Artworks Gwinnett is launching a yearlong process for Create Gwinnett, its first-ever Arts and Creative Economy Master Plan, and wants to hear from residents across Gwinnett County. Create Gwinnett focuses on how arts and culture help foster economic prosperity in the county. It’s the result of a goal identified in Gwinnett County’s 2040 Unified Plan: to enhance Gwinnett’s profile as a cultural destination where the arts educate, elevate and inspire.
Let your voice be heard. Imagination is key. Three ways to participate include taking a survey, joining an in-person event or planning a do-it-yourself (DIY) community conversation:
Take the survey: The survey is available in English, Spanish and Korean at https://www.artworksgwinnett.org/create-gwinnett/.
Attend an upcoming event: Create Gwinnett’s upcoming countywide meetings:
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- Monday, August 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dacula Park Activity Building, 2735 Auburn Avenue. Register for Dacula here.
- + Tuesday, August 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Centerville Senior Center, 3025 Bethany Church Road. Register for Snellville here.
- + Wednesday, Aug. 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Bogan Park, 2723 North Bogan Road.Register for Buford here.
Volunteer: Residents can volunteer to make sure their community’s voice is heard by downloading a Create Gwinnett DIY community conversation toolkit. Whether it’s with a circle of friends (neighborhood, book club, PTA meeting or a planned Zoom call with your favorite group), Gwinnett residents can take the initiative to host a conversation and upload the responses they hear from the group to https://www.artworksgwinnett.org/create-gwinnett/.
Discovery student wins UGA military scholarship from vets
Shown with the scholarship winner are, from left, Lt. Col. Robert Rooker, Army instructor at Discovery High; Col. Rick White of Johns Creek; Amundson; Dr. Delicia Fellers, senior counselor at Discovery’ and Dr. Debra White, assistant principal at Discovery.
A 2022 ROTC cadet and graduate of Discovery High School, Darhan Amundson, has been awarded a $4,000 Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame (GMVHOF) military scholarship to attend the University of Georgia, and be in the ROTC program.
The ROTC scholarship creator, GMVHOF Founder Col. Paul Longgrear (USA-Ret) of Pine Mountain has designated retired school superintendent Dr. Craig G. Dowling also of Pine Mountain as coordinator for the program. Of the eligible applicants submitted each year, 15 are selected. He adds: “Our purpose is to influence the patriotic attitudes for local and national leaders by rewarding students who choose to participate in JROTC and ROTC, thereby inspiring citizens to be more Constitutionally oriented.”,
According to Colonel White, in order to qualify for the scholarship, Georgia high school seniors must possess competitive GPA and SAT scores, have been enrolled in JROTC, be accepted into the ROTC program of an accredited four-year college or university, and express the intent to serve in the U.S. Military upon graduation.
In a related program, the GMVHOF Selfless Service Medal is awarded annually to one JROTC cadet per high school based on the recommendation of the JROTC instructor.
EMC Foundation makes $84,000 grants to serve residents
The Jackson EMC Foundation board of directors awarded a total of $124,000 in grants for organizations during its July meeting, including$84,000 to organizations serving Gwinnett County.
$20,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta—Gwinnett, divided between the Norcross and Lawrenceville clubs’ Power Hour programs, part of its overall Academic Success program that provides club members with daily support, resources and guidance needed to complete school assignments.- $19,500 to The Next Stop Foundation, Inc., to serve 20 Gwinnett County residents for 25 weeks with programming for adults with special needs, intellectual disabilities, autism or brain injuries.
- $15,000 to Corners Outreach, Inc., in Peachtree Corners, to help purchase a van to transport students in Title 1 schools to its Corners Academy.
- $14,500 to Sugar Hill United Methodist Church, for its Free Food and Hygiene Pantry, which provides fresh food, pantry goods and hygiene products for the homeless.
- $5,000 to Bigger Vision of Athens, Inc., for its Emergency Shelter Program that provides shelter, food, showers, laundry and other basic necessities for the homeless in Barrow, Clarke, Franklin, Gwinnett, Madison and Oglethorpe counties
- $5,000 to Canopy Studio, Inc., in Athens, for its aerial arts program that serves students with autism, developmental disabilities, behavioral and emotional disorders in Barrow, Clarke, Gwinnett, Jackson, Madison and Oglethorpe counties.
- $5,000 to Childkind, Inc., serving all Jackson EMC communities, for its foster family recruitment program for children with mental health challenges.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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