Time August 25 · 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Shoals Family Success Center , Florence, Alabama
When people work together, great things happen!
Loving the Shoals is an organic movement and not an organization. Both momentum and consensus are now building across the Shoals for the benefits of bringing faith-based, non-profit, and government entities together in serving this place we call home. Over the course of several weeks, we will bring together community leaders (business, nonprofit, church, education, an...d government) who will engage in collaborative discussions focused on improving the quality of life of Shoals citizens. Ed Castile, Director of Alabama Industrial Development Training, will be traveling up from Montgomery to facilitate our discussions which begin on Wednesday, August 25th, 1-4 pm at the Shoals Family Success Center, 300 Industry Street, Florence, AL.
Everyone is saying the same thing: "The time is right for us to come together across all the boundaries that for so long have divided us and move as one body in meeting the needs of our neighbors in the Shoals!" Loving the Shoals is about willing hearts and helping hands united in common purpose – strengthening the caring power of our community.
“A successful community today depends greatly on its volunteers to bring their ideas, support, and manpower to accomplish certain goals,” said Mayor Bobby E. Irons of Florence. “Loving the Shoals will be a strong force that will encourage citizens to work together for the common purpose of focusing on the human needs of our community, thereby, improving the quality of life for the Shoals area. By joining together through a network of volunteers, we can meet the important challenges in our society such as poverty, hunger, homelessness, illiteracy, addiction, and at-risk youth. As the Mayor of Florence, I am pleased to support and endorse this program.” At the suggestion of Mayor Irons, other city and county leaders will attend the meeting on August 25th.
Our Mission: To encourage and mobilize citizens, faith-based and community leaders, and elected officials to partner together in building vibrant healthy communities where everyone feels safe, valued, welcomed, and happy. Working together at becoming well-connected, better informed, and more engaged, we will create a relational culture where people truly care about each other and are willing to do their part in helping others face everyday challenges.
Who can help? We all have something to give – a warm smile, an encouraging word, or a loving act of kindness that touches someone’s heart. Great numbers of individuals, groups, and organizations are actively involved in marvelous works of compassion and care. But more help is needed in nurturing children, building stronger families, and revitalizing our neighborhoods.
What’s our first step? After meeting on August 25th we will begin by focusing on important community challenges that impact the lives of children, youth, and families. We will identify the vast number of care providers and their programs/services that are already in place. And we will learn from each other, seek ways to complement each other, and discover service gaps that need immediate attention.
Fortunately, great numbers of individuals, groups, and organizations are actively involved in marvelous works of compassion and care. Some are state-wide celebrated models for community care. Our Lauderdale County Children’s Policy Council is ranked number one in the State of Alabama. Our Shoals Family Success Center is considered by state officials to be the best model for local community partnerships. And our Shoals Emergency Assistance Network (S.E.A.N. tracker), which was created by Shoals care providers, has become a revolutionary model for faith-based and community partnerships that’s used in over 200 U.S. cities, and is now entering Canada.
What we hope to accomplish? Our collaborative efforts will help connect thousands of compassionate Shoals citizens with causes that truly matter. As we journey together in improving the quality of life here in the Shoals, we will discover long-term partner solutions for community care, including:
• New ways for charitable organizations to tap into an abundant wealth of local assets – $92.6 million dollars.
• Proven ways to double the number of volunteers and their time deployed in community service.
• Technology that makes it easier for Shoals volunteers to find and participate in service opportunities.
• Capacity building activities that increase organization’s sustainability and effectiveness.
• Quick and easy ways to identify needs, mobilize resources, and measure outcomes community-wide.
Our hopes are to broadly implement best practices and a more comprehensive approach for improving people’s lives.
With a good supply of resources and aid, combined with long term solutions for self-sustainability and economic stability, we will enhance our existing network of services and empower creative ideas for community care. The end result will be a better quality of life and brighter future for Shoals citizens. For additional information call (256)764-0633, visit the website at Loving the Shoals
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