Event to Connect GSU’s Newton County Campus to Community Needs

COVINGTON, Ga. – Representatives from more than a dozen organizations and community nonprofits will visit Georgia State University’s Newton campus on Thursday, Sept. 1 to connect Perimeter College students with volunteer needs.

The meet and greet event is part of the campus’ ongoing Academic Community Engagement (ACE) program.

“ACE pairs students and faculty with community members to collaboratively address community-identified needs and enhance student understanding of how this connects to what they are learning in the classroom,” Hosanna said. Fletcher, who is one of Perimeter’s top ACE instructors.

Fletcher teaches sociology and is among several professors at Perimeter College who regularly incorporate community-focused projects into their curriculum at the Newton campus.

Other disciplines involved in ACE projects include communications, criminal justice and biology.

“Last year, our students worked as after-school tutors and readers for preschoolers at the Covington Housing Authority, held a successful book drive for the Newton County school system, and grew fresh produce in our community garden, which was donated to Covington’s first United Methodist food pantry. Fletcher said.

In addition to volunteering on projects, students research community concerns and interview key stakeholders to gain a deeper understanding of the issues facing the communities where they live, which inspires greater civic responsibility, said Fletcher.

Georgia State University will host the Community Engagement event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its Newton campus, 239 Cedar Lane, Covington.

Participating organizations include:

• Newton County Family Connection

• Newton County Schools Special Education Program

• Community Drug Free Coalition of Newton County

• NAMI Rockdale Newton

• Newton County Miracle League

• Adventure bags

• Keep Newton Gorgeous

• Medical clinic for voluntary helpers

• ViewPoint Health/Newton Rockdale Suicide Prevention Coalition

• NewRock Family Promise

• Covington Housing Authority

• First United Methodist Church-Covington Pantry

• A child’s voice

For more information, contact Fletcher at hfletcher@gsu.edu.