GROUP UPDATES
GROUP E | 11.15.16
We have had a really interesting time working with this project. We have learned a lot about the different organizations. We have been researching the project headed by Friends of Literacy that puts on a GED program for adults. Great Schools of Knoxville and United way are collaborating with them. They are looking to grow in capacity and hopefully create new locations to reach a larger population in Knoxville. They currently have one fully developed program at Pond Gap and one new program in South Knoxville that was created in September. One in eight adults in Knox County lack a high school diploma or equivalency. The goals of these programs is not only to get adults their GEDs but to improve literacy rates in adults and help improve their own and their families' quality of life. Through gained literacy skills and GED attainment the students are given more tools to break the cycle of poverty that so many of these families face and can make simple tasks like voting and writing a resume more attainable for them. By simply going up a reading level, lives are changed and opportunities grow. What they're doing is having a real, positive effect on peoples' lives and the lives of their families/children. "Studies have shown that earning a high school equivalency diploma (GED/HiSET) leads to an increase in earning potential, resulting in a decrease in the intergenerational cycle of poverty and an increase in workforce effectiveness. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that people with a high school equivalency diploma (GED/HiSET) earn more than $10,000 per year more than those without." They are using an alternative education style through computer literacy teachings, being self-paced, they own their education, tutors, and learning groups. People with learning disabilities who would not otherwise get the needed help are finally served; they are accepted and encouraged. This group hopes to grow in scale at Pond Gap and in South Knoxville, give greater opportunities to their teachers, and create new locations.
GROUP C | 11.1.16
Our group has been given a grant proposal from The Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking (CCAHT) and The Childhelp Children’s Advocacy Center of East Tennessee to fund an education and awareness event in early 2017. We visited Hugh Nystrom at the Childhelp Center in Knoxville on Friday and was given a brief history on the center as none of us were familiar with its work. Childhelp was established almost 60 years ago during World War II and the Knoxville Center has been around for over 20 years. Before children's advocacy centers existed, victims of child abuse were interviewed at school, the back of a police car, or at home sometimes with the suspected perpetrator in another room. Childhelp offers an alternative location for questioning as well as resources to treat and counsel abused victims. The atmosphere at Childhelp is every kid’s dream with colorful murals on the walls and tons of toys designed to sooth the kids during the interviewing process, allowing prosecutors the best opportunity at finding out what happened.
After a tour of the facilities and a brief interview with one of the forensic interviewers, we sat down with Hugh to discuss the grant proposal. We asked him the same questions we asked Kate Trudell from CCAHT earlier in order to ensure that both organizations were on the same page regarding this event. Our inquiries encompassed concerns about the effectivity of the event as opposed to other alternatives, who the target audience was, and a more detailed breakdown of the budget. After confirming Hugh’s responses with the notes from our previous interview, we left with a tremendous impression of Childhelp and a confidence in their contribution to this collaboration.
GROUP G | 11.1.16
Megan met with Shara Shoup at Emerald Youth Foundation!
GROUP G | 10.26.16
Aaliyah with the collaborative members of the grant proposal at Knoxville Leadership Foundation.
GROUP A | 10.18.16
Our team got together in front of the Lindsay Young Downtown YMCA office located in Knoxville. Our team was given the responsibility of thoroughly reviewing the proposal submitted by Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) and Tennessee Men’s Health Network (TMHN). We revised the set of interview questions that we prepared to ask the YMCA representative regarding their proposed project – a one-day event to create health awareness amongst young men. Being our first ever role as an interviewer, we nervously walked in to the 87-year-old historic building.
The interview questionnaire included about 25 questions that our team collectively designed over the last two week based on the 5-page proposal that was submitted. It included questions ranging from collecting basic details of the organization to specific activities of the proposed project and funding allocation. Other questions were designed to initiate discussions on topics such as rationale for the chosen theory of change and possible evaluation methods that could help the organizations learn about the effectiveness their project.
After a 45-minute-long interview, the YMCA’s representative enthusiastically offered a tour of their facility.
Having a much clearer idea about the proposed project after the first interview, our team discussed the likes and dislikes of the proposal on our drive back to campus. With few added questions that brewed out of our first interview, our team felt more confident about our questionnaire and the evaluation process in general.
