AmeriCorps; Education United Way of Coastal Georgia’s High School Graduation Blueprint Project Narrative Summary

The Georgia Center for Nonprofits (GCN) received a Corporation for National and Community Services grant through the AmeriCorps*VISTA program where we have Intermediary VISTAs deployed to GCN partner organizations for a variety of activities that included: supporting the organization’s community outreach by assisting with the planning and coordination of essential meetings/events, supporting the organization’s community awareness with written and online publications, and building the organization’s capacity via database support.

The United Way of Glynn County and the Georgia Center for Nonprofits worked collaboratively for several years. In 2011 the United Way asked the GCN to partner and help support the strategic design and tactical execution of a community-based initiative to increase the graduation level in Glynn County. This initiative has resulted in the design of a blueprint plan for the community. In deploying a GCN VISTA to United Way of Coastal Georgia allows for the support for this vital community-lead project. A VISTA also allows support of the United Way’s agencies.

United Way of Coastal Georgia is where GCN’s VISTA Cody Cocchi is deployed and currently serving. He is expanding the capacity of this organization and strengthening Georgia Center for Nonprofits’ relationship with the United Way of Coastal Georgia. Cody is supporting and coordinating the United Way of Coastal Georgia’s High School Graduation Blueprint Project which focuses on the Corporation of National and Community Service’s Education Issue Area.

The High School Graduation Blueprint Project is the new approach by United Way to invest community resources intended to make long term, tangible and sustainable change. The goal is a higher on-time high school graduation rate.

Education, especially high school graduation, is a community-wide concern. In the vast majority of cases, high school dropouts are more likely to earn less than graduates over a lifetime, more likely to go to prison and more likely to receive public assistance. Through multidimensional strategies designed to bolster graduation rates initially in Glynn County and later in McIntosh, United Way will strengthen Education, Income, and Health (the pillars of a good life). Strategic partnerships, community vision and addressing gaps in public services will help meet this community goal.

The High School Graduation Blueprint Project has a 26 Member Commission, 17 member Project Team, Graduation Summit (Day One with 118 participants and Day Two with 66 participants), and Work Groups to be formed after the Commission’s second meeting on April 30th, consisting of approximately 30 community stakeholders and non-profits. The Project also plans to engage 156 teachers, counselors and school social workers in 13 focus groups between April 30 and May 23, 2012.

The High School Graduation Blueprint Project will improve the high school graduation rate through early identification of students at risk of dropping out, engaging students in learning, supporting education within the family, leveraging community supports and connecting teachers, students and families with resources. These strategies, coupled with community collaboration, will support teens graduating from high school on time.