| Staff Spotlight: Monica Smart-Gainous | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Staff-Spotlight-Monica-Smart-Gainous.aspx | Staff Spotlight: Monica Smart-Gainous | <p><span style="background-color:transparent;">Boys Town North Florida IHFS Staff Member Named Recipient of Prestigious Award</span></p><p>Boys Town North Florida is proud to celebrate with one of their very own staff, Monica Smart-Gainous, an In-Home Family Services Consultant, as she was named a recipient of the 2021 Cherry Hall Alexander African American Calendar Award for her work with families in the community.</p><p>Monica, among 11 other distinguished honorees, was featured in the July section of the calendar. Boys Town North Florida's Senior Director Bethany Lacey shared, "We here at Boys Town North Florida were not surprised she would be named a recipient as Monica is well known for her local community action and advocacy. She regularly goes above and beyond for our children and families. We are so proud her many years of service are being recognized."</p><p>In the past 25 years, Monica has continuously strived to give back to her community by community action and organization. Among other events, she has been instrumental in organizing a Gadsden County Human Trafficking forum that brings awareness of human trafficking in the area.</p><p>Monica has Co-Chaired several back to school supply events and she has organized various food distributions in the community. In 2009, Monica was part of a group recognized by the Gadsden County School Board (GCSB) for the makeover of James A. Shanks Middle School, which saved the GCSB approximately $100,000.</p><p>As an In-Home Family Consultant with Boys Town North Florida, Monica tirelessly works to ensure the guidance and care for youth and families to be influential to the positive advancement of their environmental, emotional, and educational structure. Her love for the betterment for the lives of youth and citizens within the community is the center core of her demonstrated work. Once the foundation is planted in the community, Monica works to continue to build upon that foundation for the greater good of the children and families she serves.</p><p>Upon being named recipient, Monica shared, "I believe it is my calling to carry on the work of Father Flanagan when he said, "The work will continue, you see, whether I am there or not, because it is God's work, not mine.'"</p><p>Boys Town is very thankful for Monica and her dedication to Boys Town and the community around her.<br></p> | 2021-04-16T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="Monica Smart-Gainous" src="/locations/louisiana/PublishingImages/Monica-Smart-Gainous.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Boys Town North Florida ART Town Academy Adds Afterschool Programs | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Boys-Town-North-Florida-ART-Town-Academy-Adds-Afterschool-Programs.aspx | Boys Town North Florida ART Town Academy Adds Afterschool Programs | <p><span style="background-color:transparent;">Throughout the fall of 2020 and continuing today, Boys Town North Florida's ART Town facility has transformed into a fully functioning school, including supplemental tutoring through in-person and virtual volunteers, an array of afterschool clubs and an active Student Government Association. As the students on campus adjusted to attending virtual school, supports were put into place to ensure all our students would be academically successful and engaged in the school day. By the end of the fall semester, there were five volunteer led electives that met weekly with the students enrolled in that group. To ensure students had activities to interest them, there was a diverse set of clubs such as music, physical education, foreign language and culture, art and a debate team. Students appreciated the opportunity to learn and engage in these educational clubs and enjoyed connecting with the volunteers from Florida State University. Campus bustles today as after school activities have resumed with a renewed interest in learning and growth. Continue reading for program details and how you can help!</span></p><p><strong>Tutoring:</strong></p><p><strong>In person --</strong> Twice a week, volunteers from the Florida State University community come to ART Town Academy to provide homework help and tutoring to our Family Home students. All volunteers are equipped with proper PPE and have learned how to effectively work with the child while maintaining a safe social distance.</p><p><strong>Virtual tutors --</strong> Boys Town North Florida is partnered with Florida State University's Center for Leadership and Social Change. Each Tuesday and Thursday evening from 4 to 6 pm, virtual volunteers are paired with students to assist in tutoring and understanding homework. Often, student volunteers are paired with recurrent students who are struggling to maintain their grades and thus begins a mentoring partnership for students. Students look forward to meeting with their assigned tutor over Zoom and productively work to complete and understand any underperforming school assignments.