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Year in Review (2021-2022)

The Walking In Authority (WIA) Teen Council focuses on Character Development, Positive Community and Cultural Involvement, and Effective Civic Engagement through our Leadership and Social Emotional Programs.   The following is a list of our activities through the calendar year of 2021.

JANUARY 2021

  • Some of the youth attended the 2021 Georgia Municipal's Virtual Cities United Summit as youth delegates on Monday, January 25th.  This confernce brought together hundreds of elected and appointed city leaders from across the State of Georgia to focus on the policy issues to be addressed during the 2021 Georgia General Assembly.

  • Legacy Bridge Leadership Inc. conducted seminars on various leadership modules.

  • Continued to meet via Zoom.

  • Social media, Website www.wiateencouncil.com, Facebook, and Instagram@wiateencouncil.

  • Participated in the PREP (Personal Responsibility Education Program) with the Board of Health, every Tuesday.

February

  • Continued to meet via Zoom and work on recruitment and retention.

  • Started the PREP with the Clayton County Health District, Adolescent and Youth Development.

MARCH

  • Some of the youth attended the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce's 67th Annual Gala on Saturday, March 27th at the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway Hotel.

  • Virtually attended the National League of Cities Congressional Conference March 7-9th.

APRIL

  • Held a Teen Life Skills Empowerment Summit featuring DJ Mars (Marshall Thomas) and professional career advisors speaking on various topics from financial literacy, dressing for success, leadership, knowing your legal rights, college and career readiness, employment skills, social media etiquette, and self-management on Saturday, April 10th.  

  • Tragically loss Elijah Major to a terrible hit-and-run driver.  We mourn with his family and friends. 

MAY

  • Held our first face-to-face meeting for 2021 at our office in the Plaza Building Atrium, 1590 Adamson Parkway, Morrow, GA 30260.

  • Attended and celebrated high school graduations for some of our youth.

  • Completed vision boards.

JUNE

  • Participated and was a presenter for the National League of Cities Summit on the Military Communities Committee to show how youth are adversely affected by family members deployment and military duty.

  • Posse scholarship nominations submitted.

  • Youth attended the Tuskegee Airman Aviation Summer Training Camp hosted by the Atlanta Chapter Tuskegee Airman Inc.

  • Participated in the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport LIFT Project.

JULY  

  • Met at the office in the Plaza Building Atrium, 1590 Adamson Parkway, Morrow, GA.

  • Assigned the United Nation's Sustainable Initiatives to each youth to create a presentation to show at the various governmental meetings.  

AUGUST

  • Met via Zoom to discuss new officers, committee assignments, recruitment/retention, etc.

  • Chanel Dang assumed the office of the presidency. 

SEPTEMBER

  • Participated with the Clayton County Library's Storytime project and was recorded reading a preassigned bood.

  • Held our meeting via Zoom with West Point Military Academy Speaker, Lt. King. 

OCTOBER

  • Thursday, October 7th, we helped the Forest Park Minister’s Association with their voter's forum for the candidates in the City of Forest Park's election.

  • Saturday, October 9th, some of the youth and board members attended Chairman Turner's International Ball at the Georgia International Convention Center and had an opportunity to network with political figures and business owners.

  • Purchased computer equipment, marketing materials.

NOVEMBER

  • Interviewed and hired a well-qualified program manager for the L.E.A.D.S. program.

DECEMBER

  • Held a successful Christmas Meet & Greet on Tuesday, December 14th at the Plaza Building Atrium in Morrow, GA.

  • Held a Zoom meeting with guest from the Clayton County Health District, Chronic Disease Department and the Adolescent Health and Youth Development Department.

  • Committee Reports:  Marketing, Fundraising, Events, Financial, Recruiting, Education, Retention, Membership/Diversity, and Social Media (Website www.wiateencouncil.com , Facebook- WIATC, e-mail wiateencouncil@gmail.com , and Instagram@wiateencouncil.  WIA phone number 1(530)643-7582).
  • President Chanel Dang continued to exude leadership to hold the committee chairpersons accountable and responsible for their respective areas.

  • JANUARY 2022 (NEW CALENDAR YEAR)

    • The teens continued to participate in the GA Secretary of State’s Student Ambassador program by attending and creating civic events relative to community engagement.

    • We began a collaboration with the Clayton County Health District’s Tobacco Coalition and Physical Activities.

    • Ordered and distributed Cursive Writing Books to the teens.  I received several letters in cursive that I answered in cursive.

