Leading Ladies

Jackson County is home to a bountiful supply of nonprofits whose causes range from helping abused children to uniting professional truck drivers and pupils. A lot of these organizations are run by women who truly dedicate themselves to the mission.

These are the leading ladies of Jackson County.

Story & Photos by Joshua T. Barnett

Annette Raymond Annette K. Raymond
Executive Director
Piedmont CASA

Founded in 2000 by Juvenile Court Judge Kevin Guidry and based in the Jackson County Courthouse, Piedmont CASA saw its first volunteer in 2001. CASA—Court Appointed Special Advocates—trains and supervises volunteers who provide a voice for abused and neglected children in the juvenile court in Banks, Barrow and Jackson counties. “The volunteers do what it takes to make sure the children stay safe,” said Piedmont CASA Executive Director Annette Raymond.

Raymond came on board as executive director on April 1, 2005, after a two-year stint as a volunteer in the Athens-Oconee CASA group that serves Clarke and Oconee counties. She left a higher-paying, long-term career as an office manager of a law firm in Athens because she “believes in the importance of this program.” She says her favorite part of working for CASA is getting to meet a lot of interesting people and getting to spread the message about her near-and-dear organization. She also says that, “The best recruiting (of volunteers) is done by someone who is passionate—and I am passionate!”

CASA volunteers receive a court order to investigate a particular abuse or neglect case. They talk to the people who matter most in a child’s life: family, foster parents and teachers. With the information they are able to gather from these sources they are able to report their findings to the juvenile court. It is the court order that allows them to legally investigate the child’s family life and other important aspects that play a role in the handling of each case.

Raymond is driven every day to help the children served by CASA.

“Seeing children get to go home with their (birth) parents and seeing families reunited is wonderful,” she said. Raymond and the volunteers who assist her are currently serving 49 children, a third of whom are from Jackson County. Their goal is to get children into a permanent, safe home as soon as possible. In 2006, they supported 89 children.

Raymond’s job includes recruiting and training volunteers. “We’ve heightened the awareness of what CASA does and have shown the community its importance,” she commented. They have more than doubled the volunteer base since Raymond’s entrance as executive director, growing from 12 to 28 volunteers. The current volunteer training opportunity began on July 12 and will be held every Thursday for seven weeks at the Braselton Community Center.

In her personal life, Raymond enjoys playing the piano, and even has two degrees in music. She plays the piano and organ at UGA Catholic Center in Athens and accompanies instrumentalists and vocalists. She is also an active member of the Southeastern Newfoundland Club and rescues Newfoundland dogs from Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

For information on Piedmont CASA visit www.piedmontcasa.com or call Annette Raymond at 706-387-6375.

Tina Grubbs
Executive Director
The Treehouse Inc.

“The people here believe child abuse is an issue—they acknowledge the problem and want to make things better,” said Tina Grubbs, executive director of The Tree House Inc. This is exactly what pushes her to see that the mission of this nonprofit becomes a reality.

“Our mission is to reduce the incidence and occurrence of child abuse in Banks, Jackson and Barrow counties,” she said. “We have four basic programs: community outreach and education, family services, child victim services and supervised visitation,” she said of the process The Tree House uses to help reunify families.

A native of Winder and a graduate of Winder-Barrow High School, Grubbs believes that community is paramount. “I attribute everything back to my community, so I wanted to make sure the children of my community have the same opportunities to be successful as I did,” she said. Although she has moved around geographically, she has always known that she would one day “return home.”

Since coming on board with The Tree House in 1998 as a parenting education coordinator, and becoming executive director of the organization in 2000, Grubbs has helped form the basis of a thriving community-based organization.

She says there are three events that stick out the most in her box of memories: “First is giving keys to a family who we helped to build a house; second was seeing all the people at the first annual Turbo Turtle Trek on Crow’s Lake in Jefferson; and third was getting the keys to our second home, doubling our square footage in 2001.”

She claims credit for the success of The Tree House cannot be given to her, but to her staff of 11 committed professionals, four interns and a volunteer base of more than 50 folks. She and the people behind The Tree House serve more than 300 children and 600 families annually, making a large imprint on three counties scattered with child abuse problems.

The Tree House also makes its mark on the communities it serves. “We may never change all the offenders, but we certainly can change the way the community responds,” Grubbs said.

Tina Grubbs is a graduate of Georgia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences. She is married to the minister of Loganville First United Methodist Church and enjoys spending any free time with her children—11-year-old Victoria and 4-year-old Amelia. “We love to play!” she said. Grubbs also says she likes singing, involving herself in children’s ministry, wants to get back into rappelling and loves college football.

To learn more about The Tree House call 770-868-1900 or visit www.thetreehouseinc.org.

Anita Jackson-Brown
Secretary
Jackson County
Community Outreach

As a former employee of the Boys & Girls Club of Jackson County from 2004-2006, Anita Brown-Jackson is not new to the world of nonprofits.

She brought her knowledge and love of helping people to another nonprofit, Jackson County Community Outreach (JCCO), as secretary in 2004. JCCO’s mission is to foster better community dialogue, seek ways to improve the employable skills of all our at risk youth, champion life skills projects and enhance the vision, pride and enthusiasm of our county community.