</p><p><strong>After School Electives</strong>:<img src="file:///Users/johreg2/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image001.jpg" alt="" style="background-color:transparent;width:1px;margin:5px;" /></p><p><strong>Music</strong>: Students meet weekly on Mondays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm to complete structured musical activities with a student volunteer from Florida State University. Some fun projects include students creating a homemade plastic straw pan-flute that when blown into created a variety of pitched notes and sounds. The students love coming to music knowing a fun, music-related activity is always awaiting them.</p><p><strong>Debate</strong>: Students meet weekly on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm to learn more regarding the rules and structures of debating and engage in short “mock debates." Students form small teams and debate with the opposing team surrounding worldly topics such as climate change. The student volunteer who leads our Boys Town debate group currently serves as the President of the Florida State University's Debate Club.</p><p><strong>Physical Education</strong>: Students meet weekly on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm with Family-Teacher Jason Browning to engage in physical activity on our Family Home campus. Each week, Jason leads the students in a variety of sports and activities such as soccer, basketball, volleyball and more. After a long day of staying indoors and completing schoolwork through a computer screen, this is a necessary release for some of our students.<img src="file:///Users/johreg2/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image002.jpg" alt="" style="background-color:transparent;width:1px;margin:5px;" /></p><p><strong><img src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/Pages/Boys-Town-North-Florida-ART-Town-Academy-Adds-Afterschool-Programs/culture-group.jpg" alt="culture-group.jpg" class="ms-rtePosition-2" style="margin:5px;width:309px;height:216px;" />Foreign Language and Culture</strong>: Students meet weekly on Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm with FSU student volunteers along with Family Home Staff (FHP Consultant Destiny Story and Educational Assistant Giulia DeMello) to learn more regarding world cultures and languages. Students have the opportunity to try foods from diverse cultures and become familiar with various cultural items such as clothing, language and lifestyle.</p><p><strong>Art</strong>: Students meet weekly on Fridays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm to complete various arts and craft projects with an FSU student volunteer. At art club, student participants have completed projects with multiple mediums such as watercolor paint, acrylic paint, crayons, markers and oil pastels. One project the students enjoyed the week before Thanksgiving was creating a turkey-themed bookmark.</p><p><strong>Student Government Association:</strong></p><p>To encourage leadership development and promote a greater sense of unity, respect, spirit and cooperation among peers, a Student Government Association was formed. Each of the five homes has an elected representative led by a President and a Vice President.</p><p><strong>HOW YOU CAN HELP - </strong>the following items are currently being requested to enhance the ART Town Academy After School Program. Donations may be taken to our corporate office at 3555 Commonwealth Blvd<strong>. </strong>For more questions call Director of Development Margaret Farris at 850.504.5007 or 850.321.5346.<br><br></p><ul><li><strong>Musical instruments</strong></li><li><strong>Art Supplies</strong></li><li><strong>Language tutorials – audio or written</strong></li><li><strong>Sports Equipment</strong></li><li><strong>E-Readers</strong></li><li><strong>STEM supplies/kits</strong></li><li><strong>Funding for Field Trips</strong></li></ul><p></p> | 2021-04-16T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="Music Group" src="/locations/louisiana/PublishingImages/music-group.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Black History Month: A Month-long Celebration with Lasting Implications | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Black-History-Month-A-Month-long-Celebration-with-Lasting-Implications.aspx | Black History Month: A Month-long Celebration with Lasting Implications | <p></p><p>North Florida Family Home program staff wanted to make this year's Black History Month a very special event. Family Home Director Desmond Crayton shared that he believes Black History Month “should be recognized as a crucial opportunity to broaden our youth's knowledge and help them see how the past connects with their lives today -- and how it has inspired movements for change." Family Home Consultant Destiny Story took charge of organizing the month's activities with help from educational assistants Giulia Demello and Wayne Longley.