2001 and 2000 Award Program Applicants

Environmental Revitalization

Downtown Revitalization Program (Milledgeville): Georgia College and State University and the Milledgeville Mainstreet/Downtown Development Authority are working together to renovate the city's historic district.

Habitat for Humanity (Rome): Berry College's chapter of Habitat for Humanity works with the Rome, Georgia, chapter to build a new Habitat House every two years for families in the area.

Neighborhood Development Internship Project (Atlanta): Students from eight Atlanta colleges work as interns with neighborhood groups in low-income areas in partnership with the Community Housing Resource Center and the United Way of Metro Atlanta to build and maintain safe, clean, and prosperous communities.

Reynoldstown Revitalization Project (Marietta): Southern Polytechnic University works with the Reynoldstown Revitalization Corporation to use the arts as a community development tool in a small, traditionally African American community facing the challenges of inner city decay, urban flight, poverty, drugs, and crime.

TEAM Buzz (Tech Enhancing Atlanta Metropolitan) (Atlanta): Georgia Institute of Technology's community service day brings together students, faculty and alumni with community volunteers in a variety of community service projects, including work to renovate the Reynoldstown community by planting trees, constructing street signs, painting buildings and picking up trash. The goal of TEAM Buzz is to inspire students to continue public service throughout their lives.

Jobs Skills Training and Economic Development

Central Education Center (Newnan): This partnership between Central Technical College, Coweta County Schools, and the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce is a charter school offering classes for high school students and adults in literacy and technical training specifically tailored to support the workforce needs of local businesses and to provide employment opportunities for community residents.

Cobb Microenterprise Council (Marietta, 2001, Award Finalist): Through the Cobb Microenterprise Council, Kennesaw State University collaborates with the YWCA of Cobb county, Cobb Family Resources, and the United Way to help women and minorities attain long-term economic self-sufficiency through entrepreneurship and small business development. With a business incubator program that includes access to a micro-loan fund, the program has helped to launch 50 new businesses since its inception in 1998 and has offered economic and life-skills support to more than 140 people in 10 Georgia counties.

Diagnostic Testing Technology Program (Albany): Darton College uses diagnostic testing to provide post-secondary training for at-risk middle and high school students in area schools.

Job Placement Program (Atlanta): Georgia State University's Comprehensive Assistance Program and Lutheran Ministries of Georgia work together in job placement for low-income Atlanta residents, including at-risk juvenile court referrals.

Miller's Tools for Success Program (Albany): Albany Technical Institute works to advance the training of frontline skilled laborers by offering scholarships to students based on achievement, community service, and recommendations from instructors and employers.

New Birth Program (Cobb County): Volunteers from Life University work with inmates and former inmates of the Cobb County Sheriff's Detention Center, teaching writing skills, job application abilities, and computer training. The student volunteers also assist program participants in obtaining food, clothing, and housing.

Comprehensive Community Service Program

Aunt Maggie's Kitchen Table (Macon, 2000 Award Winner): Located in Macon's Anthony Homes, Aunt Maggie's Kitchen Table is a community resource center and a second home where families address their basic needs including food and clothing, educational support, advice, and guidance. The center's programs include after-school homework tutoring for area school children, a community garden, parenting support, and community meals. The work of the program director is supported by an endowed faculty position at Wesleyan. Students in her classes and other Wesleyan programs enhance their classroom learning by working at Aunt Maggie's with staff, community members, and faculty.

Coosa Valley Collaborative (Rome): Coosa Valley Technical College, along with the Salvation Army and other public service agencies, churches, and private businesses, provides assistance with the educational, employment, and life needs of low-income individuals, single parents, public housing residents, displaced workers, physically challenged people, and non-custodial parents, as well as technical school and college students.

Cross Cultural Center (Carrollton): A collaboration between State University of West Georgia's Anthropology Department and the Carroll County Education Initiative, the center focuses on improving the lives of the area's growing Latino population through English literacy programs, tutorials for children, bi-lingual parenting classes, and legal assistance.