    • Created our “Inspirational Wall” in the office.

    • Took the teens to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center to see the Shen Yun performance.

 

  • Took a couple of the teens to attend the Youth Council’s portion of the GA Municipal Association’s Cities United Summit at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Atlanta.

  • FEBRUARY 2022

  • Alaija Jones represented WIATC in Clayton County’s Youth Talk which was featured on channel CW69.

  • MARCH 2022

    • Purchased blazers and caps to look more professional.  Teens hated the caps!

    • Took the teens to Washington, D.C. to attend the National League of Cities Congressional Cities Conference.

    •   

    • The teens continued to participate in the GA Secretary of State’s Student Ambassador program by attending and creating civic events relative to community engagement.

    • We began a collaboration with the Clayton County Health District’s Tobacco Coalition and Physical Activities

    • Chasity Jacobs and Brandon Mitchell accompanied me as I received the Unsung Heroine Award from the Coalition of 100 Black Women.

  • APRIL 2022

  • Held our bi-monthly meeting at the Forest Park City Hall.  Our guest was Mayor Butler, City Manager Dr. Marc-Antoine Cooper, and Human Resources Manager.

  • Learned that one of the former teen council members, Simeon Strozier passed.  I attended the online services.

  • MAY 2022

  • Attended graduations for several present and former teen council participants.  Distributed graduation cords to Chasity Jacobs and Riquardo Blankson.

  • We held our annual awards banquet.  No scholarships were awarded as the seniors went to their proms.

  • Avery Dixon, former member, won a “Golden Buzzer” on America’s Got Talent.

  • JUNE 2022

    • We hired Pierre Branding Group to help organizational strategy, structure, and planning.

    • Met on several occasions with Business Consultant, Allan Auld and Interim Board Chair, Brenda Harrison.  These meetings led to productive board meetings.

    • Partnered with the City of Morrow to participate in their 2nd annual Juneteenth celebration as a vendor.  We set up tables and tents with computers and monitors to conduct our Life Skills Summit.  We covered various topics such as financial literacy, self-determination and management, employment skills, health and wellness, personal appearance, identity theft and phishing, and being a lifelong learner.

  • Some of the teens entered the Juneteenth essay contest.  Endy Huynh, Brandon Mitchell, and Jadon Harris won for their submissions.  Jadon was crowned as the City of Morrow’s first “Mr. Juneteenth” because of his essay.

  • Chanel Dang continued to intern in the office.   

  • Some attended the Lake City’s council meeting to learn about the Cities community initiatives and projects.

  • We continue our bi-monthly meetings to plan and strategize. 

  • We met at Cracker Barrel restaurant to fellowship.

  • Updated contacts in Network For Good as well as created an events page for the Alumni Picnic in July.  Mrs. Toshiro Butler and Chris-Andre’ Brissett volunteered to work on the event. 

  • Welcomed new members Jadon and Kailyn Harris.

  • Acquired Limited Liability Insurance from Terica Pearson.

  • JULY 2022

  • Continued conversion from QB Desktop to QB Online.

  • Held a discussion with Dr. Dunn regarding WIATC coming under the Counseling Department and being put in every high school in Clayton County.  She further suggested that we also put them in the middle and elementary schools.  We will have a meeting on August 9th to discuss details of this collaboration.

  • Participated in and donated 50 bags of school supplies and goodies for Dr. Dunn’s “Stuff the Bus” campaign on Saturday, July 9th.

  • Held the WIATC Annual Alumni Picnic at Starr Park on Sunday, July 17th.

  • Participated in the Back to School Bash with Clayton County Youth Services on Saturday, July 23rd at Flint River Community Center.

  • Participated in the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new Morrow High School on Thursday, July 28th.

  • Participated in Clayton County Public Schools “Back to School Bash” at Drew High School on Saturday, July 30th.

  • Became a table sponsor for Chairman Turner’s Ball to be held on September 23rd.

  • Renewed annual Chamber of Commerce membership.

  • Ordered checks, marketing materials, and administrative supplies, and paid utilities (phone and internet).

  • Paid P.O. Box annual rental of $198.00.

  • Paid monthly WIX, Mailchimp, QB Online Bookkeeping, and Network For Good subscriptions.

  • Scholarship - $8,681.60 / L.E.A.R.N. - $643.44/ L.E.A.D.S. - $1,066.43/ Main - $10,280.14

 

 

  • AUGUST 2022

  • Attended the ribbon cutting at the new Morrow High School.