“I had heard about the JCCO at the honors night program at a local high school,” Brown-Jackson said. “Later, I began to attend monthly meetings at the BJC Hospital board room and became active on various standing committees.”

JCCO gives away scholarships every year to high school students planning to attend college, hosts essay contests, has a banquet and works with Macy’s and Belk’s on fundraising events.

“The work associated with helping young people pursue their dreams of attending a college or technical school was of great interest to me,” she said.

Brown-Jackson’s most memorable moment with JCCO was presenting one of the scholarships to a “deserving young person” who was gearing up to attend college.

“The impact of a child receiving a scholarship cannot be described in words but by the smile on the child’s face, the parent’s face and even relatives’ and friends’ faces,” she said.

In her spare time, Brown-Jackson enjoys talking to young people about college and career choices. She says she encourages young people to be all that they can be in their community.

Pat Peterson
Executive Director
Peace Place, Inc.

After working in the district attorney’s office as a victim’s advocate, Pat Peterson and the district attorney noticed that they were sending their domestic violence victims to other areas for sheltering. Being in the midst of a growing tri-county region, also known as the Piedmont Judicial Circuit, which serves Banks, Barrow and Jackson counties, a shelter for battered women and children was needed. Peterson pulled together a steering committee, which evolved into a board of directors, which evolved into a nonprofit organization with paid staff. In June of 2000, Peterson opened the doors of Peace Place Inc., with the vision of providing a safe shelter for battered women and their children and establishing confidential services to assist domestic violence victims in rebuilding their lives.

When victims call the 24-hour crisis line, they are greeted by a staff member or volunteer who talks to them about their situation and assesses their needs. Peterson says some victims just need a compassionate ear, while others may need to be immediately brought to the shelter. If the victim needs to be placed in the shelter, she meets a Peace Place staff member at a neutral location and is transported to the confidentially located shelter.

“After coming into the shelter, our case manager meets with the victim and helps them set goals for the future,” Peterson said.

Since becoming a nonprofit, Peace Place has sheltered more than 1,200 women and their children who have faced domestic violence, provided outreach assistance to more than 600 people and have handled more than 5,000 crisis calls.

Running such a large nonprofit is not an easy task, but the rewards make all the hard work worth it to Peterson, her staff, board of directors and volunteer base.

“The feedback we get from clients—knowing that we are helping very courageous women and children get back into a safe and stable environment is really what feeds us,” she said.

Peterson reflects on one of her favorite memories of working with Peace Place: “One lady said she always knew that there were good people in the world but that she had never met any of them until she came to Peace Place.”

In addition, Peace Place has a thrift store located in Arcade that helps support the organization as well as provides an economical shopping center for victims.

“We are truly, truly grateful for the support of the community—for their financial and volunteer support. We couldn’t help all the women and children without such support,” she said.

Peterson has been “married to the same man for 28 years” and has two grown children, Katie and Riley, “who are just a tremendous joy.” She enjoys current events and national and world issues, feels strongly about peace, the environment and alternative energies, and loves the outdoors.

To learn more about Peace Place, call 770-307-3633 or visit www.peaceplaceinc.org. The 24-hour crisis line for domestic violence victims is 770-586-0927.

Miki Adams-Morris Niki Adams-Morris
Executive Director
Jackson County Family Connection

When Niki Adams-Morris became the executive director of Jackson County Family Connection in October 2006, Family Connection was no stranger to her. From 2004 to 2006, Adams-Morris was in charge of the Jasper County Family Connection. Just as Adams-Morris was looking to make a location move, the former executive director, Amber Casper, was gearing up to take over the Youth Apprenticeship Program at Jackson County Comprehensive High School. “The timing was perfect. I didn’t have to leave what I loved doing,” she said.

The purpose of Jackson County Family Connection is to facilitate collaboration among community members by accessing community resources and needs, developing plans to build on strengths and address needs, working together to implement those plans and assessing the effectiveness of the work. “We look for gaps in services regarding families and children,” said Adams-Morris. “For example, our Summer Lunch Program will provide warm, healthy lunches to children who are on the free and reduced lunch program at their school. Otherwise these kids might not have lunch to eat during the summer.”

In addition to providing lunches to the underprivileged youth in Jackson, Adams-Morris and her team of about 60 volunteer mentors conduct Lindsay’s Legacy, a mentoring program implemented at school for all age level students. Also a large part of Family Connection’s yearly programming is Holiday Connection—“… a program that helps to provide gifts to children who might not otherwise have a Christmas,” Adams-Morris commented. Just last year 1,127 children and 430 families were assisted through Holiday Connection.

One of Adams-Morris’s best memories is of a young mom who came to Holiday Connection to get gifts for her children. “She asked where she could send a thank-you card—you could tell she really needed our help. Her appreciation reaffirmed the reason we do this program,” she said. She is also very proud of obtaining a grant for the Lindsay’s Legacy program and being able to pay a part-time director for that specific program.

When asked what effect Family Connection has on its community, Adams-Morris responded, “There’s a lot of poverty and a lot of growth, so we’re trying to help these children be successful in life.”