Garnett Ridge Family Support Center (Athens): The center works with the University of Georgia to provide neighborhood-based health, education, and social services to residents of Garnett Ridge, a neighborhood in which a majority of residents live below or just above federal poverty standards. Social work faculty and students from the university work with the neighborhood residents on issues including domestic violence, child abuse, employment skills, and readiness skills for children.

Good Samaritan Health Center (Atlanta): Located in the downtown Atlanta Centennial Housing Community, the Good Samaritan Health Center offers medical and dental counseling and social and health education to some of Atlanta's neediest citizens. Faculty and students from Georgia State University's Department of Nutrition provide counseling and work with staff to develop educational materials and community programs.

Midtown Community Center (Savannah): Savannah State University and the Midtown Neighborhood Association work together to accomplish community-oriented goals including the elimination of drug and alcohol abuse and crime, as well as the promotion of increased resident involvement in community activities.

Neighborhood Revitalization Project (Fort Valley): Fort Valley State University's Office of Community Development works with the Hunt Educational and Cultural Center to empower low-income residents near the university through education, home ownership, and job training programs.

St. Martin's Lighthouse (Savannah, 2000 Award Finalist): Located in Oaktree, a neighborhood struggling in Savannah's industrial corridor, St. Martin's Lighthouse is a community resource center that provides after-school meals and homework assistance to children in the community. Faculty and students from Savannah State University's Department of Social Work, Oaktree residents, and the Martin de Porres Society work together to mobilize community resources for families and to ensure access to basic services and provide counseling and support to families.

Physical and Mental Health

Area Health Programs (Gainesville): Brenau University School of Health and Science works with local elementary and middle schools to conduct health screenings and health education teaching.

Atlanta Food Bank Nutritional Assessment (Atlanta): In Georgia State University's Dietetic Internship Program, students work at the Atlanta Community Food Bank to assess needs and develop educational and training sessions and programs.

Candler County Family Connection (Candler County): The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, the Sunshine House Advocacy Center, the Council on Child Abuse, and the Public Health Department are part of a group of 35 public service agencies working together with communities in Candler County to reduce child abuse and neglect, reduce teen pregnancy, and increase the percentage of students graduating from high school.

Creating Healthy Communities (Milledgeville): Georgia College and State University's School of Health Sciences works with Oconee Regional Medical Center to develop community-based health programs for at-risk families in the area.

Diabetes Awareness Program (Savannah): Ogeechee Technical Institute and the American Diabetes Association work together to promote diabetes awareness and provide blood sugar screening for community residents at a variety of locations including the local mall, summer camps, and the institute.

Kids on the Move (Atlanta): Georgia State University's Department of Kinesiology and Health works with the Department of Health Promotion and Behavior at the University of Georgia, the College of Health and Professional Studies at Georgia Southern University, and Children's Health Care of Atlanta in an after-school program with an exercise and learning component designed to reduce children's risk for coronary artery disease and stroke.

Migrant Family Health Program (Moultrie): This program brings together students and faculty from Georgia State University's School of Nursing with volunteers to provide health screenings, including hearing, dental, and vision exams, as well as episodic care, to families of migrant farm workers in Moultrie, Georgia, by using a mobile health care unit in cooperation with South Georgia College.

Migrant Workers Health Project (Decatur County/Atlanta): Emory University's Physicians Assistants Program works with the Decatur County Health Department to provide free health care to farm workers in the area.

Nutrition Education for Young Americans (Atlanta): Georgia State University's Department of Anthropology and Geography works with the Teaching Museum South and the DeKalb County Department of Health to educate and disseminate culturally appropriate nutrition information to area schools, public health clinics, and restaurants.

Partners for Community Health (Savannah): Armstrong Atlantic State University works with Chatham County Health Department to develop programs to improve community health through research and education.

Physicians Assistant Program/SOWEGA-AHEC (Carrollton): The Medical College of Georgia Physicians Assistant Program and Southwest Georgia Area Health Education Center (SOWEGA-AHEC) work together to recruit physician assistants from rural communities and increase access to health care in those areas.