  • Attended the Homeless Education Resource Fair

  • Held an Interest Meeting for prospective members.

  • Attended the meeting for the Health District’s Physical Activities Group.

  • Met with Clayton County Public Schools Counseling Department Head, Dr. Dunn at our office to talk about our program placed in the high schools.

  • Held mock Posse interviews with the WIATC Posse candidates and former students that received the scholarship.

  • Met potential assistants, Danielle Hillman and Amy Kelley, in the office.

  • Met with QuickBooks Live Bookkeeper to clean up any questionable financial transactions.

  •  Attended an online meeting with the Atlanta Bar Association in a session called, “What About The Students”.

  • Attended the Mentoring Georgia Coffee Hour.

  • Held a Zoom call with Morrow Councilwoman Tran regarding the “Moon Festival”.

  • Met some of WIATC students to the Big 3 basketball game at the State Farm Arena.

  • Met with Commissioner Franklin at the office to talk about WIATC and the Clayton County Veterans Advisory Board.

  • Attended the monthly Truist luncheon with the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce at Clayton State University.

  • Attended the groundbreaking and reception for the new development in Lake City/Morrow.

  • Connected former teen council member, Josh Crenshaw, with present council member, Jadon Harris for mentorship.

  • Held another Zoom meeting with Morrow Councilwoman Tran to finalize plans for the Moon Festival.

  • Continued to hold our bi-monthly meetings.

 

  • SEPTEMBER 2022

  • Continued to meet with Danielle and Amy to strategize on the implementation of WIATC programs, policies, and procedures.

  • Held special called meetings with the teen leadership.

  • Set up a sponsorship table at the Lake Spivey/Clayton County Golf Tournament.

  • Met with QuickBooks Live Bookkeeper, Donisha, to run monthly reports.

  • Danielle Hillman and I met with Morrow High School Principal, Dr. Pamela Pitts, to discuss the implementation plans for WIATC at Morrow High School.

  • Set up a table and volunteered for the Moon Festival in the City of Morrow.

  • Set up a table and recruited potential members at the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration with Councilman Hector Gutierrez at Starr Park in Forest Park.

  • Implemented WIATC programs at Morrow High School and created a Morrow Mustang Chapter.

  • Met with Pastor Barksdale of the Valley Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Riverdale to help him plan his Teen Summit.

  • Met with and presented the WIATC programs to the key staff at Morrow High School.

  • Attending Chairman Turner’s International Ball

  • Attending the Kick-Off of the GA Student Ambassador Program at the Georgia Freight Depot.

  • ACCOUNT BALANCES:  Scholarship - $8,681.82 / L.E.A.R.N. - $393.44/ L.E.A.D.S. - $799.09/ Main - $4,686.84

 

  • OCTOBER 2022

  • Attended the Forest Park Police Department’s Annual National Night Out at Starr Park where we had a table and passed out information on our program.

  • Attended the Georgia Cities Youth Symposium in Dublin, GA, October 14-16th .

  • Created a youth panel to address concerns and talk about hot topics pertaining to youth on Saturday, October 29th at the Valley Hill Baptist Church’s Teen Summit in Riverdale.

  • Assisted with the Clayton County Public School’s 5K Walk/Run conducted by the Counseling Department (Dr. Nunez and Dr. Dunn).

  • Participated with the Sister’s Empowerment Network’s Manning Up Gathering on Saturday, October 29, 2022.

  • Attended and presented at the Lake City Council meeting.

  • Continued to gain points in the Student Ambassador Program.

  • Hired former WIATC member and now Alumni, Celeste Walker to work in the office 2 days per week at $10 per hour.

  • Hired WIATC member, Tina Ha, to work in the office as an unpaid intern 2 days per week.

  • Met with members of the School Board, Dr. Beasley, and his staff to talk about WIATC’s roll in the schools and partnership with RFH with Danielle Hillman.

  • Attended the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce monthly Networking Luncheon.

  • Worked with Allyssa on her court mandated volunteer hours with the L.E.A.D.S. program.

  • Attended the Physical Activities Workgroup meeting with the Clayton County Health District.

  • Continued working with the QuickBooks’s Live Bookkeeper.

  • Updated GuideStar.

  • Met with Sylvia Dennis from the Alzheimer Organization regarding office space.

  • Started packing.

  • Helped Dr. Dunn with the REACH Georgia Scholarship Interviews.

  • Moved from The Plaza Building

“We Aspire to Inspire”
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