Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current, October 23, 2019, Image 5
Wednesday, October 23,2019 dawsonnews.com I DAWSON COUNTY NEWS I 5A Stewart named to Zell Miller Foundation Leadership Institute Class of 2020 Family Connection to hold poverty simulation From staff reports By Jessica Taylor jtaylor@dawsonnews.com For one afternoon, a group of volunteers are about to find out what it’s like to live in poverty. Dawson County Family Connection is hosting its fifth poverty simulation from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 13. It is being facilitated by the University of Georgia extension service. “It’s a simulation of what people living in poverty face on a daily basis, hardships, the roadblocks,” said Nancy Stites, Family Connection Coordinator. Booths will be set up around the outside of the gym at Veterans Memorial Park that represent different agencies and organizations that are often the roadblocks faced by low- income families. From bankers to social ser vices to pawn shops to commu nity action teams, volunteers will be set up around the park to make the simulation feel as real as possible. Participants will receive a packet of infor mation detailing the person they are portraying and what their goals are for the duration of the two hour experience. The simu lation is broken down into four parts, representing the passage of four weeks, in which time participants will need to keep their homes, feed their families and pay their bills. “We really want this to be an education for the participants because we think with aware ness you’ll be able to impact the way you address poverty in your community,” Stites said. “You’ll understand it better.” For nearly 10 percent of Dawson County residents, liv ing in poverty is a reality. Stites hopes that this year’s simulation will result in a way to help those living in poverty. The 2019-20 Leadership Dawson class will be participat ing in the simulation, but it is open and free for anyone who wishes to participate. Stites said she would like to have around 50 to 60 participants this year. “I think those people working with individuals in poverty, it will have the greatest impact,” Stites said. “It gives them a bet ter understanding, the obstacles that people face so maybe you can help them get around those obstacles or prevent them from ever running into that obstacle.” Over the years Stites has over seen the simulation, it always begins the same. Participants grab their packets and perceive the simulation to be a fun role- playing game, but by the end of the experience, many are left feeling frustrated and anxious. “There is not that lighthearted atmosphere. It’s like they’re tak ing it seriously and they’re real izing this is not a game,” Stites said. “It’s real.” According to Stites, partici pants after the simulation felt more able to develop plans for community action addressing the needs of low-income fami lies and had ideas they wanted to discuss about community actions that could be taken to support families. “When you feel like someone understands you, the whole rela tionship improves and that’s what I’m hoping would hap pen,” Stites said. “I think it’s eas ier to make connections then and I think connection is often what holds people together.” Anyone interested can sign up by calling Family Connection at (706) 265-1981. Dawson County Tax Commissioner Nicole Stewart was recently named a member of the Zell Miller Leadership Institute Class of 2020. The Leadership Institute is a year long leadership development pro gram designed to explore the life, legacy and core values Zell Miller believed were essential to becoming a more effective leader. “I am very impressed with the caliber of this incoming class. Together, they represent a diverse cross section of the public and pri vate sector in our state.” said Bryan Miller, executive chairman of the Zell Miller Foundation. “In three years, we have accepted 150 people into this program. They are all prov en leaders who use their skills and talents to make a positive difference in their communities.” The Zell Miller Leadership Institute includes five weekend summits in Athens, Macon, Columbus, Augusta and Savannah. Participants are able to network with like-minded people, hear from leading industry experts on issues of significant relevance in Georgia, and learn how Zell Miller became one of Georgia’s most respected public servants. Participants are chosen from a pool of applicants who generally range in age from late twenties to late forties. Launched in 2018, each class is made up of roughly fifty participants every year. The Zell Miller Foundation was established in 2016 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. The mission of the orga nization is to preserve the legacy of former governor and U.S. Senator Zell Miller through programs that promote education, leadership, and service. Zell Miller served as the 79th Governor of Georgia from 1991- 1999. While a candidate for gover nor, Miller developed a plan to cre ate a statewide lottery exclusively for the purpose of funding his edu cation initiatives. As governor, he created the HOPE Scholarship and Georgia’s Prekindergarten program. Today, the Georgia Lottery Corporation has raised more than $20 billion to fund the HOPE Scholarship and Georgia Pre-K. This money has allowed more than 1.8 million students to go to college in Georgia on HOPE Scholarships, and more than 1.6 million four-year old children to begin their education early. In 2000, Miller was appointed to the U.S. Senate by Governor Roy Barnes to fill an unexpected vacan cy created by the death of Senator Paul Coverdell. He was later elected to serve the remaining four years of that term. Miller chose not to seek reelection and retired from the U.S. Senate in January 2005. Certificate, Lapel Pin Ceremony to honor local Vietnam veterans From staff reports On Saturday morning, Dec. 7 at 11 a.m., Vietnam veterans from Georgia will have an opportunity to take part in a public rec ognition of their military service at a certifi cate and lapel pin presentation ceremony in Washington, GA. The ceremony will be held at Washington First United Methodist Church, at 100 West Liberty Street in Washington, GA. Georgia Department of Veterans Service Commissioner Mike Roby will present the State’s Certificate of Honor and the Defense Department’s Commemorative Lapel Pin to Vietnam veterans who sign up for the cere mony. Both are presented for honorable mil itary service during the Vietnam War era. The deadline to sign up is 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 5. “It is never the wrong time to say thank you to a veteran, and that is especially true for the many Vietnam War veterans who were never properly thanked when they returned home,” Roby said. “We hope to eventually present every Georgia veteran with a Certificate of Honor recognizing their service during the Vietnam War.” Every Georgia veteran with honorable service during the Vietnam War (from June 1, 1954 to May 15, 1975) is eligible to receive this certificate. This includes veter ans with service in-country and those who served in other capacities. Vietnam veterans interested in participating should contact the GDVS Central Office via email at bzeringue@vs.state.ga.us with their DD Form 214 attached, or fax their informa tion (name, address, and phone number) and DD Form 214 to (404) 656-7006. Submissions should be marked with “Washington Certificates.” For more information call Brian Zeringue, GDVS Director of Public Information, at (404) 656-5933. Vietnam veterans may also receive this honor posthumously. Surviving spouses may receive the state certificate and a Defense Department Certificate of Honor and lapel pin as long as the required docu mentation (veteran’s DD Form 214) is pre sented with the sign up application. The state’s recognition of these veterans is part of the U. S. Department of Defense’s 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the Vietnam War. The Georgia Department of Veterans Service continues the Vietnam War Certificate of Honor program which began in the spring of 2015 with the sup port and cooperation of the Office of for mer Gov. Nathan Deal. Gov. Brian Kemp has continued the program. The Georgia Vietnam War Certificate of Honor is personalized with the Vietnam War veteran’s name, rank, branch of ser vice, and dates of service printed over the Seal of the State of Georgia and includes the official U.S. Department of Defense’s Vietnam War Commemorative Partner logo. They are signed by Governor Kemp and Commissioner Roby. Of the over 28,000 certificates issued since March 2015, over 22,000 have been presented in over 341 “Certificate & Lapel Pin” honors ceremonies across Georgia. 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