Providence Learning Center (Atlanta, 2000 Award Finalist): Emory University School of Medicine and Providence Missionary Baptist Church work together to provide counseling and support for young women suffering from depression as a result of physical and sexual abuse. The program stresses culturally sensitive family therapy, focusing on breaking the cycle of abuse and improving communication among family members. As part of the program, students from area universities gain counseling and mentoring experience and insight into mental health issues faced by many young women. Church leaders and Emory representatives also work with struggling families to build self-esteem and prevent teen pregnancy and drug abuse in the Can You Soar program.

Senior Citizens Council (Augusta): The Department of Physical Therapy at the Medical College of Georgia works with the Senior Citizens Council of Greater Augusta to develop and implement safe and effective fitness programs for low-income and minority senior citizens.

Visions Head Start Program (Americus): Georgia Southwestern State University works with the Visions Early Head Start Program to provide prenatal classes for at-risk mothers, as well as home-based case management services for families after the birth of their children.

Whitefoord Community Program (Atlanta): Emory University's Department of Pediatrics works with local parents, teachers and administrators in the Whitefoord Community Program to manage and maintain pediatric health and dental clinics in elementary and middle schools in the Edgewood area of Atlanta.

ZAP Asthma Consortium (Atlanta, 2001 Award Winner): The Zap Asthma Consortium is a partnership of 18 public, private, and community-based organizations, including the Center for Public Health Practice in the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, the School of Social Work at Clark Atlanta University, and Atlanta Public Schools. The organizations work together with community volunteers to improve the health and quality of life for inner-city children with asthma. More than 900 families with children from 26 Atlanta public schools have been involved in the project since it began in 1995.

Literarcy and Language Acquisition

Alliance for Literacy (Cumming): Working with Lanier Technical College and the United Way, the alliance provides literacy programs, English language and citizenship courses, GED preparation, and basic skills training.

Augusta State Literacy Center, Central Savannah River Phi Delta Kappa Partnership (Augusta): Working to increase literacy and encourage more reading among those who can do so, faculty and students from Augusta State University and community volunteers tutor people of all ages, from children to grandparents. The partnership also includes a 24-hour literacy hotline provided by BellSouth volunteers.

Brookwood Project (Carrollton): The State University of West Georgia works with the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce to provide English language instruction and service to the local Latino community.

Emory READ (Atlanta): Members of the Emory READ board work with Hands-on-Atlanta and AmeriCorps team members within area grade schools to pair Emory University volunteers with second and third grade students in need of tutoring. The goal is to improve reading skills, build self-esteem, and provide children with mentors.

Latino Community Advisory Council (Dalton): Dalton State College works with Centro Latino to meet the educational and training needs of the local Latino community.

LIFE Program (Learning is for Everyone) (Washington County): With a goal of increasing literacy in Washington County by 10 percent and becoming a certified Literate Community, community volunteers and staff work with instructors at Sanderville Technical College to provide reading classes, book projects, and children's programs, while working to raise community awareness of literacy issues.

Literacy in Action Council (Augusta): Augusta State University's Literacy in Action Council works with the Metro Adult Literacy Council to assist up to 200 people per week in reading and writing skills.

Literacy Partnership Project (Macon): Wesleyan College works with Macon Technical Institute to reduce adult illiteracy in Central Georgia.

Winder-Barrow Coalition for Adult and Continuing Education (Winder-Barrow): The coalition, which began as an effort to improve adult literacy in the community, has expanded its focus to include English language classes for non-native speakers and computer and job skills training through programs with Gwinnett Technical College and Gainesville College.

Legal and Technical Assistance

Child Advocacy Program (Atlanta): Emory University's summer program provides stipends and training to undergraduate and graduate students interested in pursuing a career in child advocacy.

Child Advocacy Program (Macon): Mercer University School of Law and Central Georgia Court-Appointed Special Advocates work together to promote understanding of and involvement in child advocacy issues.

Kids' Advocacy Coalition (Tifton): Abraham Baldwin College works with the Kids' Advocacy Coalition to improve the training and continuing professional development of teachers and caregivers.