A native of Rome, Ga., Adams-Morris has also lived in South Boston, Va., where she taught health education to low-income, low-literacy families. She enjoys exercising and spending time with her husband and cat, Boston.

To volunteer or for information, visit www.jcfamilyconnection.org., e-mail jacksonfamilyconnection@yahoo.com or call 706-367-3021.

Bonnie Jones - Dee Lavendar Bonnie Jones & Dee Lavendar
Directors
Habitat for Humanity

When Habitat for Humanity builds homes for people in substandard housing—the goal is to build simple, decent housing, not extravagant homesteads. “We had a family who did not even have running water. The homes we build do not have many bells and whistles, just the necessities,” Dee Lavender, development chair, said.

Lavender, vice president of private banking at Hometown Community Bank, and Bonnie Jones, Jackson EMC director of public relations and communications, both sit on Habitat’s Board of Directors and have helped take the organization to the next level. Both fill their positions with Habitat on a volunteer basis.

One misconception that Jones, the organization’s communications chair, is quick to clear up is that the homes are free.

“The homes are not free; homeowners must invest sweat-equity and carry an interest-free mortgage on the home,” she said. “The family that the home is being built for must give at least 300 hours in the construction of their home,” added Lavender.

Both ladies say their favorite part of working with Habitat is dedicating the home to the family for whom they’ve just built.

“At the dedication, the family gets a loaf of bread so their pantry will always be full, one pound of sugar so their life will always be sweet and a penny so that their lives will always be prosperous,” said Jones.

“We invite everyone who was involved to attend,” Lavender said. “Seeing the sheer joy on the family’s faces because they know the house is theirs makes you stop and think how much we take so much for granted.”

It’s clear that both Jones and Lavender are proud of the work Habitat does for the community it serves and that they have a vested interest in the mission of this nonprofit. They’re a part of the team that has built homes for seven families in Jackson County who otherwise would be living in poor conditions. “We’re getting ready to start on our eighth house,” Lavender said with joy. And they have high hopes for a “Habitat Village”—a neighborhood of Habitat-built homes.

The community and its individuals and businesses have become active partners with Habitat. “The folks in Jackson County have been tremendously generous—not only with their money but with their times and donations,” Jones said. “They’ve just been wonderful!”

Lavender lives in Jefferson with her husband, John Barry, and enjoys reading, traveling, volunteering for many organizations and being active at Galilee Christian Church. Jones resides in Athens and in “what spare time there is” enjoys making jewelry and reading. She is also involved in many organizations.

For more information on Habitat or to request an application, visit the international umbrella organization’s website, www.habitatforhumanity.org or call 706-336-2403.

Roxane Rose
Executive Director
Trucker Buddy International

Trucker Buddy helps educate and mentor elementary schoolchildren via a pen-pal relationship between them and professional truck drivers. Students’ skills in reading, writing, geography, mathematics, social studies and history are enhanced and learning is fun.

“Many times, Trucker Buddies also teach students about life lessons, community and other extracurricular subjects that contribute to a well-rounded education,” said Roxane Rose, executive director.

Rose, who joined Trucker Buddy in April 2006, said she never intended to work in nonprofit, only volunteer. However, when the job came available, it was a perfect match of her 18 years in trucking and her interest and education in nonprofit, most of which was gained through animal welfare/rescue.

Trucker Buddy is funded through sponsorships and grants, although they are in the process of developing a membership program, Rose said. A 15-member board of directors governs the organization and its three-person staff.

Rose says her favorite part of working with Trucker Buddy is the volunteers. “They have touched the lives of so many children and had a positive impact on their education. Yet, they are quick to tell me how much the volunteer work means to them!” she said. “The time, efforts and lengths to which so many of them go to make this program successful is heartwarming,” she added, citing examples.

“Earlier this year, South Carolina Trucker Buddy Scott and his wife saw the inner-city class in Pennsylvania with which they were matched in need of coats. They championed their own community and used their own funds to pull together not just coats, but an entire semi-tractor-trailer load of clothes and school items.

“Then there was the driver who traveled all the way to Iceland to visit the class he is matched with. Trucker Buddy Tom from North Carolina created a national weather station web site for his class in Florida. Trucker Buddy Brenda solicited donations so she could provide each student in her class with their own laptop.

“The stories of these drivers’ compassion is endless…yet, so much can be done to positively impact the life of a child just through the basics of the program, which is to send a postcard once a week,” she said.

Indeed, Trucker Buddy has had a tremendous influence on students around the world. “Even using conservative estimates, Trucker Buddy has helped educate more than a million schoolchildren since the program began in 1992,” Rose said.

Rose lives in Jefferson with her husband Brent, along with their three cats, three dogs, a foster dog, a horse and a pony.

To become a Trucker Buddy, the driver must have a Commercial Driver’s License, pass a criminal background check and be willing to send a postcard each week. There is no cost to schools to participate. Trucker Buddy has some 3,500 driver-teacher matches in the United States, Canada, Australia, Iceland, New Zealand, Africa and India. For information, visit www.truckerbuddy.org or call 1-800-MY-BUDDY.