April 5, 2013
Volume 2, Issue 9
Special points of interest: > Mayor Perrin to recognize AmeriCorps members > NJNI forming new classes > Meet the NJNI AmeriCorps members > Highlights from monthly meetings
M ayors D ay of R ecognition On Tuesday, April 9th, you are invited to join Mayor Harold Perrin as he recognizes 23 Jonesboro AmeriCorps members for their service to the Jonesboro community.. The ceremony will be held on the lawn of City Hall, 519 W. Washington, at 10:00 a.m. Since 1990, AmeriCorps
has engaged more than 75,000 members each year at 15,000 locations across the country. These 75,000 members mobilize over 4 million volunteers and
leverage over $480 million in outside funding and donations annually. Last year, the City of Jonesboro received a $106,400 grant from the Corporation for National Community Service to place 16 part-time AmeriCorps service members to serve 900 hours each. These members are providing direct services to the community via The North Jonesboro Neighborhood Initiative. AmeriCorps members do not receive a salary for their service, however, a modest living allowance is provided. In addition to the 13 members working through the North Jonesboro Initiative,
there are 13 other AmeriCorps members serving in various positions throughout the region: Valley View Schools, the Hispanic Community Services Center, Legal Aid of Arkansas, Garden Core members in Jonesboro and Harrisburg, and the Tuckerman Arkansas Literacy Council, The mayor will also recognize four Foster Grandparents are members of Senior Corps. Dr. Clint Relyea, Associate Professor of Management and Coordinator of the ASU Internal Business Program and Chairman of the Arkansas Service Commission, will assist Mayor Perrin in recognition of the members.
Financial Literacy and Health & Wellness Classes Forming Would you like to get fit — physically and financially? NJNI is accepting registrations for Financial Literacy classes and Health & Fitness Classes. Financial Literacy classes will begin on Wednesday, April 10th from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Marshall Place computer lab. The classes is taught by Caryl Steele of BancorpSouth and AmeriCorps M:ember Valencia Cash is the class facilitator. AmeriCorps Member Tawauna will conduct a health and wellness program at the E. Boone Watson Community Center from 5:30 to 6:30. the program will include peer group discussions, group exercise, and personal training, if desired.. If you are interested in either of these classes, please call Emma Agnew at 870-336-7210, or send an email to eagnew@jonesboro.org.
> Cooking Matters Class draws to a close
Inside this issue: NJNI AmeriCorps
2
Meeting Highlights
2
2013 Community Fair
3
Cooking Matters
3
Board of Directors
4
Community Calendar
4
Page 2
North Jonesboro Neighborhood Initiative
NJNI AmeriC orps M embers
Cook ing Matters
Members are not paid a salary but receive a modest living allowance .
NJNI is blessed to have a wonderful, dedicated group of AmeriCorps members serving in various capacities throughout the City of Jonesboro. Members provide a variety of human services at ASU CARE; tutoring services at Magnet Schools, life skills for Habitat for Humanity and other locations, exercise and
wellness classes, food service, and land and facility rehabilitation Members are not paid a salary, but receive a modest living allowance. Upon completion of their service, members may be eligible to receive an educational award to be used toward tuition and or student loans at approved schools
Above Left-to-right: Front row: Siera Vail, Tawauna Hooper, Teri Spillman, Allison Hudgins. Back row: John Bolding, Logan Sheets, Angela Simmons, Jane Toledo, Lori Watson, Sarah Worley, Valencia Cash and Emit Grimes.
M eeting H ighlights MARCH COMMUNITY MEETINGM Thursday, March 28th at the E. Boone Watson Center. Featured presenters were Gina Gomez, Executive Director of the Hispanic Services Center, and Caption describing picture or graphic.
There was a lively discussion on ways to increase the engagement of north Jonesboro residents in the community meetings. A great suggestion was
made to host some of the meetings in the community room at neighborhood housing complexes. MFBNJ—Thursday, March 21tst at the E. Boone Watson Center— Ministers planned their United Fifth Sunday service, which was held at Jonesboro First Assembly where Rev. Keith Grandberry was the speaker.
