Wiregrass Foundation is a private foundation promoting philanthropy and a spirit of giving in the local community.
The Foundation's hope is to maintain a modest approach to its grant programs with emphasis of achievement placed on its grantees and local citizens committed to unselfish giving.
Green is the favorite color of "Yes We Can! Dothan". Click here and see why!
Yes We Can! Dothan
What is
Yes We Can! Dothan (YWCD)? It is a
citizen driven initiative designed to engage Dothan citizens in creating a unified voice and vision for the Dothan City Schools and the children and families served. The effort requires an ongoing commitment by all participants to improve education and to foster accountability. "Yes We Can! Dothan" is an opportunity to design a better Dothan from the inside out by assessing expectations, met and unmet, and proposing progressive alternatives.
Three goals have become YWCD's focus in working with DCS personnel on a collaboratively developed, co-owned strategic plan. The YWCD goals are:
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To Improve Student Achievement for all Dothan City School Students
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To Maintain a Process of Continuous Improvement of the Dothan City Schools
Utilizing Data Driven Decision Making
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To Engage In Meaningful Ways the Citizens of Dothan Can Improve Their Public Schools
DCS/YWCD Co-owned Strategic Plan was completed, and it immediately became the focal point of YWCD and school efforts toward “improving student achievement for all DCS students.” The five goals of the Co-owned Strategic Plan are:
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Graduation for All: Ready for College, Work and Life
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High Expectations and Accountability for Home, School and Community
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Parent Responsibility and Involvement
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Funding Better Schools to Make a Better Dothan
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Communication that Informs, Engages and Reconnects
Civic Index for Quality Public Education Advocacy Groups
Early expectations of the Co-owned Strategic Plan were met and the community momentum toward improvement was boosted when YWCD organized thirteen advocacy groups for the Dothan City Schools. The
Civic Index for Quality Public Education is the first-of-its kind tool specifically designed to measure community support for public education. The index:
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Helps communities define and measure support of their public schools
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Helps communities identify what they are doing right and what they can do to improve their support for their public schools
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Offers strategies and other resources for communities to increase their support for their schools
Advocacy Groups:
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· Acceptance and Inclusiveness
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· Media
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· Active Business Community
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· Partnerships with Higher Education
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· Active Parents
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· Perspective Families
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· Better Funding
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· School Board
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· Civic Organizations
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· Teachers
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· Elected Officials
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· Youth Involvement
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· Faith-Based Entities
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Adopt-A-School! Dothan
Making the connections that matter is the mission of the Adopt-A-School! Dothan program. Connecting churches to schools has provided much needed volunteers, supplies, uniforms, and even an afterschool arts program. Connecting businesses to schools has provided for physical needs such as filing cabinets and office chairs, as well as speakers, volunteers, financial support, and mentoring. Connecting civic organizations to schools has increased leadership opportunities, brought thesarus' to 3rd graders, more volunteers, and even a bowling tournament to raise much needed funds. Individuals have connected to their adopted schools in many wonderful ways: reading to students, tutoring, painting murals, baking for school parties, giving generously to clothes closets, providing art lessons, chess team coaching, and golf lessons for many of our elementary school children.
Together we are creating community...because we are "building a better community around our schools!"
Advocacy Groups of YWCD
The advocacy groups of YWCD bring together different sectors of the community – business, parents, students, educators, state and local officeholders, faith-based entities, civic organizations, nonprofits, and others – to advance the cause of public education in our community.
By bringing different sectors together who are engaged in a shared plan of action - the Co-owned Strategic Plan - YWCD has provided the foundation for citizens to actively support Dothan City Schools.
Acting together around matters of community-wide importance, these groups have gained momentum in building civic capacity through numerous and varied activities:
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supporting parent/teacher organizations
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growing Adopt-A-School partnerships
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providing resource persons for classroom instruction
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encouraging parental involvement and responsibility through media efforts and visual displays
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sponsoring televised pre-election political forums for candidates
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hosting school tours for elected officials
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conducting collaborative meetings with community leaders
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participating in school tours
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recognizing new teachers in the system
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facilitating Teacher of the Year competitive entries
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sponsoring a Leadership workshop for officers of student organizations in the high schools
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making recommendations for a funding referendum to school and community leaders
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promoting student oratorical skills in a speech contest for high school youth
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conducting reality check activities with ninth grade students
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honoring student participants in the Presidential Volunteer Service Awards program
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training school personnel on media relations and "good news" reporting
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promoting Career/Technical Education Month through a presentation to the City Commission
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urging support and growth of career/technical education in Dothan City Schools and
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sponsoring Pay It Forward activities in all schools.
The "Yes We Can! Dothan" Executive Team:
Judge Rose Gordon , Ed Price, ,Chairpersons
Thomas Harrison, Director of Operations
Twyla Williams, Director of Communications
Lavonda Gosselin, Director of the "Adopt-A-School! " Dothan" program
Cheryl Gibson, Coordinator of Advocacy Groups
Libby Krietemeyer, Lucky Martin, Matt Parker, Wayne Prim and Tom Ziegenfelder
