It’s All About Choice, Hard Work and Enthusiasm

Article Submitted by: Ofelia Hampton

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It’s All About Choice, Hard Work and Enthusiasm

Article Submitted by: Ofelia Hampton

In the eight months I have been working under the Voluntary Public School Choice grant, I have had the pleasure of seeing both Fresh Ministries and Gadsden’s Mobil Unit continue on their path of success, and unfortunately, on the other side of the scale I have also seen the Cuban National Council (CNC) in Orlando close. In an effort to provide Orange County with much needed support, we have been working diligently with a new organization, Latino Leadership, which will provide their community the necessary tools and information vital to the academic success of all students in that region. Also, Osceola’s Title 1 Dept., located in the St. Cloud/Kissimmee area, bordering Orange County will be working with us to augment their efforts in their Parent Resource Centers (PRC) via the grant. Just around the corner is the opening of our newest PRC to be located in Escambia County, at the North end of Florida’s panhandle – more to come on that real soon. This is certainly an exciting time of renewal and possibilities but it is also a very hectic time.
Overall, both Fresh Ministries and Gadsden’s Mobile Unit are doing very well with their projected goals and their actual numbers. Both centers, despite meeting their goals or coming very close to it, find it difficult to sit back and relax. For these devoted individuals working at these Parent Resource Centers, it is all about Choice, hard work and enthusiasm. To date both centers continue to offer workshops on Literacy, Phonics, and Cultural Awareness while also visiting faith based organizations to promote Choice and the additional services being provided at their centers. Numbers under the category of Individualized Assistance also continue to grow, by far the most challenging of the three measurable objectives, yet the most rewarding. For parents, individualized assistance is the key that unlocks doors, often providing the answers to their prayers from the lips of someone they feel understands their plight and understands their inability to navigate through the educational maze; always delivered in a manner that is empathic and easily understood. I applaud the effort that Fresh Ministries and Gadsden have put forth towards excellence – they exude all the qualities necessary to carry this grant forward successfully. Special thanks for their continued hard work go to Sarah Cain, Lillie Caldwell, Audrey Lewis-Potter and Dana Martin.

Ofelia Hampton In the eight months I have been working under the Voluntary Public School Choice grant, I have had the pleasure of seeing both Fresh Ministries and Gadsden’s Mobil Unit continue on their path of success, and unfortunately, on the other side of the scale I have also seen the Cuban National Council (CNC) in Orlando close. In an effort to provide Orange County with much needed support, we have been working diligently with a new organization, Latino Leadership, which will provide their community the necessary tools and information vital to the academic success of all students in that region. Also, Osceola’s Title 1 Dept., located in the St. Cloud/Kissimmee area, bordering Orange County will be working with us to augment their efforts in their Parent Resource Centers (PRC) via the grant. Just around the corner is the opening of our newest PRC to be located in Escambia County, at the North end of Florida’s panhandle – more to come on that real soon. This is certainly an exciting time of renewal and possibilities but it is also a very hectic time.

Overall, both Fresh Ministries and Gadsden’s Mobile Unit are doing very well with their projected goals and their actual numbers. Both centers, despite meeting their goals or coming very close to it, find it difficult to sit back and relax. For these devoted individuals working at these Parent Resource Centers, it is all about Choice, hard work and enthusiasm. To date both centers continue to offer workshops on Literacy, Phonics, and Cultural Awareness while also visiting faith based organizations to promote Choice and the additional services being provided at their centers. Numbers under the category of Individualized Assistance also continue to grow, by far the most challenging of the three measurable objectives, yet the most rewarding. For parents, individualized assistance is the key that unlocks doors, often providing the answers to their prayers from the lips of someone they feel understands their plight and understands their inability to navigate through the educational maze; always delivered in a manner that is empathic and easily understood. I applaud the effort that Fresh Ministries and Gadsden have put forth towards excellence – they exude all the qualities necessary to carry this grant forward successfully. Special thanks for their continued hard work go to Sarah Cain, Lillie Caldwell, Audrey Lewis-Potter and Dana Martin.