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Shelby County CSA's Louise Smith Retires;
Making Last Drive to Nashville as CSA Administrator |
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| Louise Smith Retired as Shelby County CSA Administrator August 31st. |
Louise Smith rarely if ever missed a State Association meeting. For the past seven years, at least four times a year, Louise Smith drove over 200 miles from Shelby County to Nashville to meet with her Community Action colleagues. Louise began her career with Shelby County Government as a supervisor for the Community Services Agency of the Family Support Program in 1998. She regularly participated in leadership training classes and programs and facilitated classes on Diversity. In 2007 she was named Shelby County Government Employee of the Month and was first runner up for Employee of the Year.
Louise's career spans the business sector and local, state and federal governments.
She says she is thankful to the Tennessee Association of Community Action for embracing her as a new administrator in 2010 to the Community Action Network, and she has tried to welcome new executive directors with the same respect. Louise says she has always believed, "We as agencies must work to empower our customers; assisting them in finding solutions to their needs and improving their lives and communities."
Louise, who has been married 38 years, has some after retirement plans that sound like a lot of work. She plans on renovating her kitchen and re-doing her master bath. After this, she plans to begin her travels. Louise's first stop is her favorite fishing hole in Fairfield Bay, Arkansas.
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| Pictured: Louise Smith surrounded by TACA Agency Executive Directors and others saying goodbye. |
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| Pictured l to r: Kreda Yokley (TACA), Louise Smith (Shelby County CSA), Michelle Fields (TDHS). |
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Agency Foster Grantparent Receives
"Do the Right Thing" Award |
Pictured: Ms. JoAnn Schoate, Foster Grandparent "Do the Right Thing"
Award Winner
Congratulations to Ms. JoAnne Schoate on receiving the "Do the Right Thing" award from WDEF News Channel 12 and Integrity Chevrolet. Ms. Schoate is a 16-year Foster Granparent veteran volunteer with the Chattanooga Youth and Family Development Social Services Foster Grandparent Program. She was nominated by a lifelong friend who is aware of Ms. Schoate's steadfast commitment to the children she serves through FGP.
Teachers at the site where Granny Schoate serves agree Ms. Schoate is worthy of such an honor. They offer that Granny Schoate shares her joy for storytelling and use of words with her assisgned children. Through her interactions in the classroom, she encourages literacy development and helps set the tone for an environment that feels safe and secure to children.
Thank you and congratulations Ms. Schoate!
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Knoxville CAC
Addresses Food Deserts and Food Insecurity
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Pictured: Knoxville CAC Beardsley Community Farm
Knoxville Community Action Commission Beardsley Community Farm is an urban demonstration site that has promoted food security and sustainable urban agriculture through practice, education, and community outreach since 1998. They grow over 10,000 pounds of produce a year. Knoxville's pantries and kitchens, such as Mobile Meals, Knox Area Rescue Ministries, Global Seeds and the Family Crisis Center, are recipients of the farm's efforts.
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| Homeless Shelter Gets New Look |
Pictured: TVA Employee Volunteers
Thanks to TVA employee volunteers, the Cleverland Emergency Shelter has a fresh new look. As part of the United Way Day of Service, the volunters donated their time and energy to put on a fresh coat of paint throughout the facility. The community has shown generosity by donating storage containers to the shelter.
According to Demetrius Ramsey, Executive Director of Bradley-Cleveland Community Services Agency, the purpose of the shelter is to offer support that promotes, empowers and nutures individuals and families. In addition to food and shelter, services include case management,
information/referral, advocacy, family/individual counseling and voucher assistance. Jobs, life skills and budget training are also provided. The Cleveland Emergency Shelter serves over 200 individuals each quarter.
Pictured above and below: Fresh look for the Cleveland Emergency Shelter
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ROMA NEXT Generation
Ten individuals have completed the process and been approved as Nationally Certified ROMA Implementers. They now join Tennessee's ROMA (Results Oriented Management Accountability) Team and ROMA professionals nationwide. These individuals were part of a pilot project. Their feedback will be used to shape how the NCRI process will look going forward.
TACA congratulates NCRIs Tonya Williams, Linda Astacio, Amie Whitworth, Kelly Reed, Lori Galbraith, Maryanne Cunningham, Misty Goodwin, Jarrett Bush, Barbara Disney and Shanna Garrison. NCRIs are charged with providing information at his/her own agency to further develop understanding of what needs to be done to fully implement ROMA. ROMA helps agencies generate robust results for individuals with low incomes and communities. Many of these results can be viewed in the
TACA Annual Report.
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Nov. 6-7, 2017
Outcome Advisors'
Meeting
Quarterly Meeting
Nov. 7-8, 2017
TACA
Meeting
Quarterly Meeting
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Oct. 31 - Nov. 3, 2017
SEACAA
Annual Conference
Biloxi, MS
Feb. 5 - 8, 2018
Region 4 Head Start
Annual Training Conference
Atlanta, GA
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