[UMNS-ALL-NEWS] UMNS# 236-Paine College partners in Georgia community project

[NewsDesk]

Paine College partners in Georgia community project 

Jun. 6, 2008      

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org. 

A UMNS Report 
By Linda Green* 

Paine College, a United Methodist-related school in Augusta, Ga., is
partnering with a community-based initiative on a three-year project to
decrease violence and increase the quality of life for citizens of
Augusta.

The project, funded with a $255,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg
Foundation, also will provide information about HIV/AIDS and increase
access to healthcare facilities for citizens in underserved areas of
Augusta.

The 900-student, historically black college is joining with the Augusta
division of New Tools, New Vision, which works with historically black
colleges to reduce health disparities in Georgia.

A public health issue 

"We have identified violence as a public health issue," said Terence A.
Dicks, chairman of New Tools New Vision Augusta.

New Tools, New Vision brings together the resources of the Southeast
Community Research Center, the Research Center on Health Disparities at
Morehouse College in Atlanta and four communities surrounding
historically black colleges and universities in Georgia to conduct
community-based research and develop plans of action.

"This grant is special to Paine College because it focuses on the very
communities that foster many of our students," said Paine President
George C. Bradley. "Faculty members will use their knowledge and skills
to engage the community in research that will help develop programs
designed to decrease violence, increase HIV/AIDS awareness and increase
access to credible health care." 

Dicks said the grant will be used to build a problem-solving partnership
between academia and communities within Augusta, where violence, youth
gang activities and crimes with guns are on the increase, particularly
in the 30901 and 30906 zip codes. 

A New Tools, New Vision committee and local organizations plan to form
research committees, conduct surveys, organize focus groups and town
hall meetings and work with community, state, local and civic
organizations. A strategic plan is expected to be in place by 2011.

"This is collaboration between the grassroots community and Paine
College," he added. "We are going out to the people. It is for the
people."

Historic opportunity 

The project hopes to capitalize on the relationships that communities
have with local historically black colleges. In addition to Paine, other
colleges participating include Morehouse College in Atlanta, Savannah
State University, Albany State University and Fort Valley State
University. 

"As far as I know, I don't think anything on this level or magnitude has
been attempted before," Dicks said. "I see this as a very historic and
great opportunity." 

He hopes the communities will see violence as a public-health issue and
begin to address the issue by keeping middle-school students off the
streets and on the right track. 

New Tools, he added, is "excited about working with a great United
Methodist school like Paine because Paine was founded on doing community
service in 1882." The school will bring to the table resources including
information technology and academic professionals and researchers. 

"This is a great opportunity for the community and for this great
historic institution that has been a jewel for a long time." Dicks said.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, based in Battle Creek, Mich., was
established in 1930. The organization supports children, families and
communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel
vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and as
contributors to the larger community and society.

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in
Nashville, Tenn. 

News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk at umcom.org. 

******************** 

United Methodist News Service 
Photos and stories also available at: 
http://umns.umc.org 




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