status.  Horace suggested going to the people who would be most affected by that status and volunteered to make some calls to businesses.

 Sharon handed out the STEP plan for mentoring parents, with the goal of getting people I adult education, thus improving children’s lives through education.  CGTC’s AmericCorps VISTAs will model what engagement looks like for the parents of targeted school children in areas around the Career Connections labs.  June O’Neal suggested making a conscious effort to take pictures of parents and their children as they attend STEP events and can chronicle school events.

 Travis stressed that we will use an asset-based approach in each area and noted that the Promise Neighborhood initiative is a “cradle to the grave” continuation of services for the targeted area.  PN  is moving ahead even if the federal grant is not received and has met to form committees to move that forward.  Travis also announced two events in which Community Partnership will assist— Nov. 20^th at L. H. Williams Elementary School and a December event in Lynmore Estates.  He stated that there will be a need for volunteers to work with small children at these events.  Gigi pointed out that the 20^th of November is National Family Volunteer Day.  Travis also said that he hopes that the concurrent classes for children and adults will begin a family dialogue around health and financial areas.  Horace noted that Rotary does feed 100 families that day and may consider the attendees for their efforts.

 Sharon noted that efforts to hire a grant writer are underway and that CGTC has received AmeriCorps okay to proceed with the search.  Other areas will need to step up to provide the other $10,000, which can be paid monthly, to help research ways to continue the community labs that can help continue raising awareness of literacy.  She noted that the grant writer will receive a stipend of approximately $850/month, health coverage with no co-pay on medications, and an end-of-service award of $1200 per year of service or $5000/year for each of 2 years served.  The grant writer can be a student but must put in 35 hrs/week to research and draft potential grants to support work-force or family literacy. 

 Read for the Record will be in 3 parts: a City-wide Project to read to almost 100 kindergarten classrooms; Targeted Title 1 Schools which will receive books and T-shirts (chosen by proximity to CC labs); and a City-wide Celebration at Lynmore Estates, which needs contributions for refreshments, volunteers, etch.

The DREAM Team will be providing books and T-shirts as a part of the efforts to assist the Targeted Title 1 Schools.  CGTC Foundation will provide T-shirts for volunteers that day.  Members of DT are encouraged to be at the city-wide celebration at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 7^th.  Jr. League will begin a book drive with Barnes and Noble on September 20^th through Oct. 1^st.  They are also sponsoring Dress Down days at private schools.  June stressed the importance of children and their siblings being read to.

Aaron pointed out the community cleanup in Beal’s Hill on the 18^th to help raise money for Ingram-Pye’s Read for the Record event through Macon’s Cash for Trash.  Sharon noted some future efforts that the DT could consider: buying books for children at Christmas and other holidays, participating in the Cherry Blossom Art Fair, and eventually putting a GED teacher in one of the CC labs.  She also said that businesses/individuals who contribute at least $100 and help raise awareness of literacy can have their names on the backs of the RFR T-shirts.  She then passed out the CGTC ALC newsletter to newcomers and encouraged everyone to let her know if they are not on the mailing list.  Mary Robinson will be recruiting 25 celebrity readers.

 Taryn Collinsworth reminded the group of the Communities in Schools’ conference Sept. 27-29 in Atlanta at the GA Aquarium.  Roger Jackson, among others, will be speaking, along with a representative of the Harlem Children Zone.   Vonnie Angelo reminded people of the Leadership Macon fundraiser on the 24^th at the Armory to raise money for renovations of the Family Life Center in Lynmore Estates.  Sallie Devero commented on all of the efforts to improve family literacy and create healthy families.  Valerie Allen informed the group of the seminar she was holding at Freedom Park that evening to encourage parental involvement in their children’s schools and to show parents how to become better advocates for their children.  Tammie Collins noted that 10 agencies represented are participating as United Way members. 

 The next meeting will be on the third Thursday of October, Oct. 21^st, at the Peyton Anderson Boardroom.

Bibb County has a critical deadline fast approaching and the DREAM (Dedicated to Reading and Educational Advancement) Team Advisory Group needs your help.

On September 30, 2010 a three-year effort will have been lost and Bibb County will have failed to meet the Georgia Work Ready Certified Community deadline. This designation demonstrates that Bibb County has a viable workforce and a community willing to step up an prove it. All of the sectors needed to attain the certification have been met but one, the Private Sector. To find out more about the certification and the value it brings to our community check out the website – http://www.gaworkready.org/.

