Great Promise Partnership

GPP Community focuses on preparing at-risk students in grades 6 through 12 for a successful future. Great Promise Partnership Community is a forum to engage at-risk youth on a regular basis in life skill training, leadership development, and decision-making processes. Bi-weekly classes (focused on life skills), participation in Leadership Adventure Weekends, regular discussions of career and post-secondary education, and interaction with community and state leaders are all part of GPP Community. Also, GPP students will investigate, plan, and implement a Service Learning project utilizing the skills and leadership they have gained through participation in the GPP Partnership.

The key elements of GPP Community are:
1. Increases students access and involvement in Positive Youth Development Programs
2. Involves students in a forum that includes caring adults and supportive peers
3. Provides students with instruction in workforce development soft-skills
4. Provides students with guidance regarding post-secondary options
5. Increases student's civic responsibility awareness through involvement in community service projects.

The partnership encourages students to stay in school, prepare for a career path beyond high school and improves the student's readiness to be a contributing citizen. GPP Community is designed to engage 4-H (and other established youth development programs), complement the Career Pathways project and Georgia BEST (Business Ethics Student Training), support Georgia REACH scholarship program, and work as an enhancement to the GACHE (Georgia Appalachian Center for Higher Education) project.

Utilizing research from the field of Positive Youth Development, GPP will increase the duration and intensity of local youth programming for at-risk youth by working around common obstacles to participation including, transportation, cost, and staff hours. In the first longitudinal study of its kind, Dr. Lerner at Tufts University showed in order to prevent risky behaviors and promote successful decision making youth need: 1) access to youth development programs, 2) sustained adult interaction and 3) avenues for youth participation and leadership. GPP Community will ensure that beneficial programming will be available to those who need it the most.

For More Information

Neighborhood Development Coordinator Anetra Riley at 229-671-3617 or ariley@valdostacity.com, or Valdosta High School Work-Based Learning Coordinator Aquila Blankumsee at 229-333-8500 or ablankumsee@gocats.org