</p><p>To kick off Black History Month, North Florida had an event with the Family Home youth with food catered by a black owned business, G & G BBQ. Executive Director Marcus Lampkin talked to the youth about how the site intended to honor Black History Month this year. Also present was special guest, BTNFL employee Monica Smart-Gainous. Monica was recently named recipient of the 2021 Cherry Hall Alexander African American Calendar Award for her work with families in the community. Monica shared the history of Black History recognition and how it has evolved over the years into what is now known as Black History Month. </p><p>Throughout this month, the site remembered and recognized important people and events in African American history and America's history. ART Town Academy youth also got to hear and see from local chapters of Fraternities and Sororities about the art and history of Stepping and their brotherhoods/sisterhoods.</p><p>Different regional foods were celebrated as each home created a dish from their designated region. The month ended with a cultural celebration and living museum on campus. Each home had a living museum presented by the youth of both a historical and modern-day figure for all others to hear about during a walk around campus. The Browning home represented Jackie Robinson, Louis Armstrong, while the Carters represented Jay Z & Beyoncé. The Dunn home represented Madam C.J. Walker, The Obamas, and Huey P. Newton. The Lang home represented Chadwick Boseman, Halle Berry, and Angela Davis. The Mackley home represented Queen Latifah, Aretha Franklin, and Amanda Gorman. The Jones home represented Tupac, Nelson Mandela, and Bob Marley.</p><p>The end of the month event was truly spectacular! FHP Consultant Destiny Story created a vision board with pictures of all current African American youth pictured as their future selves in their future careers. The youth especially enjoyed getting to visualize their own excellence in the future. When asked about her inspiration for the planning for the month, Destiny shared, “We are the change we are waiting for. In this environment, one of most important things we can do is empower our youth, they are the future. They are who we are going to pass the batons to someday. Our focus was to teach them to love themselves, their history, their culture and all the power they have."<br></p> | 2021-04-16T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="Black History Month" src="/locations/louisiana/PublishingImages/BHM.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Jersey Mike's Day of Giving benefits Boys Town of North Florida | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Jersey-Mikes-Day-of-Giving-benefits-Boys-Town-of-North-Florida.aspx | Jersey Mike's Day of Giving benefits Boys Town of North Florida | <p><em style="background-color:transparent;">This article was originally published on March 31, 2021 by <a href="https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/jersey-mikes-day-of-giving-benefits-boys-town-of-north-florida" target="_blank">WTXL Tallahassee</a>.</em><br></p><p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Buy a sub and help a local organization. That's what multiple sandwich shops in Tallahassee accomplished Wednesday.</p><p>Any sandwich purchased at <a href="https://www.jerseymikes.com/">Jersey Mike's</a> was bought for a good cause.<br></p><p>The corporation is donating all of the proceeds it made at four Tallahassee locations to <a href="/locations/north-florida/Pages/default.aspx">Boys Town North Florida</a>. The non-profit organization helps children and families in need.</p><p>The proceeds raised go a long way in helping at-risk children.</p><p>"It means everything to Boys Town Florida. We love interacting with our community in this way," said Gina Rogers who works for Boys Town North Florida. "So for somebody to come and get a sandwich and be able to support at-risk children and families in the North Florida region, it's just awesome. "</p><p>Jersey Mike's has been teaming up with Boys Town North Florida for its annual Day of Giving Campaign since 2017.</p><p>Boys Town North Florida has received about $40,000 in total since 2017.<br></p> | 2021-04-07T05:00:00Z | News | | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Spunky Six-Year-Old Supporter | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Spunky-Six-Year-Old-Supporter.aspx | Spunky Six-Year-Old Supporter | <p>Zoey's partnership with Boys Town started early on in her life (in Utero). Her mom has worked with Boys Town for 14 years, so Zoey has grown up around the wonderful kids at Boys Town, and knows just how lucky and blessed she is. That is why she is so passionate about helping kids less fortunate than herself.<br></p><p>Zoey was disappointed that she couldn't do another birthday party fundraiser event like last year (thanks to COVID), but her uncle Seth Dunlap came to the rescue to help her create this video to get the word out!</p> | 2021-02-25T06:00:00Z | News | | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Boys Town North Florida IHFS Staff Named Recipient of Prestigious Award | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Boys-Town-North-Florida-IHFS-Staff-Named-Recipient-of-Prestigious-Award.aspx | Boys Town North Florida IHFS Staff Named Recipient of Prestigious Award | <p><span style="background-color:transparent;">Boys Town North Florida is proud to celebrate with one of their very own staff, Monica Smart-Gainous, an In-Home Family Services Consultant, as she was named a recipient of the 2021 Cherry Hall Alexander African American Calendar Award for her work with families in the community.