We need 424 residents of Bibb County’s private sector to demonstrate their commitment to our community and take the Georgia Work Ready Assessment. In order to meet this goal the Georgia Work Ready Team will facilitate the assessment each Friday starting August 27 through September 27 at the Adult Learning Center on the Central Georgia Technical College Campus. If you are a morning person we have a session that begins at 8:00 am. And for those of you that need a reason to get out of the office on a Friday afternoon (and serve your community) we have a second session that will begin at 1:00 pm. Each session takes a little over 3 hours.
The assessment identifies reading for information, applied math and locating information skills that you use every day in the course of performing your job. All this assessment does is validate what you already know. The scores are private.

What a great way for you and/or your company to serve our community! Workforce literacy is a critical part of our DREAM Team initiative and you will make a major contribution to our effort by giving up a couple of hours on a Friday. Most of the communities surrounding Bibb have completed the process – so we need your help!

Please forward this request to your friends and co-workers to help out the cause. If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Cloud at Central Georgia Technical College. You can also check out the DREAM Team progress by subscribing to the Community Partnership blog (http://bibbfamilyconnection.org/category/dream-team/)where meeting summaries are posted.


Click here to report your literacy efforts for inclusion in the Certified Literate Community Program

Click here to sponsor Read for the Record 2010

Sharon Cloud was called on to summarize the previous day’s meeting with the Bibb County Board of Education’s Family Engagement Facilitators and Andrea Moore, Director of Special Projects for the BOE.  Sharon stated that the focus of a new VISTA initiative will be to partner with the FEF’s to focus on the parents and children who are in kindergarten through third grades.  This effort is called “STEP,” Schools Teaming with Empowered Partners, and will be outcome driven as it creates a new synergy that will give parents access to many strategies to help them overcome situational barriers.  Mentors will be trained to work with parents to ensure the child’s success and the parent’s understanding of school policies, procedures, and expectations.  Parents will have an embedded learning experience in which they will be working with mentors who will be recruited from the very schools their students attend.  These mentors will be trained as partners who will work with the parents to help them develop the skills they need to realize their potential as parents. VISTAs will help provide the training.

Val Patterson discussed the July 31^st Back-to-School Jamboree to be held at Southwest High School from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m.  The event is for all students and their families in Bibb County, and is sponsored by Title I.  School supplies, backpacks, and other items will be given out.  Community Partners are also invited to have display tables, and sessions of interest will be held for attendees.  Lunch will be provided, also.  CGTC will help supply items for giftbags for those who participate.

Tammie Collins introduced Val Cordy to explain a state mandated initiative that is also a nationwide United Way project called the “360° Program.”  This program lays the foundation for including family engagement as a part of strategically empowering parents.  Bibb County will focus on upper elementary and middle schools to target the families of those most likely to leave school early.  The efforts will provide intense interventions with 5^th and 6^th graders and cohorts in the 7^th and 8^th grades to get students to remain in school.  This effort helps to develop community awareness of the Stay-in-School initiatives that are so important to this community’s success.

Sharon also discussed the Read for the Record event to be held on October 6^th.  This year’s book in The Snowy Day by Ezra Keats.  Title 1 has previously purchased one book per class and will do so again this year.  CGTC will prepare packets that contain the stickers for each child, certificates for each, and the authorization form to be signed by the teacher.  Sharon noted that the Today Show on NBC gives exclusive coverage to RFR that day and has celebrity readers of its own.  Daycare center students will also be included this year, as well as the kindergarteners through 2^nd graders.  Teachers can purchase the book for $1 from Scholastic with money raised by the DREAM Team.  Some suggested ideas were to collect for 1 Day-1 Book-1 Child-1 Dollar and putting up jars in beauty and barber shops.  A meeting will be held for those who would volunteer for this fundraising committee.  Junior League representative Beth Martin will contact Barnes & Noble to see about partnering with us on this effort.  Horace Holmes suggested involving retired teachers and faith-based partners, which Val Patterson volunteered to seek support from the retired teachers who meet at Vineville United Methodist Church.

Financial Literacy was the next topic of discussion.  Sharon suggested examining the financial literacy tools used by the East Macon Shalom Zone.  Gigi Rolfes suggested “Smart Money.”  Susan Milam volunteered to speak with the Up Town Rotary group re: becoming active in this area.  Jonathan Adams will be the liaison with the Downtown Rotary.  Tammie Collins discussed the United Way and the IRS VITA program, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance.  Volunteer Macon has been participating for several years, as has AARP.  VITA will provide training for volunteers to file taxes for low-income working families so that they can save the hundreds of dollars usually spent on filing.  VITA volunteers will also help prevent the “pay-day loans” which take so much money from working families.  Sharon stated that she and Tammie will be meeting with Gary Bechtel in the coming week re: financial literacy as part of the DT mission to improve all kinds of literacy.  GG also recommended the Wells Fargo site for information on financial literacy.  Sharon reminded members that CGTC Foundation has volunteered to be the financial agent for all moneys at this time, but on a temporary basis till a 501C3 is developed for the DT

Travis brought in health literacy by discussing 1^st Choice Primary Care’s role in the community.  Mercer University Community Medicine is sponsoring an intern who is working with 1^st Choice and is available to work with community partners to improve health literacy.  GG also mentioned Jan Baggerly as a resource for this type of literacy. 

