After two community listening sessions, the Griffin-Spalding Archway Partnership has identified five priority areas to be addressed through its initial Archway Partnership work plan. Archway Partnership, a unit of public service and outreach at the University of Georgia (UGA), connects Georgia communities to the full range of higher education resources available at UGA to address critical community-identified needs. Partner communities have access to the knowledge, research and other resources available through the interactions between the communities and the university, while faculty and students are able to experience first-hand the opportunities and challenges facing the state.
Griffin-Spalding is the twelfth community in the state to become an Archway community; other current Archway communities include: Candler, Grady, Habersham, Hart, Sumter, Pulaski, and Washington counties.
The community drives the Archway process through an executive committee of community leaders and local organizations. The funding partners for the Griffin-Spalding Archway Partnership include the City of Griffin, Spalding County, the Griffin-Spalding Board of Education and UGA’s Office of Vice President for Public Service and Outreach.
Griffin-Spalding County Archway Partnership identified the following issue areas as priorities to be addressed in itsinitial work plan: Community Health and Wellness; Education for a Quality Workforce; Community Development to Enhance the Quality of Life; Community Image and Communication; and Intergovernmental Collaboration. According to Archway Executive Committee Co-Chair, Chuck Copeland, “This work plan is a great start for our group. I believe we have identified some critical areas where we can bring needed and positive change to our community.”
Work groups will be formed to help address these community priorities. The issue work groups are a key function of the Archway Partnership, providing a process to bring community stakeholders together in a routine and systematic basis to work for the betterment of their community. Kristen Miller serves as the Archway Professional in Griffin-Spalding County and is based in Griffin. In her position, Miller functions as liaison between the community and the university as she works to connect higher education resources to locally identified issues and priorities.
“The Executive Committee is excited to have Kristen Miller on board as our Archway Professional,” stated Archway Executive Committee Co-Chair, Stephanie Windham. “Kristen’s background in economic development, as well as her involvement in the community through her former position with the Southern Crescent Technical College Foundation, makes her a great fit for this position.”
Citizens who are interested in being part of an issue work group can contact Kristen Miller at 706.483.3264.
For additional information about the Archway Partnership, go to: http://www.archwaypartnership.uga.edu/