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Highlighting Jacksonville’s Philanthropic Community
As our community continues to face a tight economy and shrinking budgets, the Daily Record has established this page that will each week chronicle the efforts of local nonprofit organizations. Bailey Publishing & Communications invites all members of the local nonprofit community to submit news, announcements, success stories and any other information they feel would be of interest to our readers. E-mail to: [email protected].
We also encourage our readers to become more aware of the needs of these worthy organizations as they try to continue to provide valuable services with reduced resources.
Greenwood School: Teaching Students Who Learn Differently
Imagine for a second that you are hearing twittering birds as you traipse through trees in Florida’s wetlands with nine fellow classmates. You’re on a nature walk in search of an animal’s habitat. This is hands-on learning, and it takes place on a daily basis at Greenwood, a school designed to teach students in a way that fits their needs. It’s a unique and effective way of educating students because the faculty at Greenwood understands that what a child learns depends largely on how the child is taught.
No two people are alike, especially when it comes to learning. What some soak up easily by reading, other students learn more easily from doing, drawing, listening or maybe touching. Unfortunately, differences in learning styles can sometimes be written off as difficulty learning. Sometimes in mainstream schools children who learn differently from traditional ways are easily frustrated and begin to feel defeated. The good news for these students is that success is not only possible, but probable if those same students are taught in the way they learn.
The reality is that 20 percent of North East Florida students experience some form of the following: a visual processing deficit, an auditory processing deficit, ADHD, or dyslexia. Greenwood teachers accommodate students of average to above average intelligence learning with these types of differences. One of the most powerful tools Greenwood teachers give their students is the ability to recognize how they learn so that they can work with their learning style instead of struggling against it.
Educators at Greenwood employ various creative methods of multi-sensory teaching that incorporates auditory, visual and kinesthetic learning styles. A concept that can be taught sitting down can be learned in a different modality such as acting out a concept or drawing a definition. A typical day at Greenwood includes movement breaks, centers with learning activities and often trips outside. Many of the activities allow the students to physically practice the concept about which they are hearing. The students may be jumping rope in order to grasp the concept of verb tenses. They may be in science class building the layers of the earth’s crust with play-dough, instead of only reading about these layers in a text book. In history class they could be creating their own legislation as they discover how a bill becomes a law. Greenwood classes often use physical play, modeling concepts and exploration to facilitate learning.
Learning at Greenwood prepares students for the next step in their life. All graduating seniors earn a high school diploma, and two-thirds of the students go on to college. Greenwood standards incorporate the Florida standards which means students truly master grade level content. The humanities curriculum of music, art and drama adds to an already high standard confirmed by Greenwood’s FCIS accreditation. Students graduating from Greenwood have learned how to use their learning styles to get the most from their education. When each type of learning is incorporated students discover not only how to learn, but that learning is more fun than they ever imagined.
W.W. Grainger supports Second Harvest
The Jacksonville division of W.W. Grainger, Inc. forward to help fight hunger in North Florida with a donation of $40,000 to the Second Harvest Food Bank. The donations were made based upon the recommendation of Steve Gustin, director of distribution at Grainger’s Jacksonville Distribution Center. Of the funds, $20,000 will be used to secure food resources to help feed hungry people in the 18-county area served by Second Harvest. The other $20,000 will be used to purchase needed food resources in support of the BackPack Program, which provides nutritious food to underprivileged children during times when school is not in session — such as weekends and holiday breaks.
‘A Night Air Affair’ at Main Library
The Young Professionals of the American Lung Association will host “A Night Air Affair,” an event designed by some of Jacksonville’s most influential young professionals in order to bring the community together to network and learn more about the American Lung Association. The event will take place “under the stars” in the courtyard of the Main Library Oct. 2 from 7-10 p.m.
Participants will enjoy an evening filled with live music, dancing, delicious hors d’oeuvres compliments of several downtown restaurants, unlimited beer, wine and a signature cocktail, a wine and champagne bottle ring toss and a chance to win real diamond earrings. Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door.
“I think all of us have had a family member affected by lung illness at one point in our lives. My father had a severe asthmatic attack and I was forced to call an ambulance when I was a child. When I heard the ALA wanted to engage young professionals, I was thrilled to help. Young professionals from across our community have embraced this opportunity and we now have one of the best young professional events on the horizon,” said Ricky Caplin, CEO of The CJS Group and cofounder and former president of Guys with Ties.
Sponsors for the event include Barefoot Wine and Bubbly, Ameris Bank, Broadstone Beach House and Greg Allens’, Inc. Southern Fried Funk, a local band with a blues-rock feel, will provide music for dancing and entertainment.
To learn more about “A Night Air Affair” and to purchase tickets visit www.nightairaffair.org or call Courtney Weatherby at 520-7120 or e-mail [email protected].
Gateway Community Services recognized for best practices
The Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association (FADAA) recognized Gateway Community Service’s Independence Village at its annual awards ceremony as the third place winner in its Best Practices in Treatment category. Gateway’s program competed amongst treatment programs and centers across the state of Florida.
Gateway Community Service’s Independence Village provides recovery-focused supportive housing for those homeless persons across northeast Florida who are seeking recovery from substance abuse and/or co-occurring mental health disorders. The facility houses 56 units, last year 96 people were served at Independence Village. Residents of Independence Village receive a carefully crafted program of services from Gateway Community Services including case management, motivational support and relapse prevention as well as obtaining skills for the workforce and life. Independence Village strives to provide each person with residential stability, increased skills, sustainable income, and a greater self determination.
“Each resident of Independence Village is given necessary resources as they seek help for the disease of addiction and co-occurring disorders. We are able to provide a safety net for those who continue to struggle with their addiction,” said Gary Powers, CEO of Gateway Community Services. “Our residents at Independence Village serve as a great example of the results of incorporating best practices into our agency. We are honored to be recognized by FADAA.”
Gateway Community Services Gateway Community Services is a private non-profit drug and alcohol rehabilitation agency committed to building a better community by taking action against addiction. It is Northeast Florida’s largest provider of rehabilitation and recovery services to those suffering from the disease of addiction. Gateway delivers a comprehensive continuum of care to all of its clients. The range of services includes detoxification, rehabilitation counseling, e-therapy and residential and outpatient treatment programs for adults, adolescents, women with children, transitional recovery housing and more. Gateway Community Services is providing help to those seeking recovery and hope to those impacted by the disease of addiction.
To learn more visit www.gatewaycommunity.com.