Sharon reviewed the CLCP  Annual Report form and stated that we needed about 7000 more GED’s, numbers from the ESL program, and other criteria, of which about 50% is tracked by CGCT’s Adult Education database.  She brought samples of the Survey Monkey form which can collect community efforts at encouraging literacy.  Anything that is designed to build literacy can be noted on that form, which is not currently available but will be made a part of the blog.  Members of the DT can retroactively enter meeting data from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010.  They will also be able to enter data for fiscal year 2011, which began July 1, 2010 and will end June 30, 2011 for reporting on the Annual Report form.

Mary Robinson, a volunteer from Macon, offered her help in working with the media based on her extensive marketing background.  She is currently working with Durward Pincher, “Mr. Doubletalk.”  Horace Holmes introduced Dr. Linda Brannen, the director of Mercer University’s MBA program.  Linda will be able to assist the DT with service learning interns who can assist with marketing.  George Willis offered his services (especially in music events) in involving teens in reaching teens to get them to stay in school. He hand-selects teens that will get the message across much better than adults can. 

Sharon brought up the mini-grants from the Department of Education which are under review. Tammie Collins has forwarded a list of potential grants. Jonathan Adams indicated Rotary may have some funds that can be routed to DT initiatives. Sharon asked for feedback about the DT participants underwriting a $10,000 stipend for a grant writer position to be included in a November renewal of an existing CGTC grant. The DT team members were enthusiastic about this possibility.

Travis reminded everyone to go to www.bibbfamilyconnection.org to view current literacy efforts and to Subscribe to Community Partnership by Email Sharon also pointed out that the common effort of most CLCP’s is to provide dictionaries to 4^th graders.  It was suggested that these could even be the electronic ones.  Sharon also mentioned some CLCP efforts that recognize students’ meeting graduation milestones and being rewarded for attendance and grades by chances at winning a car. 

Taryn Collinsworth announced that the Middle Georgia Mentoring Council was being formed and would be headed by Dianna Glymph, Dot Brown from Macon Arts spoke of the cooperative efforts at Burdell-Hunt in which teachers were being trained in neuro-cognitive science to identify reading readiness and apply the techniques that would reach children more effectively and help them stay in school.

The next meeting of the DT Advisory Council will be the third Thursday of August, August 19^th, in the Peyton Anderson Board Room.

Those in attendance were: Sharon Cloud, Taryn Collinsworth, Phyllis Dorn, Bud Fletcher, Dick George, Carolyn Glover, Horace Holmes, June O’Neal, Susan Milam, and Gigi Rolfes.

Sharon Cloud moderated in the absence of Travis Blackwell. She began by making an analogy with the tragedy in the Gulf, and that that the DT is trying “to plug the hole” of kids dropping out; as well as engage the adults that have fallen through the system. DT is has established a two pronged approach to address literacy as well economic and development issues facing Macon:

1. Stay-In-School initiatives to ensure every effort is made by the community to prevent drop outs;
2. Provide resources for those people that did dropped out, to drop in again.

Communication

Mrs. Cloud asked for feedback on the Family Connections Blog as an effective means of distributing information; some DT Members have still not subscribed. To maximize our distribution of information, Gigi Rolfes volunteered to post our information on the Volunteer Macon’s web site as well. Mrs. Cloud said she is most concerned with any potential breakdown in communication; and the importance of DT’s being a community-based program that serves many areas of interest.

The group discussed the links that had been included with the meeting reminder. This month the links included sites participating in last year’s Read for the Record Event along with pertinent resources about schools in crisis and community literacy efforts. Due to the volume of links available included in the meeting announcement, Mrs. Cloud also plans to break up those links in the future with headings so that members can access those most pertinent to their mission/focus.

Taryn Collingsworth introduced Susan Milam, a new VISTA, was present as a new volunteer for Community in Schools of Georgia. She is the former Executive Director of the CIS in Macon and worked with Parent University here.

Focus/Purpose- Building Community Awareness

Based on feedback from participants, building community awareness about the crisis created by our low dropout rate and poor employability skills in Bibb County is the primary purpose of DT. By DT assuming that role, the direct service providers that join the DREAM Team can leverage that awareness to seek the community support they need to address their specific agency objectives for volunteers and funding. The greater our success for creating community awareness, the greater our value will be to the agencies that provide direct services. The greater the agency participation, the better we will be able to make the case.