</span></p><p>Monica, among 11 other distinguished honorees, was featured in the July section of the calendar. Boys Town North Florida's Senior Director Bethany Lacey shared, “We here in Boys Town North Florida were not surprised she would be named a recipient as Monica is well known for her local community action and advocacy. She regularly goes above and beyond for our children and families. We are so proud her many years of service are being recognized."</p><p>In the past 25 years, Monica has continuously strived to give back to her community by community action and organization. Among other events, she has been instrumental in organizing a Gadsden County Human Trafficking forum that brings awareness of human trafficking in the area.</p><p>Monica has Co-Chaired several back to school supply events and she has organized various food distributions in the community. In 2009, Monica was part of a group recognized by the Gadsden County School Board (GCSB) for the makeover of James A. Shanks Middle School, which saved the GCSB approximately $100,000.</p><p>As an In-Home Family Consultant with Boys Town North Florida, Monica tirelessly works to ensure the guidance and care for youth and families to be influential to the positive advancement of their environmental, emotional, and educational structure. Her love for the betterment for the lives of youth and citizens within the community is the center core of her demonstrated work. Once the foundation is planted in the community, Monica works to continue to build upon that foundation for the greater good of the children and families she serves.</p><p>Upon being named recipient Monica shared, “I believe it is my calling to carry on the work of Father Flanagan when he said, “The work will continue, you see, whether I am there or not, because it is God's work, not mine.'"</p><p>Boys Town is very thankful for Monica and her dedication to Boys Town and the community around her. If you would like to watch the Awards Ceremony, click <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/youtu.be/vbw-b72u8hc__%3b%21%21CEjAKCqGPSl6%216_-o5faBow0oCR9NmuNXvyg76wC5KNSckKmxZ9hc-Cumh1bBQ46ymq_SCI8wNsnW-Uz4Ew$" target="_blank">here</a>.<br></p> | 2021-02-15T06:00:00Z | News | <img alt="Monica" src="/PublishingImages/monica.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Our Wish for 2021 | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Our-Wish-for-2021.aspx | Our Wish for 2021 | <p>Friends,</p><p>Remember when we used to take long car rides with our families, particularly with the kids? On those long drives you would hear over and over, “are we there yet?" I'm sure for all of us, 2020 feels like that long drive that just won't ever end!<br>To varying extents, this year has brought with it hardship, unforeseen challenges, isolation, anxiety, and even grief. It has been a tough time for our community, especially the youth and families in our care who have been and are disproportionately impacted. Despite these struggles, our youth and families have been incredibly resilient, thanks in part to our deeply committed staff, Family-Teachers<sup>®</sup>, and other members of our support team.</p><p>With the 2020 holiday season upon us, I've thought a lot about this journey we have been on for the past year and have challenged myself to
<em>“Remember, life is a journey, not a destination."</em> Moreover,
<em>“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings."</em><br><em> </em><br>While it's not always easy to do, finding gratitude and celebrating the ordinary moments of this year have helped me immensely. Watching our staff find creative and fun ways to engage with our youth, and with each other, reassures me that although these moments are not normal, they have taught us to appreciate the more common interactions and the simple things we often take for granted.</p><p>I am filled with gratitude for each of you, our incredible community of supporters, who have stepped up to help us survive this tumultuous year. Your kindness, support, and investment in our work has made the successes of this year's journey possible.</p><p>Our wish for 2021 is to continue this life-saving work, and to continue helping make our world a place with less hate and more love.</p><p>From all of us at Boys Town North Florida, we wish you and your loved ones a healthy, safe and joyous holiday season. May you seek out and find peace in your own beautiful ordinary moments. </p><p>Gratefully,<br>Marcus Lampkin<br>Executive Director</p><p style="text-align:center;">
<a class="btn btn-theme13" href="https://support.boystown.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2528&mfc_pref=T&2528.donation=form1" target="_blank">Help us teach love in 2021</a></p>
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