Project Healthy Grandparents (Atlanta): Georgia State University works with the Atlanta Legal Aid Society to serve families in which grandparents are raising their grandchildren.

Web Raising Project (Atlanta): For the last two years, the Art Institute of Atlanta has designed, produced, and arranged for the hosting of web sites for a variety of non-governmental, non-profit organizations.

Mentoring and Youth Education

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta (Atlanta): Under the supervision of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta (BBBS), Emory University student volunteers mentor children at Mary Lin and Slayton elementary schools. BBBS staff, Emory students, and the children plan goals and activities together to foster productive relationships that will assist the children in becoming successful adults.

Cool Girls (Atlanta): Focused on improving the lives of young girls in Atlanta's low-income communities, Cool Girls' administration works with faculty and students from Georgia State University's Department of Psychology to strengthen services by encouraging decision-making skills, academic achievement, health, and physical fitness and enlarging the girls' knowledge of careers and life opportunities.

Girls Inc. of Cobb County (Kennesaw): Kennesaw State University works with Girls Inc. of Cobb County, providing girls from low-income, single-parent homes with their first exposure to the academic world.

Project DOVE (Drop Out and Violence Elimination) (Gainesville): Faculty and students from Georgia State University's College of Education work with Gainesville City School teachers, parents, and students who are at risk for dropping out of school or for violence to promote family involvement and engagement with school. Children learn social skills and anger management through counseling and an on-going assessment program.

Spivey Hall (Clayton County): Faculty from Clayton College and State University work with community volunteers to provide musical training programs for K-12 school children from 17 county school systems. The programs include a visiting artist's series with nationally recognized musicians as well as choral groups, music workshops, and continuing education training for music teachers.

Technology Enriched Academic Mentoring (Morrow): Clayton College and State University works with local elementary, middle schools, and high schools to use high-tech tools in mentoring K-12 grade students interested in technology.

Urban Debate League (Atlanta): Emory University's Barkley Forum works with teachers and students in Atlanta public schools in the Urban Debate League. The program helps inner-city youth develop critical thinking skills and to increase their verbal, analytical, and conflict-resolution skills, while motivating them to pursue college careers.

Assistance For the Elderly and Disabled

Baldwin Association of Persons with Developmental Disabilities (Milledgeville, 2001 Award Finalist): The Baldwin Association of Persons with Developmental Disabilities (BAPDD) works with several departments from Georgia College and State University to provide community services to those with disabilities, while providing applied research, teaching, and service opportunities to the university's students and faculty members. BAPDD members work as volunteers in several public service projects, including dance and music therapy, to provide leadership and support for others with disabilities. Students and faculty members work with BAPDD members in the Best Buddies program, music and dance therapy, and in a marketing and advertising initiative.

Flint River Barrier Busters (Crisp/Dooly Counties): The Human Services Management Institute of the University of Georgia works with community members in Crisp and Dooly counties to increase awareness of disability issues, provide information about community resources and services, and ensure access to public buildings for people with disabilities.

People First of Georgia (Athens): This partnership between the University of Georgia's Institute on Human Development and Disability and People First of Georgia focuses on increasing self-advocacy among Georgians with disabilities, promoting positive images of people with disabilities, and guaranteeing that the disabled can live and work as valued members of their communities.

Project FACTT (Atlanta): Georgia State University's Department of Communication works with Clayton County Public Schools in Project FACTT (Facilitating Augmentative Communication Through Communication) to provide augmentative communication services to children with disabilities.

Student Service Programs

Community Housing Resource Center (Atlanta): The Community Housing Resource Center program places college students from metro Atlanta universities in paid internships with neighborhood groups in low-income communities.

Serving and Learning Initiative (Atlanta): Incoming freshmen at Morehouse College work with sociology faculty and community volunteers in public service programs focusing on literacy, mentoring, environmental awareness, job readiness, and leadership skills. More than 150 students participate each year, with many continuing community service work throughout their college careers and beyond.