Blog

Family & Children’s Place Ambassadors support the agency’s work in several ways – outright donations, volunteering for events and activities, representing the agency at community meetings, but none matter more than direct support and service with our clients – children impacted by violence, abuse and neglect.

On a recent Friday, Ambassadors  Shannon Siders, Gabrielle Archer, Troy Cunningham, Dorothy Humphrey, Haley James, Michelle Hagan and Jessica Dozier spent some time with students in our Collaborative Learning After School Program (CLASP), part of our Family & School Services (FSS) work at Meyzeek Middle School.

These students mostly come from the Smoketown neighborhood, a historically black community plagued by high crime, high unemployment, low opportunity and significant alcohol and substance abuse, and many have family issues that include abuse and neglect, so the program strives to give these motivated and incredible students tools and resources they can use to make better choices and lead better lives.

Ambassadors met and had the chance to talk and play games and do some activities with the students. They also shared with the students information about themselves, their jobs and interests, and a little about how their lives came together to lead to where they are today.

There were laughs, fun and games, but more important, the ambassadors got up close and personal with the agency’s work and how it impacts the students, and the students spent time with some positive role models who genuinely care about helping them achieve their dreams.