The group also discussed the need for a strategic plan for executing an awareness campaign. June O’Neal suggested the revolving billboards and using pictures of “real” people who have literacy issues, much like the Bill Gates “Stand Up” program. Bud Fletcher suggested we talk to Lynn Murphy, a long-time supporter of literacy, for advice. Horace Holmes shared how Mercer University has assisted him in all phases of creating a business and marketing that business. He recommended we contact the MBA programs to help us. Dick George offered to help with these efforts, also.

One key phrase Horace Holmes used is that in our awareness campaign we “remove the deniability” of the problem of illiteracy through our efforts. It was suggested that each MBA program handle a campaign targeting a different group (parents, children/students, volunteers/community support); but they all collaborate to create a single brand. Horace Holmes will approach Mercer to initiate a conversation to meet with the representatives from the Advisory Group. June O’Neal has contacts with GA College and State University, and others will assist with other colleges. Bud offered to contact Lynn Murphy. Others suggested giving jewelry to students with the year they will graduate on it or giving items to the parents with that year on them. Rubber bands such as “Live Strong” ones were mentioned, as well as t-shirts for students and/or parents.

Discussion:

Sharon read an excerpt from “Raising Their Voices” that high-lighted the critical need to address this issue on multiple levels. http://civicenterprises.net/pdfs/raisingtheirvoices.pdf

Both Gigi and June suggested we seek a representative from the Board of Education to become an active member of the Advisory Group. Sharon shared that Lynn Farmer, a member of the Bibb County Board of Education and Executive Director of Leadership Macon, has stated her support of the DT and has indicated she would like to be an active part of this effort. George Willis was also suggested as a member of the community who is passionate about education and the drop out issue with a focus on kids at risk. He has an active ministry of young adults that perform “gospel rap” and promotes motivational events. June O’Neal spoke about the positive impact he has made Mentors Project.

Taryn Collinsworth of Communities in Schools reported on the Promise Neighborhood retreat as the most inclusive group she has seen. PN has agreed to serve Ballard and Southwest, along with Ingram-Pye and Matilda Hartley schools. Money has been found for the initial part of the grant, which is patterned after the Harlem School Zone, in which the founders looked at what the neighborhood wanted and moved block-by-block to accomplish those goals. Currently, Macon’s group has two contingency plans available: 1. What do we do if we get the grant? 2. What do we do if we do not get the grant?

Read for the Record on October 6th will be the first project for DT. Last year we read to over 3000 children, with over 200 volunteers city-wide and a neighborhood celebration in Lynmore Estates. This year we would be sponsoring neighborhood events at L.H. Williams (Pleasant Hill) and Burdell-Hunt (Ft. Hill) and Ingram-Pye (Beales Hill). Title 1 funds have been used for the past three years to give each participating classroom a book; June O’Neal suggested that the DT take up the charge to give each child a book that day. Sharon Cloud noted that the Family Engagement Facilitators are the contact people for each school. They are the point people for the project and we disseminate the packets (Over 200) through the Parent Resource Center. She also noted that CGTC’s ALC had provided the packets distributed to the participating classrooms: stickers for the children, certificates recognized the class for helping to break the world record for the number of children being read to that day, a sign-in sheet for certification by the classroom teacher, with each teacher responsible for getting parents to come in to read to every kindergarten class. CGTC has also sponsored city-wide billboards promoting the event managed the press coverage. Over that past few years Rotary had purchased books for children.She also noted Jr. League’s is a big supporter for RFTR. This year’s book is The Snowy Day.

Ideas were suggested for raising the money to buy the books for each child and have the teachers order them from Scholastic for $1 each. Getting a sponsor for each school and putting the books in each child’s hands in the targeted grades were also discussed. Another suggestion for raising money would be to place donation boxes in hair solons: One book, One Day, One Child, One Dollar.

Events/Action Plan:

July 10th is the suggested day for the Shalom Zone community meeting, according to the Mayor’s office. We will announce the DREAM Team.

July 14 will be a Read for the Record Planning day with the Family Engagement Facilitators as part of the Community Partnership STEP Program (Schools Teaming with Empowered Partners)

Volunteer Macon has 70 middle schoolers who are doing community service to earn a $500 scholarship to any college as part of a grant this summer to encourage higher transition rates from middle schools to high schools and beyond. It was suggested that the scholarships be announced as part of the Oct. 6th celebration.

Communities in Schools will host a Conference at the GA Aquarium September 27-9 this year re: Youth Violence Intervention.

Dick George suggested getting interns in various colleges to help us implement our community awareness programs. Dick is also arranging a meeting with Julie Hubbard

Horace Holmes would arrange a meeting with Mercer MBA.

Bud Fletcher will arrange a meeting with Lynn Murphy.

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