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.


 

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:
  1. To Improve Student Achievement for all Dothan City School Students
  2. To Maintain a Process of Continuous Improvement of the Dothan City Schools
    3. Utilizing Data Driven Decision Making
  3. 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:
 

  • Graduation for All: Ready for College, Work and Life
  • High Expectations and Accountability for Home, School and Community
  • Parent Responsibility and Involvement
  • Funding Better Schools to Make a Better Dothan
  • 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:
  • Helps communities define and measure support of their public schools
  • Helps communities identify what they are doing right and what they can do to improve their support for their public schools
  • Offers strategies and other resources for communities to increase their support for their schools
             Advocacy Groups:  

·        Acceptance and Inclusiveness

·         Media

·        Active Business Community

·        Partnerships with Higher Education

·        Active Parents

·         Perspective Families

·        Better Funding

·         School Board

·        Civic Organizations

·         Teachers

·        Elected Officials

·         Youth Involvement

·        Faith-Based Entities

 

 

Adopt-A-School! Dothan  


What is Adopt-A-School! Dothan?  It is an effective, mutually beneficial partnership among civic, business, education, faith based and not-for-profit organizations, as well as Dothan citizens.  This partnership has as its primary mission "Preparing All Dothan City School Students for College, the Work Force and Life", and this mission is being accomplished through an ongoing working relationship among Dothan citizens. 

 

       Adopt-A-School! Dothan, using the Co-owned Strategic Plan , clearly outlines the community's commitment to the success of our schools.  We have committed to "create a culture of community support around our schools" (action step 5) and to "form a network of business and community people willing to contribute human and financial resources" (action step 7).  Adopt-A-School! Dothan provides a framework for these goals to become reality.  For more information on becoming a partner in Adopt-A-School! Dothan, contact Lavonda Gosselin at (334) 671-7981 (llgosselin@aol.com) or LaRhonda Robinson at (334) 792-5138 (lrobinson@dothan.com) or visit www.yeswecandothan.com/programs.  The Adopt-A-School program is sponsored by Yes We Can! Dothan, Dothan City Schools and Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce.


The "Yes We Can! Dothan" Executive Team:
Judge Rose Gordon & Morris Slingluff, Co-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