Named the 2023 Texas Prevention Organization of the Year by Texas Health and Human Services!
We are excited beyond words, and our incredible staff deserves the recognition for delivering top-notch programs and services, but . . . we refuse to take credit, because at the end of the day, we’re all out there simply doing our jobs. Sometimes the work is emotionally overwhelming, but there is something that drives this team—the reason is you. You and your families are the reason we earned the award.
One of the prevention team’s original projects, which is being sustained by ongoing work from students and sponsors—is a Literacy Garden at Shackelford Elementary in Waxahachie. This project is well-supported by the community through organizations and businesses such as the Waxahachie Young Professionals, Dytek Electric, MINT Exteriors and The Greenery Landscape and Nursery.
Have a look:
Raised Beds
Pollinator Garden
Interactive Play
Why are school gardens beneficial? According to our Director of Community Coalitions, Reanna Liversage, “The external learning environment creates an opportunity for students to learn beyond the classroom in a fun and engaging way. It allows students to soak up the sunshine, enjoy nature, engage all their senses, reduce stress, and experience room and space to move about while they are learning. It creates a unique learning environment for adaptive learning and adaptive behavior students by engaging their focus and giving them a sense of satisfaction by completing a task with their hands.”
Here are some activities the students are enjoying:
Given the success of this program, we've been asked to create literacy gardens at more schools. We'd love to, especially after reading this testimonial from Shackelford:
Our mission is to ignite communities to work together to protect and strengthen the resiliency of our youth.
Everything we are, do, and believe is to create environments for young people to build a strong belief in themselves and to increase the skills and support needed to make excellent life choices and grow into healthy adults.
In addition to to providing more literacy gardens on school campuses, we need your help with:
1. Funds to development additional programs around building resiliency, since providing our youth with good physical and mental health is imperative,
2. Day-to-day general operating funds to help offset the cost of our programs.
3. Adding new board members with fresh ideas and creative spirits who are willing to serve with expertise in the following areas: finance, public relations, fundraising and human resources.
Organization name
Drug Prevention Resources
Causes
Community Improvement, Mental/Behavioral Health, Youth & Children
Operating Budget
$1,000,000 - $2,999,999
Counties Served
Dallas, Ellis, Navarro
BIPOC Serving
Black or African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latinx, Native American
BIPOC Leadership
Neither/None
Address
201 Ferris Ave.