BOARD MEETING—Thursday, March 21st at the E. Boone Watson Center. The Board adopted by-laws and approved an updated Strategic Plan for 2013. PROGRAM COMMITTEE—Met in the CDBG conference room on March 28th. Planning for the 2013 National Night Out/ Community Fair are well under way.
Volume 2, Issue 9
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National N ight O ut/C ommunity Fair The Program Committee and board volunteers are busy planning for the 2013 National Night Out Community Fair to be held on October 1, 2013 at University Lions (Northside) Park. Last year’s event was a Huge success with over 500 residents and supporters in attendance. There was music, lots of door prizes, over 30 resource booths and plenty of food, thanks to the Jonesboro Police Department, FSCIA, and Sysco Foods.
The Program Committee is aiming for bigger and better this year. This promises to be a fun events and we encourage your support, input, and attendance. The community fair provides a great opportunity for residents to get to know their neighbors.
unteer, sponsor, donate a door prize, or setup a resource booth.
If you would like to be a part of the 2013 Community Fair, please contact me, Emma Agnew at 336 -7210 or eagnew@jonesboro.org. Or you may contact a member of the program Committee to vol-
Amy Hutson, Event Chairman savedamy1971@yahoo.com
Program Committee Members: Jeanette Dotson, Chairman jdotson@eaaaa.org 970-972-5980
Melody Robinson mdrobinson@suddenlink.net 870-972-0859
2012 Community Fair
C ooking M atters As we prepare to wrap up our first Next week, the class will meet Cooking Matters class, participants at the grocery store where they get ready for the grocery store will receive a tour of the store tour.
Matters is a program of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and is funded by the Walmart Foundation and the
The class has been a great experience for participants. Monday, April 8th will be the fifth week of the six weeks class. Participants have learned how to read labels, portion control, and kitchen safety. After a 45 minute to 1 hour lecture on nutrition, the group adjoins to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Three workstations, already setup by volunteers, contains a recipe, ingredients, and the necessary equipment. For preparation. Each team prepares the recipe on the table. After all the recipes are complete, everyone joins in sampling what has been prepared. At the end of each class, participants receive a package of groceries to take home for duplicating one of the recipes they learned in class
“We are currently accepting registrations for the second installment of three Cooking Matters Classes.�
and a lesson n purchasing fresh produce. After the tour, participants will shop for ingredients to prepare a healthy dish for their family. The Cooking Matters Class has been an exciting and rewarding experience as participants learn teamwork and learn to prepare and sample dishes and foods unfamiliar to them. Share Our Strengths cooking .
A special thank you to Debbie DeRossitte, County Extension Agent for agreeing to serve as instruction for the class; and her volunteer homemakers for assisting with setup and cleanup. We are currently accepting registrations for the second installment of three Cooking Matters Classes. Class size is limited to 15 and is first come -first serve.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILLIAM
CASH-Entrepreneur, Vice Chairman
CHARLES COLEMAN-Retired, ASU JEANETTE DOTSON-East AR Area Agency on Aging DAISY FREEMAN-Retired, St. Bernards, Secretary JANICE GRIFFIN –Craighead County DHS
City of Jonesboro North Jonesboro Neighborhood Initiative P.O. Box 1845 519 W. Washington Ave. Jonesboro, AR 72401-1845
AMY HUTSON-Frito Lay BLAKE JOHNSON-Liberty Bank JANE MCDANIEL–Retired, St. Bernards M.G. MEYERING-Habitat for Humanity JOHN MIXON–STUCK & ASSOCIATES BEN OWENS, Retired-St. Bernards, Chairman
C ommunity C alendar April 8—Health & Wellness Classes April 9—National Mayors Day of Recognition April 10—Financial Literacy Classes April 15—Cooking Matters Graduation April 18—MFBNJ
Caption describing picture or graphic.
April 18—NJNI Board Meeting April 25—Communitty Meeting September 14—NJNI 5K October 1—NJNI National Night Out & Community Fair
Emma Agnew, Editor and NJNI Coordinator 870-336-7210 eagnew@jonesboro.org