May 2022

All around us are signs of change: promotions and graduations, last games, art shows, plays and concerts, proms, banquets and parties, goodbyes and send-offs, celebration, and uncertainty. At every transition, there is uneasiness, worry, and fear. There is also challenge, excitement, and possibility. This month I celebrate my third year with Say Yes Guilford. I remember those feelings boiling over when I took the leap from a stable, successful non-profit to one that was flailing and struggling to find its place. Say Yes Guilford has grown a lot in these three years. We grew our staff to three times its size in 2019. We increased services to reach students and families at every level, grade school through college. We bolstered our partnerships in the community to complete an education continuum that supports families with babies to those seeing young adults beginning careers. We started to tell our story with real data and testimonials from Guilford County Schools’ students and graduates. We were agile when necessary, but steadfast in our commitment to serve students first. We continue to evolve with equity and opportunity leading the way. We will shift and grow to meet students where they are now and support them to where they want to be in the future. We will be driving some big initiatives in the fall of 2022, and we hope you will join us. Your support is critical to the success of our students, graduates, and future coworkers, supervisors, entrepreneurs, and innovators. There is no better time to invest your time, talent, and treasure into the work we are doing. Get on board; it’s going to be a great ride. Wendy Say Yes Guilford CEO

Congratulations Greensboro College Middle College! Congratulations to the students and staff at Greensboro College Middle College, winners of the 2022 Say Yes Guilford March Madness Championship. The school secured a $1000 donation to the school’s counseling department, and SYG delivered lunch to seniors last week! We loved meeting these smiling seniors headed to colleges like UNGC, UNCW, State and Howard! Read more about the competition.

Say Yes Guilford is proud to endorse the proposed school bond and 1/4 cent sales tax increase. These dollars will impact every GCS school!   A strong public school system is critical to attracting and retaining businesses in our community, supporting economic development, and preparing talent for the workforce. But the average age of schools in Guilford County is 55 years old, and there is more than $800 million in deferred maintenance to repair leaking roofs, faulty plumbing, broken heating and air conditioning, and other needs. On the May 17th ballot is a school bond referendum to address those and many other critical needs to make our schools safe, modern, accessible, renovated, and tech-ready.   Also on the May 17th ballot is a fraction of a penny (0.25%) sales tax to support public schools and repay the bond. The sales tax equates to 5 pennies for every $20 dollars that is spent, and it does not apply to groceries, prescription drugs, gas and vehicles. Passing the sales tax will ensure that property tax rates are not increased and that everyone in our community, including visitors who spend roughly $1.6 billion a year in Guilford County, are helping support our public schools.    More information about both the school bond and the supporting fraction of a penny sales tax can be found at smartschoolbond.com.   Vote S.M.A.R.T: Vote YES & YES!

Mark Your Calendar! May 23 - Last Day of School - Early and Middle Colleges May 24-June 5 GCS High School Graduations May 30 - Memorial Day Holiday June 3 - Last Day of School - Traditional Academic Calendar June 9 - Last Day of School - Restart Schools June 10 - Last Day of School - Extended Year Calendar

Welcome Kaitlyn! Say Yes Guilford is thrilled to welcome Kaitlyn Faili as Manager of Database and Data Analytics. She grew up in North Carolina and Oklahoma and spent much of her adult life in Japan. She is happy to be back in NC with her 3-year-old son Ezra and new puppy Toby. She says, "Say Yes joins my passion for technology with my passion and love for people and helping others." We are happy to have her as part of the Say Yes Guilford family!

Sterling Freeman Alumni for Education Greensboro resident Sterling Freeman is the epitome of an all-around artist. Beginning with an interest in visual arts like dancing, acting, and music Freeman’s passion to energize, enlighten, and empower others quickly lead to a career as a children’s author and illustrator. “One thing that I have always wanted to do as an artist is to inspire others, especially the younger generation, who are our emerging leaders. This is how my Goodnight Little Dreamer children’s book/coloring book series began to come to life,” said Freeman. The series follows a bright little boy who is helping teach children how to use their imagination to explore their talents and dreams. When he is not writing and illustrating children’s stories, Freeman says he’s a “teacherpreneur,” working in elementary schools here in Guilford County teaching basic cartooning to kids ages 4–8-years-old. Listen to our latest Alumni for Education podcast to find out more about how this imaginative man is helping give light to the bright future hiding inside the minds of children everywhere

Listen to the SYG Alumni for Education Podcast with Sterling Freeman

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Say Yes Guilford sayyesguilford.org

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